Siblings Carter and Sadie Kane have grown up apart since their mother died six years earlier. But when their Egyptian archaeologist father sacrifices himself to bring the ancient gods back into power, they are forced to work together to defeat the evil god Set who has imprisoned their father and seeks to destroy the world. Along the way, Carter and Sadie develop allies and defeat enemies with the help of the gods Horus and Isis who have taken host within them. So begins an adventurous race from New York to Phoenix, AZ where two siblings must sacrifice everything they hold dear for the greater good. And as an even greater, unseen enemy stirs, Carter and Sadie come face to face with a sacrifice neither was prepared to make.
The first book in the Kane Chronicles, The Red Pyramid does for Egyptology what Percy Jackson and the Olympians did for Greek mythology. Chock full of history and mythology, Riordan entices young minds with a what-if scenario where ancient Egypt collides with modern day society—where magic is real and the fate of the world lies in the hands of young children. His juxtaposition of Carter, an awkward, dark-skinned 14-year-old, with Sadie, a bitter and abandoned, fair-haired 12-year-old, makes their ultimate journey of becoming a team that more rich and rewarding. Because at the heart of the story are two children who have lost their parents, and turn to one another for support and friendship when all seems lost. That alone would feel like the end of the world, but our heroes find the strength within themselves and one another to do what is right, and not what is easy. This series should speak to tweens much like Riordan’s previous works, offering strong characters who are easy to root for, and more importantly relate to.
