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07/30/2004    
S. M. Smoller     e-mail

     Jill Rubalcaba brought a great piece of Egyptian history into this Historical Fiction novel, The Wadjet Eye. Damon, the pharoah's physician, awakens to find his mother dead after a long sickness.  Damon's mother was an Egyptian, and wanted to be embalmed after death, as it was a tradition in her family.  Unfortunately, no one would touch her body, so Damon had to prepare and embalm her himself.  Damon told his friend Artemas of the tragedy, and they knew that they must find his father who was located overseas in Spain.  Their trip started off well, but they were dragged into a whirlpool along the way, which knocked them off course.  They landed in Sicily where they met Cleopatra, the pharaoh of Egypt.  Cleopatra sent them to Spain on horses and in return for helping her to uncover information about Cicero the spy, she gave them each a beautiful amulet.  Engraved into it was the Eye of Horus or so called, the Wadjet Eye.  Damon and Artemas traveled to Spain during a time of war.  Damon was encouraged to help the nurses rescue some injured men from battle.  One of the warriors brought in to the hospital was Damon's father, Litigus. He had a severe heart problem.  Damon rubbed the amulet from Cleopatra on Litigus' heart and he was saved.
     The tale begins in Egypt in the year 45 B.C.  Egypt is located by the Red Sea and spring season had just begun. Ships were unloading in the harbor, and large houses were lined up along the coast.  Midway through the adventure, the story continues in a hospital in Spain.  The hospital is filled with injured men from the war being led  by Caesar.  Blood was everywhere! Surrounding the hospital were forests, and many miles of battlefields.  The setting was very tragic.
     Artemas is a 17-year-old teenager who is very muscular and has great strength. He has black, curly hair,  and the bend in his nose is like that of a hawk.  He is adventurous, outgoing and impatient.  Artemas is always ready to explore and to be on his own.  His most important contribution to this story is loyalty to his friend Damon and to Cleopatra, and now he helps Damon to find and cure his sick father.
     Damon and Artemas were being dragged into the deadly whirlpool. Sharks were surrounding the gangplank, and they would die if not rescued.  Artemas yells, "I'll have to stand up and wave my arms."  Damon responds, "Are you crazy? If you fall off -" Sharks were circling around them, and every so often one would bump into the gangplank.  The sharks seemed angered and frustrated.  Artemas stood up, a shark bumped into the gangplank, began rocking it wildly, and dragging them in. "Help!", yelled Artemas.  Just in time, before drowning or being eaten by sharks, they were lifted up on the deck by the hanging rope of the ship.
      The Wadjet Eye is a GREAT narrative of foreign travel.  The novel is filled with mystery, curiosity, and wonderful sections about Egyptian history. All children from age 12 to 14 should read this tale if they enjoy adventure and exciting journeys into the past.  As you read more and more of this book, you won't want to put it down.