Horace is preoccupied with making the best of sixth grade and avoiding the class bully when word comes that his beloved grandfather has died under mysterious circumstances. When Horace’s family goes to his grandparents’ farm to sort through things and care for his semi-lucid grandmother, Horace receives a scarab-beetle talisman left to him by his grandfather and a confusing message about his being a Time Keeper. Through a series of events, Horace uses the talisman to open a secret doorway that leads to ancient Egypt. Here he befriends a young boy named Tut, who needs his help, but Horace is unprepared for the challenges posed by ancient Egyptian politics. Combining time travel, mystery, and history, this first in a proposed series takes readers on an exciting romp through ancient temples and Egyptian schools. The settings are well rendered, and themes of friendship, memory, and family explored. This novel will be a solid historical-fiction choice for reluctant readers.

When mild-mannered sixth grader Horace J. Edwards moves to the sleepy town of Niles, MI, his life takes an unexpected turn. A death occurs in the family, and mysterious things start to happen. Grandmother, who suffers from dementia, begs Horace to find the key, open the secret door, and help the boy, but Horace doesn’t know what she’s talking about. Then, a gift of a scarab beetle proves to be more than a trinket. Horace finds himself transported back to ancient Egypt, where he discovers the future King Tut in trouble. The story line does a nice job of introducing fascinating Egyptian tidbits with a modern twist. Readers interested in ancient Egypt and adventure will enjoy the juxtaposition between current life and ancient times. The mystery is not a complex maze of clues but a fun coming-of-age adventure. VERDICT An additional purchase where time travel titles and books set in the ancient world are in demand.