The Young Explorer’s Companion to The Secret of the Sacred Scarab: The Official Illustrated Guide to Chronicles of the Stone Book 1

By Fiona Ingram

Discover the story behind The Secret of the Sacred Scarab and meet the real life boys who inspired the series. Find out who was the Scarab King, and learn the secrets of Ancient Egypt. Bonus material includes the first chapters of Book 2: The Search for the Stone of Excalibur and Book 3: The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper. Join Justin and Adam in their search for the Seven Stones of Power.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Nov 1, 2013
• ISBN: 9781783011018

Fiona Ingram

"My Story-telling Career Began at Age Ten!" My earliest story-telling talents came to the fore when, from the age of ten, I entertained my three younger brothers and their friends with serialised tales of children undertaking dangerous and exciting exploits, which they survived through courage and ingenuity. The never-ending story was called "Gruesome Gables", and it certainly was gruesome! Haunted houses, vampires, and skeletons leaping out of coffins were hot favourites in the cast of characters. Although I don't have children of my own, I have an adopted teenage foster child, from an underprivileged background, who is just discovering the joys of reading for pleasure. Naturally, I am a voracious reader and have been from early childhood. I can remember sitting on the bus going home from school, reading, and then missing my stop because I was so caught up in the book. I also went to boarding school at Durban Girls' College and the boarders' section was separate from the school. I used to walk down to College House with one foot in the gutter of the path, so that I could continue reading and not walk into a tree or something. I love all kinds of books, art, theatre, antiques, animals (5 cats, 2 dogs and a ferocious duck called Charlemagne), music, and films. Travel is another passion and I have been fortunate to have lived in Europe (while studying) and America (for work). I have travelled widely and fulfilled many of my travel goals. Being a bookworm, I had to attend university. After winning the Emma Smith Scholarship to finance my university studies, I graduated from the University of Natal, Durban with a double first in my B.A. (French & Drama). I won a Human Sciences Research Council Bursary, which enabled me to do my Honours in Drama at Natal. I then went to the University of the Witwatersrand to do my Masters in French-African literature (the impact of colonial language and culture upon the development of African theatre and literature). I desperately wanted to go into the world of theatre so I applied for and won the Emma Smith Overseas Scholarship for further study. I studied drama at The Drama Studio in London and mime at L'Ecole Jacques le Coq in Paris. When I returned to South Africa, I wanted to give something back to the community - after all, I'd been privileged enough to win a fantastic scholarship that changed my life. I immersed myself in teaching drama at community centres, and became involved in producing community and grassroots theatre with local playwrights and performers in Natal for several years. A move to Johannesburg took me in a new direction ... journalism. I have written freelance for the last fifteen years.

Book preview

CONTENTS

Title

Author’s Note

The Journey

How the Story Started

So What’s the Book About?

Meet the Main Characters

Researching the Facts for the Book

Author Interview with Tyler Tichelaar of Reader Views

Reader’s Guide to Ancient Egypt

Tips for Teachers: Class Activities on Egypt

How and Why the Pyramids Were Built

The Legend of the Scarab King

The Riddle of the Sphinx

A Quick History of Ancient Egypt

Tips for Teachers: Creative Writing for Kids

Take This Quick Quiz!

Reading List to Learn More About Egypt

Book 2: The Search for the Stone of Excalibur: Chapter One

Book 3: The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper: Chapter One

Book Awards & Nominations

Illustrations Credits

Copyright

AUTHOR’S NOTE

Writing The Secret of the Sacred Scarab was an amazing journey that changed my life. I experienced some incredible adventures, and then found that there was so much more to discover about the ancient Egyptian civilization. That’s why I have created this Young Explorer’s Companion as an official guide for readers who have enjoyed my book, and those who are still thinking about reading it. If you are about to read The Secret of the Sacred Scarab, then don’t miss out on any of the clues that begin with the Writings of Thoth right in the front of the book. You’ll find that the information Justin and Adam learn on their journey helps them unravel the many clues and pointers they need to solve the secret of the sacred scarab. Please feel free to email me with any questions. I love hearing from readers. If you have a story brewing inside your head, then this book will help you. I have included some tips for young readers to try when writing their own adventures. Writing a book is much easier than you think!

