Tut: The Story of My Immortal Life

Hoover (Solstice) brings her interest in mythology to a middle-grade audience with this entertaining tale, which reimagines the Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun as a perpetually 14-year-old immortal. Tut currently lives in Washington, D.C., with his older brother Gil (secretly the Sumerian hero Gilgamesh) and the god Horus (in the form of a one-eyed cat). When Tut’s ancient enemy, General Horemheb, resurfaces after thousands of years, Tut sees the opportunity for much-delayed revenge. As Tut tries to obtain a weapon that can kill an immortal, he and his allies contend with an apocalyptic plot brought about by the Cult of Set. Quirky interpretations of Egyptian gods abound as Tut tries to save the day, repeatedly confronted by cute yet mysterious Tia: is she ally or enemy? The entertaining premise and fast pace keep this adventure on track, while the way Hoover reimagines the Egyptian pantheon—Isis owning a chain of funeral parlors, for instance—is pleasantly reminiscent of Rick Riordan’s work. The only drawback is the number of questions left unanswered for future books. Ages 8–12. Agent: Laura Rennert and Lara Perkins, Andrea Brown Literary Agency. (Sept.)