Reese’s Review of The Red Pyramid

New York Times Best Seller's List – Children's Chapter Books July 2011

Exposition:

Carter and Sadie Kane are brother and sister divided because of their mother's (who was Caucasian) death, and their father's (who is African American) realization that keeping them separated is safer for them. When their father tries to summon the ancient Egyptian god Osiris, he accidentally releases other ancient gods: Set, Nephthys, Isis, Horus, and Osiris. Amos Kane, the kids' uncle, takes them under his protection to his home in Brooklyn and explains that they have blood ties to the ancient Egyptian gods. That night Carter has a dream that he later shares with Amos who goes off in search of information about the dream from Set.

Conflict:

After exploring Amos' library against his instructions, Sadie and Carter are attacked by the warriors of Set. Bast, the Egyptian cat goddess in the form of a pet cat who has been protecting Sadie, saves them but is later defeated by the scorpion goddess. They escape through a portal with the help of Zia who takes them to the House of Life from whom they are descended. Training as magicians against the wishes of powerful magician Dejardins, they escape again when the Chief Lector dies and Darjardins takes his place.

Rising Action:

Sadie and Carter travel to Paris to find out how to defeat Set. Seeking the Feather of Truth, they go to the underworld to Anubis.

Climax:

Carter and Sadie go to the Red Pyramid in Phoenix where Carter (who is hosting Horus) and Set battle. Sadie (who is hosting Isis) performs a spell that transports the pyramid to Washington, D.C. but realizes Apophis is going to use the red pyramid to escape.

Falling Action:

Carter, Sadie, and Dejardins join together to stop Apophis. Carter and Sadie release the gods they have been hosting even though they would not have been successful without their help, but they retain a piece of the gods in their amulets.

Resolution:

Julius Kane (Sadie and Carter's dad) decides to stay with their mother in the underworld. Sadie and Carter's amulet attract others with the "blood of the pharaohs".

Literary Elements:

Riordan use rich figurative language throughout the book.  In particular, his use of imagery allows the reader to fully experience the "audio recording" of the events.  He use of dialogue also adds to the experience as the "voices" of Sadie and Carter take turns relating the story.

Personal Reaction:

I originally picked this book up at the book fair and then grabbed it for a short "read aloud" period at the end of the day to fill time after a fire drill with my 8th graders. My intention was to simply read a bit until the end of class and hopefully enthrall a few to go pick it up from the library to read. What actually happened astounded me, I had a line of 20 students BEGGING to take it home and continue reading it at the end of class. I ended up agreeing to do another read aloud he next day, and the next, and the next. By the end of the week, over half had bought or borrowed their own copies and were reading it along (or trying to beat the rest of the class). Students began looking for information on the ancient Egyptians and bringing it in to share. I wasn't grading this; they simply were motivated to do it because they were fascinated with the book.

Riordan , R. (2010). The Red Pyramid. New York: Hyperion Books.