If you’d like to know when each adventure is coming out, send your request to us via the book or author website and your name will go onto our mailing list. Don’t miss out on the action!

www.secretofthesacredscarab.com

www.FionaIngram.com

HOW THE STORY STARTED

Writing a children’s book was an unexpected step, inspired by a family trip to Egypt. In fact, I should say I owe it all to my (wonderful) late mother, who read about a tour to Egypt in a magazine. I wasn’t sure about Egypt because Europe is more to my liking, but Mum was insistent, so I went along with her whim. We took my two nephews with us, and they became the ‘models’ for the two young heroes of the book, Justin and Adam Sinclair.

The tale of the sacred scarab began life as an anecdotal short story for my nephews (then 10 and 12). When we got back to South Africa and had admired the photos and sorted out the souvenirs, I wanted to give them a special memory of the trip. I picked up a writing pad and a red pen (I remember the colour so clearly) and thought … ‘What’s it called?’ Then, without even thinking about it, I wrote the title, The Secret of the Sacred Scarab, and the first word, Egypt! The rest just seemed to flow. I used our actual trip as the plot outline and tried to incorporate the many unusual things that had happened to us, just infusing them with a more sinister meaning. With a black-hearted villain like Dr. Khalid for an arch-enemy, it wasn’t too difficult.

This short story grew into a children’s book, the first in the middle-grade adventure series, Chronicles of the Stone. It had to because by the end of the first book I realized that my heroes couldn’t possibly save the world in one book ... they’d have to continue the adventure, which just grew from there. The fun part was basing the plot on actual events. The boys’ journey closely mirrors much of what we saw and did in Egypt, but obviously is a thousand times more exciting. I’d give anything to actually find an old scarab that was the key to an ancient mystery.

SO WHAT’S THE BOOK ABOUT?

A 5000-year-old mystery comes to life when a scruffy peddler gives Adam and Justin Sinclair an old Egyptian scarab on their very first day in Egypt. Only when the evil Dr. Faisal Khalid shows a particular interest in the cousins and their scarab, do the boys realise they are in terrible danger. Dr. Khalid wants the relic at all costs. Justin and Adam embark upon the adventure of a lifetime, taking them down the Nile and across the harsh desert in their search for the legendary tomb of the Scarab King, an ancient Egyptian ruler. They are plunged into a whirlpool of hazardous and mysterious events when Dr. Khalid kidnaps them. They survive terrifying dangers in a hostile environment (such as a giant cobra, as well as sinking sand), pursued by enemies in their quest to solve the secret of the sacred scarab. They must translate the hieroglyphic clues on the underside of the scarab, as well as rescue the missing archaeologist James Kinnaird, and their friend, the Egyptologist Ebrahim Faza, before time runs out. They must also learn more about the ancient Seven Stones of Power and the mysterious Shemsu-Hor. With just their wits, courage, and each other, the boys manage to survive … only to find that the end of one journey is the beginning of another!

Our heroes are two ordinary young boys who go on a family trip and land up in an adventure beyond their wildest imaginings. They are not archaeologists or specially trained explorers. They are thrown into a whirlpool of quite electrifying events, and face dangers they solve all by themselves—with no technology, no cellphones, no computers … just them in a completely unfamiliar environment (the desert), using their wits and ingenuity, and by depending on each other.

On the surface, there is the idea they are caught up in something exciting—the discovery that the old scarab the peddler gives Adam is actually an important ancient artifact—but underneath is an intricate prehistory teeming with mystery, and secrets of the past that will determine the fate of the world. The younger boy, Adam, has been singled out for an important task, something that has been awaiting his arrival for what appears to be thousands of years. The reader wonders why Adam was chosen for this role … until the background of ancient history unravels. At the end of the first book there is still so much more to solve that it is impossible for Adam and Justin simply to return to their ordinary lives. The secrets of the past continue to tease us, despite all the technological advancements and innovations humankind has achieved. Adam and Justin will unlock those mysteries.

MEET THE MAIN CHARACTERS

I was asked once why I chose boys instead of girls as my heroes. I modeled the characters on my nephews, of course, but I did feel at the time that girls wouldn’t do well in a really harsh and extremely hot environment. The boys are kidnapped, hauled across the desert on dirty smelly camels, can’t wash, change clothes or clean their teeth etc. Girls would not fare well. That said, art imitates life again because shortly after we came back from the trip I ended up fostering (and later adopting) an African girl from a disadvantaged background. She and my youngest nephew soon became firm friends and before I knew it, another character had arrived in the next book—The Search for the Stone of Excalibur. So a heroine joins the boys and this changes everything about the adventure!

