Theodosia Throckmorton Literature Guides
From School Library Journal
Grade 4–8—A combination of Nancy Drew and Indiana Jones, Theo Throckmorton is in big trouble. The 11-year-old lives in London in 1906 andspends most of her time in an antiquities museum headed by her father and filled with objects from her mother's archaeological expeditions to Egypt. Bossy, clever, and learned in the lore of ancient Egypt, the girl constantly worries that the work-obsessed parents who ignore and neglect her will be destroyed by virulent ancient curses that only she can detect. When her mother returns from her latest trip with an amulet inscribed with curses so powerful they could unleash the Serpents of Chaos and destroy the British Empire, Theo finds herself caught up in a web of intrigue and danger. It pits her, along with some unexpected allies, against German operatives trying to use the scarab as a weapon in their political and economic rivalry with England. Theo must draw on all her resources when she confronts her enemies alone, deep in an Egyptian tomb. There, she makes some surprising discoveries, both personal and archaeological. Vivid descriptions of fog-shrouded London and hot, dusty Cairo enhance the palpable gothic atmosphere, while page-turning action and a plucky, determined heroine add to the book's appeal. Unfortunately, Theo's narrative voice lurches between the diction of an Edwardian child and that of a modern teen. The ambiguous ending, with its hints at the approaching World War, seems to promise a sequel. A fine bet for a booktalk to classes studying ancient Egypt.
—Margaret A. Chang, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, North Adams
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From School Library Journal
Grade 4–7—Theodosia Throckmorton is a clever 11-year-old who spends most of her time removing curses from artifacts in the Museum of Legends and Antiquities in pre-World War I England. In Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos (Houghton, 2007), she foiled the evil plans of the Serpents of Chaos, a secret society bent on bringing the entire world to chaos. Here, she causes a scene at a formal party when she recognizes a mummy being unwrapped as Mr. Tetley, a member of the Serpents of Chaos who had been missing from his job at the British Museum. Theodosia has more problems when all the mummies from every museum in London are found in the lobby of the museum where her parents work, and the police suspect her father of the theft. Theodosia has to get rid of mummies, curses, and governesses hired by her dreaded grandmother, and thwart the dastardly plan of the Serpents of Chaos. Archaeology and fantasy fans alike will find much to love in this magical tale chock-full of ancient Egyptian artifacts and details. Theodosia's first-person narration is often very funny as she deals with the adults around her, and the plot is quick and multilayered like a well-wrapped mummy.
—Samantha Larsen Hastings, West Jordan Public Library, UT
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From School Library Journal
Grade 4-6 Theodosia Throckmorton wears gloves all the time. It's a good thing, because they often protect her from the cursed Egyptian artifacts that her parents keep bringing into their Museum of Legends and Antiquities. In this book, 11-year-old Theo once again gets herself mixed up with the Serpents of Chaos and the Arcane Order of the Black Sun as she and her brother try to steal the Emerald Tablet that they accidentally found in the museum basement. She is curious about the Egyptian magician, Awi Bubu, who seems to know quite a bit about the Tablet and about Theodosia herself, in the end revealing a secret about her birth that might explain her powers of detecting and eliminating curses. In a final standoff, Theodosia discovers her stiff-upper-lipped grandmother might be more interesting than she suspects and that she might be able to call a truce with a hated curator. Though this series involves a great deal of magic, its setting in Victorian England with colorful characters from all walks of life makes it seem like a realistic story. A few full-page graphite drawings dispersed throughout add to the descriptions of scenes. This is a book to recommend enthusiastically to any reader who likes Egyptian history, a good mystery, or fast-paced action. The ending also promises another exciting installment, leaving readers wanting more. Since past adventures and relationships are mentioned without explanation, this is a series best read in order. Clare A. Dombrowski, Amesbury Public Library, MA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.