I absolutely loved meeting Aliya in her first adventure, Aliya to the Infinite City so was really excited to return to her time-travelling world in Aliya Aboard the Time Train and what a thrilling, action-packed and danger-filled adventure it turned out to be! You can read my review: https://bookcraic.blog/2024/08/09/review-aliya-aboard-the-time-train/

On today’s Blog Tour, Laila introduces the Blog Tour and I have the first letter from Aliya to her grandfather as she travels on the Silver Express.

Blog Tour introduction:

I began writing the Aliya series as an attempt to ignite my own children’s interest in their country’s fabulously rich history and culture. At first I imagined it would be a series of non-fiction books in the style of Horrible Histories, but soon after starting my imagination hijacked me. I ended up writing a highly fantastical story packed with everything from naughty flying carpets to scary ghoul-maidens who run student hostels and, not to forget, a time-travel academy located in an alternate Egypt.

As a writer, I can vouch for the idea that you don’t really know where your story is going to take you. Still, while the Aliya series mainly is an action-packed adventure, I’m hoping that the backdrop of Egyptian characters and historical places will be enough to inspire my young readers (and old) to learn more about the fascinating history of Egypt and the middle east.

The fictional letters you will find here are ‘written’ by Aliya to her grandfather as she traverses history aboard the Silver Express, the time travelling train featured in my latest instalment: Aliya aboard the Time Train. The letters are intended as an accompaniment to the books and explore a variety of historical and cultural subjects, such as food, clothing, housing, and education throughout Egyptian and middle eastern history.

To read all the letters, check out all the stops of this blog tour! I have prepared classroom resources for all the letters that you can access for free on my website www.lailarifaat.com. Be sure to check them out! I hope you’ll enjoy Aliya’s adventures and learn as much from them as I have! 

Letter 1: Eat like an Egyptian (Ancient Egyptian Food)

Dear Geddo, 

I’m writing to you from my compartment on board the Silver Express. It’s night now, and my coach is quiet, and the lights are dimmed. Since we took off from the Grand Central station and whooshed into the time-tunnel, I’ve been moving around as if in a dream. Watching time pass by outside at such speed is making me light-headed, but also: this train really is something out of this world. The Silver Express is even more magnificent on the inside than on the outside, with thick carpets and glossy wooden panelling. They’ve got a 24/7 operating chocolate fountain in the first-class carriage! All genie coach-attendants sleep in sweet little lanterns that hang at the end of the coaches, and they redecorate the lounges and the dining coach to fit with each stop on our itinerary. Right now, they are Ancient Egyptian themed in anticipation of our first stop. The digital timeline display in our compartment shows me that we’re fast approaching the Old Kingdom. That’s sometime in 2649 BC!

Today at our Ancient Egypt-themed dinner, we got treated to a real banquet. As we walked into the dining coach, we discovered that the genie waiters had all dressed up (or undressed rather) to look like Ancient Egyptian servants, in loincloths and short-sleeved linen shirts (Charlotte, our prude Victorian chaperone, nearly fainted). Once we were seated, they poured scented water on our hands and gave us garlands made of lotus flowers to wear. Charlotte was offered a cone of fat infused with perfume to wear on her head. It was supposed to melt into her hair to make it smell good. The fat cone is like an ancient Egyptian gift bag, but it didn’t go down well with Charlotte who, after she had carried on about the nerve to offer her a fat cone, kept telling us how surprised she was that the ancients had healthy food. 

Each dinner guest got served a newly baked loaf of emmer-wheat, a staple in the ancient Egyptian diet. It was delicious but quite compact. Soliman, our genie guide, said that this was because the low gluten content prevented it from rising well. The ancient Egyptians liked shaping their bread into all kinds of forms and we had fun guessing the shape of our loaves. Aion’s was horse-shaped, and mine was a spiral. Victoria kept nagging Aion to switch with her because hers looked like a headless hippo. Some of the loaves had spices in them like coriander, and some had dried fruits, like dates and figs. 

