Daughters of the lamp / Nedda Lewers.

Title :

Daughters of the lamp

Author:

Format:

Books

Summary:

Twelve-year-old Sahara prefers logic and science over magic, but when she travels to Cairo for a family wedding, her resistance to magic fades when she discovers that she is next in a line of women tasked with guarding Ali Baba's treasure.

Language:

English

ISBN - ISSN:

9780593619308

0593619307

Physical Description:

336 pages ; 22 cm.

Subject:

Families -- Juvenile fiction.

Treasure troves -- Juvenile fiction.

Magic -- Juvenile fiction.

Egyptian Americans -- Juvenile fiction.

Fantasy.

Family life -- Fiction.

Treasure troves -- Fiction.

Magic -- Fiction.

Egyptian Americans -- Fiction.

Fantasy fiction.

Action and adventure fiction.

Ali Baba (Legendary character) -- Juvenile fiction.

Ali Baba (Legendary character) -- Fiction.

Series:

Daughters of the lamp (Series) ;

First Title value, for Searching:

Daughters of the lamp / Nedda Lewers.

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Summary

Percy Jackson meets Arabian fairy tales in this stunning middle grade fantasy debut about a girl who becomes the guardian of Ali Baba's legendary treasure.

Believe in fairy tales.

Sahara Rashad lives by logic. Loves science. And always has a plan. Except her dad just whisked her away to her uncle's wedding in Egypt, upending every single plan she had for the summer.

In Cairo, Sahara's days are filled with family--and mystery. First, Sahara's cousins claim the pretentious bride-to-be is actually a witch. Then her late mother's necklace starts glowing--and disappears.

Sahara's attempts to recover the necklace lead her to the greatest mystery yet. Deep in an underground chamber lies Ali Baba's magical treasure. Hidden from a line of sorcerers who threatened to use its powers for evil, the treasure was given to Sahara's ancestor Morgana for safekeeping and passed down from mother to daughter for generations. Now only Sahara stands in the sorcerers' way.

Can the girl who's never believed in magic trust the unknown and claim her legacy as the treasure's keeper?

Author Notes

Nedda Lewers is an author and former teacher. She writes books that take children on fun adventures and feature characters who are trying to make sense of the big, complicated world and their place in it. Even though it wasn't easy growing up with one foot in America and the other in Egypt, Nedda cherishes how that experience has given her a rich and expansive perspective from which she draws to write her stories.

Reviews (4)

Publisher's Weekly Review

In 985 CE Baghdad, Ali Baba's tween servant Morgana is forced to flee after a sorcerer attacks, killing both Ali Baba and the visiting Prince Ala el-Din. As per Ali Baba's dying wish, Morgana takes several enchanted artifacts with her, including a lamp containing a jinni, to keep them out of the wrong hands. A thousand years later, 12-year-old Sahara Rashad, who prizes logic and science over luck and magic, reluctantly accompanies her father to Egypt to attend her uncle's wedding. While she quickly bonds with her cousin Naima, she takes an instant disliking to her uncle's fiancée, whom Naima has nicknamed El Ghoula for her abrasive personality. Mysteries surrounding break-ins at the family shop, the necklace Sahara inherited from her late mother, and a hidden family legacy lead to a desperate attempt to prevent an ancient evil from manifesting in the present. Though the two intertwining narratives never directly connect in this joyful debut, a series launch, they nevertheless provide two halves to a fulfilling, atmospheric story in which Lewers draws on Arabian myth and Egyptian culture to weave a fast-paced magical tale of family, destiny, and belonging. Ages 8--12. Agent: Kelly Dyksterhouse, Tobias Literary. (Feb.)

Booklist Review

When Sahara's father surprises her with a trip to his Egyptian hometown for a family wedding, she's apprehensive. Though she's never set foot in the country or met her relatives, she's swept up in warm embraces and new friendships, but things take a turn for the bizarre with the appearance of her uncle's malevolent fiancé and a mysterious glowing necklace. Scientifically minded Sahara must now contend with the fact that magic could be real--and that she may have to use it to save both her family and the world. This terrific two-pronged adventure toggles between 1980s Cairo and 985 CE Baghdad, bringing together modern life and classic tales of Ali Baba, with some gratifying twists. There's also a profound exploration of tension between seemingly conflicting ideas--science and magic, American upbringing and Egyptian heritage, the beauty and messiness of life itself--and the relief in accepting that both things may be possible at the same time. A memorable adventure that's as exciting as it is insightful.