School is Cool

My heroes, Adam and Justin Sinclair, aren’t rebels; they’re nice kids who get tangled up in something bigger than their wildest dreams (or nightmares). They like school, sports, and class activities; they love and respect their parents, and want to do the right thing. Their challenges come when they are in a totally different environment with no access to any of their usual support systems, no way of calling for help (kidnapped and tour bus hijacked!), and faced with making decisions that draw upon their upbringing and moral training. Besides, school is cool, and since it is the foundation stone of every child’s future, it is extremely uncool to flunk grades and end up shortchanging one’s career. In fact, when Justin and Adam hear about young Egyptian children from poor families having to work in the fields and not go to school, they were shocked—just as my nephews were. (They developed an increased appreciation for school on their return home). In my books, Justin and Adam already appreciate books, reading, and school, but learn even more about the impact it has on their future. Their natural curiosity as well draws them toward books and information. Do they sound too perfect? Not at all. They actually have done some very naughty things on their Egypt trip and wait until you read the second book … even more scrapes and danger in store.

Character Flaws in my Heroes

My main characters, although they’re nice kids, are not perfect. I think that’s important for young readers to recognize—that as humans we are not perfect, but we can make the right decisions or else take steps to correct our mistakes. One’s background and upbringing will determine these choices. Their personalities are different with Justin being a year older, but more importantly, while they share the same values, they react differently to danger, morally and emotionally challenging situations, and threats. Justin is prepared to let one of their kidnappers die in the desert, even though it goes against all he has been taught. He is ashamed of himself while saying this, but won’t budge. Adam puts himself in danger to save the man because it is the right thing to do and ‘everyone deserves a chance.’ Later in the adventure, Justin actually does save the man! In many ways, their strengths and weaknesses complement each other. Adam wants to be a hero and achieve great things until he has greatness and the ultimate heroic opportunity thrust upon him. Ultimately, he finds his heroic qualities and realizes that true heroism is not what he thought it would be. Justin always wants to be right, to let the facts dictate the action, to find a practical solution. He has to learn to let go and listen to his heart. His test comes in the shape of love and loyalty when his cousin’s life is threatened. We can all be heroes, no matter whom or what we are.

Underneath all the excitement, the lesson for younger readers is to believe in yourself and know that you can make a difference and achieve what you want. The two boys find their roles are different, but in a way equally important. Adam is singled out for a huge task, yet his cousin Justin is necessary to make sure Adam survives the ordeal. Courage and compassion are also highlighted as the boys grapple with moral decisions when they are faced with life-and-death situations.

Who else is there?

Dr. Khalid—the uber-villain. Everyone loves to hate a baddie and the most wonderfully sinister character is the evil Dr. Khalid, head of the Egyptian Museum. In this character, I have emphasized

Reviews for The Young Explorer’s Companion to The Secret of the Sacred Scarab

[emrislindsay · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It’s the vacation of a life time, touring the ancient city of Cairo and other mystical, interesting and mesmerizing places. Adam and Justin, these cousins were on the lookout to find the famous King tut’s tomb and treasure that the well known Scottish Archaeologist James Kinnard spoke about. They were taken on one of their finest adventures ever by their Aunt and Grandmother, until weird and sinister things started happening and black robed characters with guns kept appearing around the corners. They were plagued with break ins, kidnappings and even murder. This was truly a one in a million vacation, the story was well written with an intense and thrilling ending, fast pace and truly exciting. Adventurous kids would enjoy this book.

[kate_larkinson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Fascinating fast-paced action adventure!I thoroughly enjoyed this extremely well-written story woven around fascinating early Egyptian history and legend. It was very easy to get into and a compelling read. The characters were believable and most of them were very likeable. I particularly liked the way that most of them supported each other and how their strengths were drawn out of them as the story unfolded. I also enjoyed the humorous asides, which were just enough to lift the tension and keep the story flowing. All in all a great read for children and adults that both entertains and informs.

[eheinlen_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Loved it! This book was a great, engaging read! The writing is easy-to-read and the story just sucks you in. Definitely a great book for an older child or a teenager.

[vivapdx_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An excellent adventure! I'll be picking up a copy for my grandson, and looking for the next in the series.

