Mara, Daughter of the Nile

This is the book that triggered my interest in Ancient Egypt, when I was 10 or 11*. (I eventually learned much history and how to read hieroglyphics, a skill that's rusted from disuse.) I knew the book existed, I remembered reading it but not the title or author, or enough of the plot to go looking for it. Luckily, it was mentioned in a book discussion in C. J. Cherryh's Wave Without A Shore website, allowing me to find and re-read it.
Set during the reign of Hatshepsut, the Pharoah Queen, Mara is a beautiful, willful, blue-eyed(!) slave who can speak Babylonian in addition to her native Egyptian. This skill leads to her purchase by an agent of the Queen for a job that may lead to her freedom. Mara is to serve as the interpreter to a Babylonian wife chosen by Hatshepsut for her half-brother, Thutmose, while also serving as a spy to discover who is providing communication and support – and how - for Thutmose’s plan to overthrow Hatshepsut. En route to this assignment, Mara meets the compelling young noble Sheftu , and is caught precipitously in the role of double agent, serving both the Pharoah and her brother.
Romance, danger, misunderstandings and high drama ensue. I can’t discuss the plot in any detail without spoilers, but stalwart Sheftu undertakes a massively dangerous errand to bankroll Thutmose’s rebellion, leading to the revelation of Mara’s double role.
Sometimes returning to the books of your childhood can be dangerous. The first thing that struck me was the casual misogyny and stereotyped roles of the three major female characters. Of course Hatshepsut isn’t fit to be Pharoah – she’s a woman, it offends the gods. Not only that, she spends too much money and wages too few wars. There’s disproportionate emphasis on physical beauty. The Babylonian princess is fat and therefore disgusting, redeemed only by her cleverness in the last few chapters. The women are all schemers – conniving being presented as an integral part of the female psyche. Classism and racism are rampant too, of course.
The second issue is how fast and loose McGraw played with the actual history. Hatshepsut was not overthrown; her rule made important military, economic and diplomatic contributions to Egypt. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatshepsut
The final surprise was the prominence of the romantic storyline. I’m all admiration for how smoothly McGraw pulled me into the drama of the romance; the dance of do they/don’t they as the story unfolds and Mara must choose her very dangerous path.
This is a simplistic but not unsophisticated quick read. It is a YA, but with some fairly adult overtones. Definitely worth reading.
*I was pretty precocious. ( )

The story takes place in Ancient Egypt. It is a tale of a young slave girl who falls in love with her master. ( )

My absolute all time favorite book when I was in junior high, and you know, I still like it! :) Travel back to ancient Egypt and the intrigues of the Pharaoh's palace.

Action, romance, intrigue...not to mention history and culture...this book is fast paced without being shallow. The story is balanced enough to be enjoyable for both boys and girls, I think. The romance isn't mushy, the action isn't contrived, and the suspense holds steady throughout the book. I liked seeing the difference between slave life and noble life, between Egyptian life and Syrian life...it's a great way to have fun learning some history. ( )

There is something for everyone in this book. Mara wants her freedom and becomes a double spy for two contender for the throne of Egypt. She falls in love with Sheftu, but then her duplicity is discovered. Ancient Egypt comes vividly to life as does the danger and the gripping fast pace will keep you enthralled with the story long after you finish the last page.