Cat Detective

July 15, 2018
Ra is Pharaoh's Cat, exalted, proud, pampered, and very lazy.He lives for naps and snacks and views physical activity with horror. His friend Khepri, a scarab beetle, tries to get him moving, but to no avail. When Miu, a lowly kitchen cat, begs him to use his knowledge of the palace's secrets to help Tedimut, a young human girl falsely accused of stealing an amulet, he declines, appalled at the possibility of missing his next snack. Shamed into helping, he leads the way through the intricacies of the palace. They find Tedimut's hiding place, and after hearing her story, Ra decides to be the lead detective, with Khepri as his sidekick, to find the real thief. They track clues throughout the palace and get help from Aat, the Great Wife's leopard; Bebi, the pet baboon of Pharaoh's mother; and others. Overheard conversations, palace intrigue, chases, and loads of red herrings come into play before they find the surprise culprit and solve the mystery. Greenfield's tone is generally lighthearted, but there is an undertone concerning the nature of power. The exciting ancient setting, as well as the characters' idiosyncratic personalities and their delightful repartee, will appeal to young readers. Horne's pen-and-ink portraits, elongated and exaggerated, perfectly complement the seriocomic tone of the novel.Fast-paced adventure with a lot of charm. (glossary of names, author's note, source note, acknowledgements) (Historical fantasy/mystery. 8-11)

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September 1, 2018

Gr 2-5-Ra is Pharaoh's cat: a position of great honor, privilege, and feline laziness. Set in ancient Egypt, this lightly humorous mystery follows Ra's growth from self-centered lethargy to a true detective-with help from his friends. A precious amulet belonging to Pharaoh's wife has been stolen, and a young servant girl named Tedimut was framed for the crime. A kitchen cat approaches Ra seeking justice. Ra reluctantly accepts the challenge, with some prodding from his scarab beetle friend Khepri. Time is running short though; Pharaoh declares the theft treasonous, which is tantamount to a death sentence for the thief. The story is enhanced by delightful black-and-white illustrations. Ra's initial vanity is well balanced with the apparent steadfastness of his friendship with a dung-loving beetle. Proud and lazy as Ra may be, his unwavering loyalty to a vulnerable friend makes him a multidimensional character from the outset. An author's note and list of sources help clarify fact and fiction. VERDICT A charming page-turner of a mystery; recommend to cat lovers and young Egyptologists.-Sara White, Seminole County Public Library, Casselberry, FL

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 15, 2018
Grades 2-4 Ra revels in his life as the pharaoh's cat. It's an exquisite existence of naps, snacks, and being admired?or, as his best friend Khepri (a scarab) uncharitably describes it, laziness. Ra is jolted out of his leisurely habits when scandal rocks the palace: a young servant girl has stolen the Great Wife's necklace and gone into hiding. As the palace guards search for the girl, Tedimut, her scrappy cat, Miu, comes to Ra for help. She knows Tedimut has been falsely accused, and after just the right amount of flattery, Ra agrees to find out who the real thief is, with Khepri as his sidekick. Their ensuing exploits are perfect for young gumshoes. Greenfield gives a clear breakdown of how to conduct an investigation, helmed primarily by Khepri, who proves to be the brains of the detective team. Greenfield also incorporates just the right amount of ancient Egyptian history, charmingly illustrated by Horne. Humor courses through the narrative, and Ra sheds some of his overabundant ego by the mystery's end.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)