[celticlady53 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The mysteries of Egypt have always fascinated me ever since I was little. I used to watch anything and everything about Egypt and read any books about the mysterious land of the pharoahs. I read this book in two sittings as it was so easy to read and understand. It caught me from the first page and had me going until the end. How awesome for these two boys to be able to go on a trip like this to Egypt and then find themselves embroiled in a 5000 year old mystery. The danger and intrigue is prevalent throughout the story and the characters believable. I think this story would make an awesome movie. Even though The Secret of the Sacred Scarab is for the pre-teen, I think this book can be read by anyone who wants a bit of history, mystery and dastardly deeds. I highly recommend it

[bookscookslooks · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a book targeted to tweens but it still held my interest. Two young cousins, Adam and Justin are very excited about their trip to Egypt with their Aunt. While it is supposed to be an educational trip the boys are looking for ADVENTURE! And adventure they find. While the boys are exploring a marketplace a strange peddler gives them several scarabs; three are quite ordinary but one is very unusual. From that point on the boys are a target of a madman who ultimately kidnaps them as part of a plot to steal ancient treasures. I don't want to give too much away but your tweens will be enthralled with this tale.The story manages to be both educational and compelling. Ms. Ingram teaches about ancient Egypt and about the wrongs committed by smugglers in a smooth fashion that ties into the plot. The characters are well developed and in some cases downright fun. The bad guys are very, very bad! I think the target audience will find themselves racing through the pages to get to the very satisfying conclusion. The book is the first in what I hope is a long series. These boys are smart and fun.

[dranea_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Egypt - full of fantasy, adventure, secrets, curses, and treasure. This intriguing land is one that I have always wanted to experience for myself, so anytime a fun new book comes out surrounding the mysteries of this extraordinary land, the temptation to dive in is overwhelming.The same feelings sit with the heroes of our story. Justin and Adam are two youngsters getting ready to go on a family outing with their famous Aunt Isabel. Adam and Justin cannot wait for the adventures to start, after all, if an adventure was going to start anywhere, Egypt would be the place. Soon after the group arrives the mysteries start to unfold; a merchant slips free gifts to the boys in a hurry and runs off before the boys can question him or even thank him! Cameras are broken and rucksacks are nabbed. In contradiction to Isabel's claims of "NO ADVENTURES", this trip is turning out exactly the way the boys would like. Hidden messages, sacred objects, and danger at every stop. Throw in a smuggling ring, and this is turning into a true life story for these young boys. What the boys soon learn is that the real adventures are often more dangerous and frightening than they seem from the outside. Once fully immersed in the danger, you cannot wish yourself out.This is a grand adventure for any child who is looking for a journey to one of the most fascinating areas on the planet. With all of the secrets Egypt still has to offer, people of all ages are drawn to this place as were the boys in the story. The pacing may be a bit slow for older readers, but I think any young adult will have a full experience with this book. The story really gripped my interest as the final chapters unfolded. The different tombs, areas, and the culture in this book will make even the most reluctant student want to pick up another book about Egypt. This is the first of a series, and I have no doubt that the children will be waiting on pins and needles to get the next installment of the adventures of Adam and Justin.

[tpa_teacher · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Secret of the Sacred Scarab - Fiona IngramThis is an adventure story about two cousins, Adam and Justin who live in South Africa. They are typical young teen age boys who are excited when their aunt, an investigative journalist and their grandmother take them along on a trip to Egypt. Adam is convinced that he is going to have the adventure of a lifetime and is not disappointed. Adam is given 3 small scarabs by a strange peddler. When the authorities come by, the peddler quickly hands the items to Adam and disappears without being paid. Adam later finds out an expensive scarab in his pocket. A famous archeologist is missing and the boys feel that the scarab is involved in the mystery. This book is filled with nuggets of information about Egypt. Some items are common knowledge things but she fills the novel with a lot of details about Egypt. This would be a fun classroom read 4th - 6th grade, if you were studying Egypt. The students would have fun "checking" the facts that Fiona Ingram has woven into the story. The book reminded me a lot of the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew series of my childhood because the kids are the brains in the investigation and outwit the adult "bad guys". Students who like either mystery or adventure stories, would like this book. Students who are interested in Egypt would like this as well. While the main characters are boys, girls would also like this book. It will keep an adult's interest and it perfect for a family reading activity. The only thing that I would change would be the cover if it is marketed in the United States as the cover illustration pictures boys who look a lot younger than the almost 13 and 14 year old characters. The cover looks dated and students "judging a book by its cover" might not pick it up.This is the first book of a series and I am going to read the other books in the series this summer.

