The Cursed Tomb
Iszi Lawrence
Bloomsbury Education

In her latest story, Iszi Lawrence transports readers back to ancient Egypt 1249BCE where we meet eleven year old Henut. We first encounter her as she’s experiencing a troubling dream from which she wakes, tiptoes down from the roof to see whether all is well and hearing strange noises, she heads to the kitchen of her family’s home. Following the sound of loud wing beats, she proceeds to the main room where things are scattered all over the floor; a winged creature launches itself at her and she ends up flat on her back. Alerted by all the noise, Sennefer, her father arrives on the scene. He refuses to believe Henut’s explanation of what has happened and punishes her for what he considers to be her disrespect and lies; harsh and unjust indeed but Henut is used to being treated this way by her father.

Things improve though when Uncle Seti stops by en route to deliver some wine, and shares with his niece and her family stories of what he’s seen on his travels. But then he disappears and in her search for him Henut thinks she saw her mother whom she’s been told was dead; she also finds a scarab amulet.
On a festival day among the celebrating crowds, Henut saves the life of the pharaoh’s son Khaemwaset. He thinks she’s brought him luck and wants her to accompany him to a temple along the river as his servant. She reluctantly agrees and so begins her adventure. Henut finds herself engulfed in mystery, forced at enormous risk to her present life and that in the next world, to enter a tomb of one of Egypt’s long dead rulers in the Valley of Kings.

There are numerous obstacles put in her way. Can Henut possibly survive all the challenges that await and manage to get back to her home in Memphis; and can she find out the truth about her mother?

Bursting with fascinating historical details, this is a terrific tale that will excite and subtly inform KS2 readers. It would also be a great read aloud. Henut is a very likeable character who is determined and her actions are conscience driven even if that means departing from the rules. With a glossary and a guide to the gods at the end of the book, this is a story I thoroughly recommend.