The Egypt Game Theme of Awe and Amazement

From the very beginning of The Egypt Game, it's clear that Melanie and April (and all the other kids, once they join in) are completely sucked in by rich histories and the power of imagination. When they first start reading up about Egypt, they're not just taking in dry, historical facts. The girls imagine themselves living in ancient Egypt, and they translate that kind of imagination and awe to the game. They never lose that sense of wonder, and this allows them to bring their idea of Egypt to life.

Questions About Awe and Amazement

  1. Why does April act like she's too cool for school (and everything else) when she first shows up at her grandmother's apartment?
  2. How does Elizabeth's excitement about the game make it even better for Melanie, April, and Marshall?
  3. What changes Toby and Ken's minds when they see the Egypt Game? Why do they stop making fun of it?

Chew on This

Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.

The kids are able to imagine themselves actually in Egypt because they have an innate sense of creativity and excitement about history, and because they totally, absolutely respect the ancient Egyptians.

The kids playing the Egypt Game are just like any other kids, and they'll sadly likely grow out of this stage of rampant imagination and wonder when they get older (like the Professor and their parents did).