Mara, Daughter of the Nile

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Mara, Daughter of the Nile by Eloise Jarvis McGraw, is a historical fiction children's book. It follows Mara, a young Egyptian girl who takes up a dangerous job as a double spy between two different masters.

[edit] Plot

The story of a beautiful young slave girl living in ancient Egypt during the rule of Queen Hatshepsut, pharaoh at the time. Mara is not like other slaves; she can read and write, as well as speak Babylonian.She also, oddly enough, has bright blue eyes. Struggling daily to find a way out of her wretched life as a slave Mara takes secret visits to the marketplace,behind her cruel masters back. On one such trip when in search of food, Mara displays her wits to the public by snatching loaves from a bakers apprentice, all the while carrying a conversation with him. When found by her Master,Zasha she is whipped as punishment for escaping. The scene is stopped, however, by a mysterious stranger who offers to buy Mara or take her without paying. When Zasha protests, he is thrown a bag of coins while the stranger hurries away with an amused Mara. Once in private, her new master explains his amazement at witnessing the scene she made in the marketplace. He goes on to tell his true purpose in purchasing her; to work as a spy for none other than the pharaoh, Hatshepsut. Threatening her with death if anyone is to know her task but promising riches and freedom if she suceeds with her mission, the new master sends Mara off and onto an adventure she will never forget.