The rest of the food was served on a long table. Soliman told me that the crew had prepared for the feast by going shopping in the Old and New Kingdoms. Imagine that! I recognized most of the food, so not sure why they bothered to time-travel to get it. Ancient Egyptian vegetables are onions, spring-onions, lettuce, and cucumbers, just like our short, chubby ones at home in modern Cairo. I recognized other foods as well: Mallow (khobbiza) and lentils, both brown and yellow. The meat and fish were just like ours too, just cooked differently. They even had a lot of the disgusting stuff you and great-Aunt Gigi try to convince me is ‘healthy,’ like cow-feet soup. Some of the modern travellers started making a fuss about the whole cow-head that sat in the middle of the table on a ceramic platter. I was mostly surprised at the exotic meats. There was cooked hartebeest, addax, oryx, ibex, gazelle, hippos, and even crocodile! 

For dessert we got cakes and pastries sweetened with honey and dried fruits. Did you know that the Ancient Egyptians believed that honey had been created for the god Ra’s tears, the drops turning into bees? The signature sweet dish was a high, conical tiger-nut-cake coated with honey. It looked a bit like the fat cone the waiters wanted to put on Charlotte’s head. There was fruit too, many of which reminded me of home: dates, grapes, melons, figs, and juices made from pomegranate and doum (like the juice you drink in Ramadan). They also drank cow’s milk, did you know that? 

All in all, most of the food reminded me of what we still eat back home in Cairo, apart from the exotic animals and the tiger-nut cake. I don’t know why Charlotte had to make such a fuss. She only touched the fruit and a bit of the bread. She even insisted that the waiter’s remove the boiled cow-head because ‘it was looking’ at her. 

There was music and dancing too performed by the genie staff, but I’ll tell you about that later. I better go to sleep now. We’ve got a big day ahead of us tomorrow. By the way, if you hear some strange news about the train…don’t worry. Should anything happen (you know what I mean), Professor Fayrouz is here to protect us. We’ll be safe, I promise. 

Your granddaughter, 

Aliya 

About Laila Rifaat

Laila moved to Cairo, Egypt, in her twenties to explore her father’s native country. She fell in love with the country and has lived in Cairo for over 30 years now. It remains a main source of inspiration for her stories. She has an MA in English and Comparative Literature and has worked as an ESL and IGCSE teacher. Nowadays she’s a full-time writer and stay-at-home mum to her four kids. Find out more at www.lailarifaat.com.

Thank you to Megan Farr and Chicken House Books for inviting me to be part of the Blog Tour, and to Laila Rifaat for providing these wonderful letters.

Do check out the other stops on the Blog Tour:

Detective duo Peggy and Stu are back for two more sleuthing adventures in Tangletree Mysteries:   Peggy and Stu Play the Wrong Notes – and what fantastically fun-filled adventures they are.  This is a full colour graphic novel series that young readers of 6+ are going to absolutely adore as they enter Tangletree Wood for fun, daring and mayhem in two different mysteries:  Trumpet Trouble and Cake Crimes.

Peggy is keeping a secret … she is no ordinary dog, but a super sleuth who has her own office in Tangletree Woods so, when her owner brings her for a morning walk, she finds the opportunity to wander into the woods to visit her friends … and find some cases to solve.

Trumpet Trouble

Peggy discovers that Tangletree Town is having a Spring Dance, but a dance needs music – and musicians!   When Peggy and Stu discover that musical genius, Joan’s trumpet will only pay horribly wrong notes, they find themselves with a case to solve as they chase the trumpet, which seems to have a life of its own, into town.  Cue music, mayhem and mischief-makers!  Can this detective duo solve the puzzling case and save the Spring Dance from the wrong notes?

Cake Crimes

Peggy is drawn into Tangletree Town by the delicious smell of cakes and buns and the discovery that the mayor’s statue is going to be unveiled.  A new bakery has popped up in the town square which is drawing all the inhabitants for irresistible cakes and buns, but could there be more to the baker than meets the eye?  When a sweet tooth becomes a tooth ache … and a pop-up dentist appears, can the super sleuths make the connection and solve the crime?

Each of the mysteries is about 60 pages in length which is perfect for newly-independent readers.  I loved the Tangletree Gallery which introduces the characters readers will meet in the stories.  The panelled illustrations are playful, energetic and vibrant – fantastically appealing and full of humour and personality.  The stories are told through character speech interactions and sound effects to convey actions.  The overall layout of the panels and the use of a font in mostly lower-case lettering makes this super-readable for younger readers to follow independently.  But I think this is also a series that will appeal to older readers who enjoy graphic novels and mysteries.

