Review:
(Horrible Histories
Gory Stories)
Scholastic, 2008.
(Age 8+) This is one of a new collection of stories based on historical times and a welcome spin-off of the ever popular Horrible Histories. Others in the series are set in the Tower of London in Tudor times, Hadrian's Wall during Roman times and Victorian London.
The Tomb of Treasure bowls along cheerfully in a kind of Scooby Doo fashion with enough cliff-hangers and slapstick comedy to tempt even reluctant readers. Five unlikely characters are plotting the ultimate heist, the theft of treasure from Tutankhamun's tomb. Children will learn some history, and yes there are one or two satisfyingly gory bits. The Epilogue describes the facts on which the story is based, which makes you think, 'Wow, this could have really happened'.
A definite boy pleaser, but it will be interesting to see just how successful the series is. The children I talk to (especially boys) love Horrible Histories because of their bite size nuggets of information. A foray into the world of fiction may not be a popular move with all fans.
Claire Larson
Home
The tomb of treasure: An awful Egyptian adventure by Terry Deary
(Horrible Histories
Gory Stories) Scholastic, 2008.
(Age 8+) This is one of a new collection of stories based on historical times and a welcome spin-off of the ever popular Horrible Histories. Others in the series are set in the Tower of London in Tudor times, Hadrian's Wall during Roman times and Victorian London.
The Tomb of Treasure bowls along cheerfully in a kind of Scooby Doo fashion with enough cliff-hangers and slapstick comedy to tempt even reluctant readers. Five unlikely characters are plotting the ultimate heist, the theft of treasure from Tutankhamun's tomb. Children will learn some history, and yes there are one or two satisfyingly gory bits. The Epilogue describes the facts on which the story is based, which makes you think, 'Wow, this could have really happened'.
A definite boy pleaser, but it will be interesting to see just how successful the series is. The children I talk to (especially boys) love Horrible Histories because of their bite size nuggets of information. A foray into the world of fiction may not be a popular move with all fans.
Claire Larson
Home
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Consulting, 2007