The main characters in The Egypt Game aren't the college employees who work in the neighborhood, or even the murderer who is scaring all the families. The real heroes and focus of the story are April, Melanie, Marshall, Elizabeth, Toby, and Ken, Yep, it's just kids driving this story.
Their youth and imagination help them to create the Egypt Game and to escape their normal everyday lives in a world only kids can enter. And their zest for life and creativity also bring the Professor back to life—you know, metaphorically. In watching them play, he stops wallowing in his grief.
Questions About Youth
- Why does Marshall get to play with the older kids even though he's not even in kindergarten?
- Are the kids more capable of using their imaginations because they're young? Why or why not?
- How does the kids' youthfulness and zest for life affect the Professor?
Chew on This
In watching the children play, the Professor doesn't just find a new hobby—he also finds a new lease on life. Their youth and vitality motivate him to start living his own life with more purpose.
Although Marshall seems too young to play with the other kids initially, it turns out that he is just as interested in Egypt and plays his role perfectly.