A delightfully fun graphic novel which I have no doubt young readers will enjoy delving into again and again.  I’m so glad there’s more adventures for this daring duo in Peggy & Stu Hear Something Strange.

Thank you to Antonia Wilkinson and Welbeck Children’s Books/Hachette Children’s Group for inviting me to be part of the Blog Tour for the second graphic novel in the Tangletree Mysteries series.

Do check out the other stops on this Blog Tour:

I’m currently reading a book for adults, The Gathering by a new favourite author. This one is a horror set in Alaska where vampires are entitled to protection, but not everyone agrees. A detective who grew up in Deadhart is back and trying to solve a murder case.

I finished another book for adults, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches which was just gorgeous. I was so excited to see there’s another coming in March next year. I also finished Spellcasters which was a fun read for younger children. Jenny moves to a new town where she makes three new friends who form a band. They have magical powers through objects handed down by their ancestors which they use to help defeat an evil spirit. I also read the Aliya Aboard the Time Train which was a wonderful second book in this series: I have posted my review. I also read Ghost Tide which is such a spooky read: I have posted my review. Finally, I read Black Gables which is another brilliantly spooky read out in October and perfect for this time of year. The cover reveal hasn’t been done yet so I haven’t posted an image.

I’m heading to Disney World so will be taking a few books to read on my flight. I’m hoping to read Auntie Medusa and Me.

Due to my holiday, I’m going to be taking a couple of weeks break from my Blog except for a couple of Blog Tours coming up. I’ll return to posting reviews at the start of September.

I absolutely loved meeting Aliya in her first adventure, Aliya to the Infinite City so was really excited to return to her time-travelling world in Aliya Aboard the Time Train and what a thrilling, action-packed and danger-filled adventure it turned out to be! 

Twelve-year-old Aliya’s grandfather, Geddo, is determined to keep her safe after she was nearly killed by rogue magician, Dorian Drake which is why she finds herself having afternoon tea and playing riddle bingo with sphinxes rather than exploring the city she has come to love. After managing to sneak out of the tearoom, she goes to meet with her mentor, Professor Nigm, but the Smithy is attacked and he sends her back to safety …

Fearing that Aliya could once again be the target of Dorian Drake, her grandfather arranges for her to leave the Citadel aboard the Silver Express, a time-travelling train on an exclusive tour taking its passengers back through Ancient Egyptian history.  Once aboard, Aliya meets up with her pod from the Infinitum Time-Travel Academy … but it is not long before someone aboard is murdered …

And so begins the most gripping, fast-paced adventure which had me on the edge of my seat and eagerly turning pages as I followed Aliya and her friends in their dangerous mission to unmask a killer.  This is an adventure that is brimming with danger and tension, with unexpected twists and turns, and that really builds to a crescendo as truths are slowly revealed.  I absolutely loved following the intriguing clues, never quite sure of who to trust and who may be hiding secrets or being manipulated by others. 

I loved that the adventure takes place on a luxurious time-travelling train with stops for excursions into Egyptian history.  This sense of being trapped both out of time and on a train really increased the levels of tension and peril making it feel as if Aliya is in a race to find the culprit before they have the opportunity to strike again. 

I really enjoyed learning about characters’ motivations and reasons for the choices they make and the actions they take which makes them feel much more real.  I also really liked the blend of history, mythical creatures and magic brought together through a time-travelling world in which peoples from the past and future are brought together – a brilliant concept that completely fascinated me.

Aliya rejoins her friends from the first adventure aboard the Silver Express and I really enjoyed how their friendship develops, including overcoming barriers, as they face the danger on the train together.  They each have their strengths, whether that be the abilities which have allowed them to enter the Time-Travel Academy or their different personalities, and these help them to become a strong team when faced with terrible danger.

Hop aboard for an absolutely riveting adventure, racing through time to an Ancient Egyptian past where peril awaits and magic threatens … perfect for adventurers of 9+.