School Library Journal Review

Gr 3--7--Past and present combine in this story about magic and adventure in modern Egypt. Sahara dreams of a summer spent with friends at an amusement park, but instead she is going to her uncle's wedding in Egypt. Sahara is disappointed, but also curious about her parents' homeland and especially about her late mother. Sahara becomes enchanted with Egypt; her family shares stories, food, and love. One night Sahara's mother's necklace starts glowing, and the next day it disappears. There is evil lurking; the beautiful bride-to-be may be a witch! Also told in alternating chapters is the story of Morgana, a servant to Ali Baba, who lived long ago and has been entrusted with caring and protecting magical items from those with dark intentions. Can Morgana protect the treasures from dark sorcerers? Will Sahara find her necklace and reveal the true intentions of the nightmare bride? Lewers blends culture, fairy tales, and mystery into a memorable story that will resonate with fans of "Percy Jackson." VERDICT Highly recommended, this book encapsulates unique characters, mystery, and fairy tales in a novel that readers will devour.--Katie Llera

Kirkus Review

Egyptian American Sahara comes to value her dual cultural heritage when her first trip to her parents' homeland reveals a magical family history. Going to Cairo to attend her maternal uncle's wedding was never on 12-year-old Sahara Rashad's summer agenda. Since the death of her mother when Sahara was a newborn, she's had no contact with that side of the family and is unsure how she will be received. Despite her worries, she becomes fast friends with her cousin Naima and feels genuine love from all her relatives, except for her uncle's fiancee, Magda. Sahara and Naima suspect Magda has sinister intentions that the adults don't take seriously. Meanwhile, the story of 13-year-old Morgana, a servant of Ali Baba in 10th-century Baghdad, unfolds in an alternate storyline. As the novel progresses, the connection between the two girls takes shape, revealing a centuries-old family secret in danger from malicious outside forces. Sahara's contemplation of her identity and her search for self-acceptance provide an entertaining and relatable backdrop to her encounters with magical elements. Details of Islamic practices and life in Egypt are peppered throughout the novel, flowing naturally as Sahara asks questions about things she doesn't understand. Lewers cleverly builds on the folktale of Ali Baba and Morgana to construct a magical origin story with a rich sense of place and an original twist that can be expanded upon in future volumes. An engaging fantasy inspired by a classic tale that's guaranteed to leave readers eager for more. (Fantasy. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Excerpts

Home grew farther away with every hoofbeat. Morgana rode west, taking advantage of every hour of daylight to forge as much distance between her and Baghdad as possible. It had been three days since she'd fled with the enchanted treasures. She'd promised her mawlay she would take them far away. Though that had meant disappearing in the middle of the night and leaving the only home she'd ever known, she wouldn't let him down. Had Ali Baba foreseen this day? After all, he'd been the one to teach her to ride--a skill most female servants lacked. "There may come a time when you need to run faster than your feet can take you," he'd told her. And when he'd returned from India with the enchanted apple, the flying carpet, and a mysterious ivory spyglass, he insisted on keeping them at home where he could guard them day and night instead of in the chamber. "The magic in these treasures must be closely protected from the evil shadows lurking in the darkness, waiting to strike. If given a chance to possess the enchanted objects, they will exploit them for their own greed, with no regard for the costs." The prince and princess had feared the same for the lamp. And they'd been right. An evil shadow had struck, and there had been costs, irrevocable ones. Nevertheless, Ali Baba's foresight to hide the three magical treasures under the stone floor of his bedroom in a woven sack had given Morgana the chance to grab it, stick the lamp inside, and flee with all four treasures before any other shadows came out of the darkness. She threw a glance at the sack, now tightly tied to the horse's saddle. Pressing the hamsa to her chest, she prayed Deena could forgive her for leaving without saying goodbye and that she'd found her letter. Otherwise, it was only a matter of time before the emir sent his officers to hunt her down. That's if he hadn't already. Excerpted from Daughters of the Lamp by Nedda Lewers All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.