Time Keys: Hunt For the Golden Scarab
by M G Leonard, illustrated by Manuel Sumberac
Interest age: 9 to 11
Reading age: 9+
Published by Macmillan, 2025
About this book
Sim’s mum is a museum caretaker and a martial arts expert. Her mantra is ‘always be alert to the dangers around you’ which Sim has always thought was a bit odd. Exactly what ‘dangers’ is he supposed to be alert to?
Then, whilst cleaning the museum one evening, some unwelcome after-hours visitors turn up looking for Mum. Without a word of explanation, Mum pulls out a penny whistle, plays a few notes and opens a door to the past through which she and Sim escape.
Confused, and more than a bit scared, Sim learns about the powerful gift that runs in his family and the sinister Council of Keys who outlaw unauthorised time travel.
As he, Mum and some loyal friends strive to find the lost tomb of Nefertiti before the Council, and to solve the mystery of the golden scarab, Sim realises that the ‘dangers’ are very real and potentially deadly.
This gripping, thrill-packed, time slip adventure whisks readers away to Egypt, both ancient and modern, and is full of fascinating historical detail lived in the first person.
As Sim discovers, music has the power to transport us to different times and places, but in his case, quite literally!
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