Thank you to Chicken House Books for sending me a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

This review now features on Twinkl Australia at https://www.twinkl.com.au/blog/how-does-reading-promote-healthy-development-for-children

Hero Wanted! is a fantastically fast-paced, wonderfully wacky adventure that completely captivated me as I followed a brilliant young hero through a madcap quest to save the people of Brokenshire from a war that is keeping them apart.

Twelve-year-old Grace Parker is woken at midnight by a strange noise outside – a beautiful white horse eating the front hedge.  Before she can take photographic evidence, her bedroom door flies open to admit a figure in bronze armour holding a sword.  This figure, who just so happens to look very like Grace, gives her Swickstipe, her sword, and tells her that Grace must, as prophesied, now replace her as the fifteenth and final Grace and help the People of the Day win the Worthy War.  She directs her to Wellingtonia, the horse eating her hedge, who take her to complete her quest.

Why would a twelve-year-old with no sword skills whatsoever agree to undertake such a quest?  Well, Grace has done something against her twin brother that she rather regrets and what better way to avoid your parents’ wrath than to leave a dying doppelganger in your place and go off to become a hero?

It is not long before Wellingtonia has taken Grace through her dinner lady’s shed and into the county of Brokenshire … and so begins the most hilarious, action-packed and brilliantly zany adventure that is guaranteed to bring giggles galore and gasps of delight and shock as Grace and her sharp-tongued horse find themselves joined in their quest by a vegan T-Rex.  Can Grace fulfil the prophecy and defeat the Fearsome Foe – just as soon as she discovers what it is!  Can she learn the real reason for the hostilities between the People of the Day and the People of the Night? Be prepared for magic, mayhem, danger, a myriad of one-of-a-kind characters and unexpected revelations and happenings that kept me eagerly turning pages. Bomber geese, trigger wolves, sword-wielding dodos and venom goblins await in the pages of this absolute riot of an adventure … but who are allies and who foe?

Grace makes a wonderful, if unexpected heroine. Whilst she makes mistakes and is rather clumsy, she is also resilient, curious, kind-hearted and courageous – definite hero qualities!  She does not just accept her role as the saviour of one group, but questions how the war began and whether the prophecy is correct.  There is also a wonderful message in the story about mutual respect and standing against prejudice.

The full-and-partial-page illustrations are absolutely amazing and really complement the fun and energy of the adventure by bringing these brilliant characters to life through images as well as the words of the author.

A terrifically fun quest adventure brimming with heart and humour, guaranteed to delight young readers of 8+.

Thank you to Bloomsbury Children’s Books for sending me a copy of Hero Wanted! in exchange for my honest opinion.

I’m reading the first Spellcasters book which I’m really enjoying, especially seeing how the friends will use their magic. I’ve also just started a book I’ve had on my TBR since it was published: The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches which I think is one I’m going to really enjoy.

I’ve read quite a lot this week as I’m enjoying my holiday and lots of spare time. I have read Mayowa and the Sea of Words which was a really enjoyable fantasy where books could hold emotions that could be drawn out. I read a gorgeous picture book, Luminous which is a blend of narrative and factual information. I have posted my review. I have also posted reviews for three other books I’ve read this week: The Others, The Secret of Golden Island and The Beanstalk Murder. Finally, I read a really fun fantasy quest adventure, Hero Wanted!. I will post my review tomorrow.

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, so am looking forward to reading the next one, Aliya Aboard the Time Train.

What are you reading? Have you read any of these?

Luminous:  Living Things That Light Up the Night is a stunningly beautiful picture book exploring the fascinating natural phenomenon of bioluminescence through the eyes of a young child and adult as they wander through the night learning about living creatures who produce their own light.

The text is made up of beautifully descriptive poetic narrative which encourages creativity, curiosity and imagination. Alongside this narrative, there is a range of fascinating scientific information about bioluminescence in a wide range of living organisms both on land and in water habitats including fireflies, glowworms, anglerfish and vampire squid. Did you know that foxfire is a light made by bioluminescent fungi glowing and growing on rotten wood?  Or that the crown jellyfish uses light like a burglar alarm by creating bright blue flashes when it is attacked?