[sheiladeeth_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Do you remember the excitement and mystery of a child’s view of Egypt? All the strange possibilities that waken the imagination when mummies are first introduced? The dreams of magical powers and Pharaoh’s treasure in ancient tombs? The pyramid’s curse? If you do, then you’ll love The Secret of the Sacred Scarab by Fiona Ingram.A really enjoyable children’s book, the Secret of the Sacred Scarab starts with two boys in South Africa getting ready for a week-long trip to Egypt with their aunt and grandmother. It’s the trip of a lifetime and they can scarcely wait.The author places them on a plane for their first ever flight, and delightfully conveys their youthful excitement. The same sense of newness and adventure pervades the whole tale. They arrive in Egypt and we see the sights through their eyes, beautifully described (so I long to go there too), but never devolving into travelogue. It’s a masterful acheivment.And then the boys are placed in danger too. The story’s told with all the innocent love of adventure that I enjoyed when I was growing up. It’s fun. It’s exciting. The boys must use their wits, intelligence and imagination, as must their grandmother in some truly hilarious scenes. Officials, good, bad and indifferent, intervene. Mysterious gifts bestow mysterious powers. And when the story ends—a good strong ending indeed—the reader knows there’s more and hopes it will come soon.I’ve never been to Egypt or seriously studied its history, but I’m fairly sure Fiona Ingram has. She describes the steps of the tour very beautifully and convincingly, and she gives an entirely plausible background to the history of her tale. I really enjoyed this adventure and would recommend it to any adventure-loving readers of any age.

[detweilermom_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

My Take: What a great summer read for tween boys especially. This book has all of the elements that boys would find interesting, boys for the main character, the adventure of Egypt the mystery behind the Sacred Scarab and the action of the chase and kidnapping. Girls will enjoy this book as well. A by- product of this books may spark an interest in Egytian culture and history and what a better way for kids to spend time than learning. Great book!!

[susan_pettrone · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

We find upon opening this book that young Adam and his cousin Justin Sinclair have been invited to go on a tour of Egypt by their Aunt Isabel, an investigative journalist, and will be accompanied by their grandmother as well. Their excitement is palpable as they begin a journey of adventure, danger and even deception before finally making the discovery of which dreams are made.Joining their tour group in Cairo, Adam is given three small scarabs by a peddler who disappears when the police arrive. Suddenly their average run of the mill tour is replaced by mystery and intrigue, some which place the boys in danger and some which give them insight into not only the three scarabs but another unique scarab they discover has been slipped unknown into a pocket of Adams’ pants. When they discover that the famous archeologist James Kinnard is missing, the boys are more than ever drawn to finding out what is so special about the scarabs they now have in their possession. They have a feeling that Kinnard’s disappearance is somehow mixed in with the mysterious peddler and the searching of their room. But it isn’t until their Aunt’s camera is stolen and they are suddenly given a much more expensive version by a highly placed Egyptian man, who just happens to be around when the thief is caught, that they are drawn even deeper into the mystery and become more involved as the days pass watching and waiting for the next turn in their adventure. Even meeting Dr. Faisal Khalid, the head of the Egyptian museum somehow makes them uncomfortable and when they follow some men into a hidden room, they boys know they are in for trouble if they do not discover, before someone else does, the real importance of the scarab they hide so carefully. Add to this a trip down the Nile, a face in their window, the story of the Scarab King, ruins galore and the appearance of many sinister characters and you have the makings of a book any young reader will find not only riveting but fun to read as well. I highly recommend this for the young adventurer in your life. Through it’s twists and turns the author leads the reader to an end and puts two young boys and assorted characters through many exciting and mesmerizing times. It is a book that young readers will cling to for it’s excitement and suspense and a book that older readers will enjoy for the pure joy of reading a book filled with possibilities of treasure in Egypt. I know, I enjoyed this book as much, as my young son will and I intend to obtain every copy I possibly can, of books, author Fiona Ingram has written. For in this day and age of real life horrific tales, this is one that safely takes the reader into a land of mystery and intrigue yet delivers them in the end safely back at home, ready for the next adventure of Adam and Justin. And that in my opinion, is what makes a successful writer for young readers, that safe ending that is premised by excitement, promise of treasure, adventure intertwined with twists and turns galore!