THEODOSIA THROCKMORTON AND THE SERPENTS OF CHAOS
by R. L. LaFevers
Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Hardcover: 0618756388
Paperback: 9780618999767
Ages 10-up
352 pages

Theodosia Throckmorton is not like most 11-year-olds living in early 20th-century London. Theodosia --- called Theo by her family and friends --- is an intelligent and inquisitive girl with the rare ability to detect and cleanse ancient spells, evil curses and black magic. Her gift comes in handy at the Museum of Legends and Antiquities in London, where her father is head curator.

While her American Mum is off on an archaeological dig and her brother is away at boarding school, Theo stays at the museum with her father. She sleeps in a sarcophagus, not only to keep out drafts but more importantly to avoid the curses that float around the museum at night. During the day she explores the museum with her cat, Isis. Theo researches ancient texts and studies hieroglyphs to better understand how to use her gift to ward off the curses embedded in ancient artifacts.    

When Theo's Mum returns from Egypt, Theo welcomes the "familiar scent of lilacs" that makes her aware of how much she missed her mother. But after seeing some of Mum's amazing and much coveted finds, Theo detects trouble and feels the presence of "an icy-footed beetle" scuttling down her back. Among her mother's discoveries is the legendary amulet --- the Heart of Egypt --- that, unknown to her mother, carries an evil curse and unleashes forces of chaos. 

Theo teams up with her brother Henry, who has returned from boarding school, a street urchin named Sticky Will, and Wigmere, the head of a secret society, to return the amulet to the tomb where it was unearthed. But their efforts are stalled when Theo learns there's a traitor who has joined forces with von Braggenschnott, the German antiquities smuggler, and knows the team's every move.

Theo must use her knowledge and special gift to return the Heart of Egypt and prevent the forces of chaos from spreading. If she fails, her family and the rest of the world are at risk.

THEODOSIA THROCKMORTON AND THE SERPENT OF CHAOS is an entertaining and educational book that's fun to read. Author R. L. LaFevers deftly weaves within the storyline facts about archeological digs, hieroglyphs and ancient Egyptian deities. The end result is an intelligent and enjoyable novel of suspense for middle-grade readers.

   --- Reviewed by Donna Volkenannt (dvolkenannt@charter.net)

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