I think the blending of poetic narrative in larger font (which a young child could enjoy on their own) and the amazing factual information in a smaller font (which may be better shared between an adult and child) is a brilliant way to introduce the science of bioluminescence in an appealing and educational manner.

The illustrations are absolutely stunning and depict the journey of child and adult through this incredible world where living organisms produce their own light to camouflage, to hunt and to defend.  The artwork of the living things that the child and adult discover is created against a black backdrop with vibrant primary colours of light:  blue, red and yellow in a range of shades. 

This beautiful picture book shines a light on a fascinating phenomenon in nature that is guaranteed to captivate and absorb young readers as they explore the illustrations, engage their imaginations and learn fascinating facts about bioluminescence in living organisms.  A wonderful book to enjoy and share with young readers of 4+.

Thank you to Catherine Ward and Greystone Kids Books for sending me a paperback copy of this gorgeous picture book in exchange for my honest opinion.

And it’s the summer holiday! It’s been a very busy end of term and a chance to say goodbye to my wonderful Year 6 class after a fantastic production of Oliver! and celebration afternoon with food, inflatables, a photo booth and T-shirt signing. I spent the first few days after school finished setting up my new Year 3 classroom – with lots of books which I am looking forward to sharing with my new class as well as some planning – more to go, but I’m now enjoying a break with lots of reading catch-up before heading to Disney World later in August.

Books I’ve read:

I’ve read 16 books in July: 12 physical books and 4 audiobooks.

NetGalley:

My feedback ratio is at 97%. I have requested and been approved to read two books this month.

Books sent by publishers:

I am grateful to have been sent 9 books by Publishers this month. 

Books bought:

I have bought six books this month.

How has your reading month been? Have you read any of these? Have you any of them on your TBR?

The Secret of Golden Island is an absolute winner!  Exciting, empathetic and heart-warming, a story that took me on the most wonderful, unmissable adventure with two exceptional young children as they work together to discover an island’s secret.  

Yakov and Skylar first meet after a football match in which he scores the winning goal and she is suspended for fighting after a cruel comment from another.  During the match, Yakov enjoys a brief moment of feeling that he belongs before his thoughts quickly return to the family and friends who he has had to leave behind to escape the war at home.  Skylar’s beloved Grandpa has had a stroke and she longs for the times she has spent fishing and sailing with him, no longer feeling that she fits in with her family and friends.

These two meet again at Dead Man’s Beach where they have gone to seek solace after upsetting realisations and news.  Their shared pain and loneliness brings connection and they open up to each other, tentatively seeking the friendship each so desperately needs. They share with each other that they have come to the beach as they felt the island which overlooks it calling to them … and then they see someone on Golden Island putting up a sign:  ISLAND TO WIN! 

They each want to win the island to keep promises made and to keep hope alive, but how can two children possibly win an island whilst keeping it a secret from their families?    What lies will they need to tell?  What barriers will they have to overcome?  How far are they prepared to go to help those they love?

So begins the most thrilling adventure as Yakov and Skylar sail to the island to learn more about the owner’s competition to win the island and meet the other competitors who are equally determined to win the contest.  I absolutely loved this daring adventure as Yakow and Skylar work as a team to overcome difficult circumstances, as they find and follow clues to reveal the secret of the island and as they make painful and courageous decisions in dangerous situations. 

I absolutely loved the evocative description of the island with its hidden caves, wildlife and unspoilt habitat but with a hint of a secret past … a place capable of healing pain and one which deserves to be appreciated and cared for.  I really felt the healing power of the island as Yakov and Skylar enjoy its peace and beauty, as they face their fears through listening to its song and as they open themselves to trust and friendship.

Yakov and Skylar are incredibly likeable and sympathetic young children who find each other just as they need friendship, and what strength, courage and joy they find in that friendship.  They both feel loneliness, guilt and fear, but find connection, a sense of belonging and healing through their firm bond of friendship, and cathartic experience on the island.  

An exceptional, heartfelt and exciting adventure which glows with the warmth of friendship, resonates with a song of hope and flows with an appreciation of the natural environment.  Perfect summer adventuring for readers of 9+.

Thank you to Bethany Carter and Faber Children’s Books for inviting me to be part of this Blog Tour and for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Do check out the other stops on the Blog Tour: