Maddie and the Stolen Treasures (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781763655133)

Maddie and the Stolen Treasures is an action adventure middle grade novel recommended for children aged 8 to 12 years of age, years 5 to 6.

While on holiday in Egypt, Maddie's grandfather is wrongly imprisoned after being found with a 3,000-year-old relic of Queen Nefertari.

To save him, Maddie and her newfound friends must outsmart the sinister smuggler Red Scarf.

Can Maddie overcome her anxieties before it's too late?

Readers who love Tristan Bancks' thrilling stories Scar Town, and Cop and Robber, will love this story's real-life drama. This action adventure is similar to the twists and turns read in 'The Clockwork Conspiracy, by Sam Sedgman. Those readers that loved Morrigan Crow's character arc in Jessica Townsend's Nevermoor series, will also see the likeness of Maddie's own growth and resilience.

I first travelled to Egypt in December 2022 with my wife. I was fascinated and awestruck by the age of Egyptian history. It is one thing to see photos of hieroglyphs and giant statues of Pharaohs in books and on the internet, but to see it up close is phenomenal. Painted on the walls of the tombs, were ancient and intricate hieroglyphs, describing their afterlife, the interaction of their gods and goddesses, all painted in bright colours, thousands of years old. I was mesmerised.

But Egypt is a country rich in history, but also modern capitalism. The turmoil of daily life is in your face, a mix of smiling locals cooking bread in the streets of country towns, or locals running across 4-lane highways in the city to catch the bus. There are the street sellers desperately trying to sell you souvenirs, or the guards at the pyramids wanting to take your photo, then asking for money. And then I read stories in the media about the black market and illegal smuggling. Here is a country so proud about its history, yet others who would sell an artefact to make a buck. Egypt is full of contradictions, of light and dark.

Who wouldn't be inspired to write a story about all that?

From that first journey, I began to contemplate what that would look like. The 'What if's' began to immerge. What if grandad got caught with a stolen artefact. What if my protagonist was a girl? How would she help grandad get out of prison?

And so, it began.

The story explores the fascinating history and mythology of ancient Egypt, and the challenges in modern Egypt. It encourages conversation and discussion about the different themes, and shows good role models, kindness and friendship between cultures.

Themes include; Ancient Egyptian history and mythology, Travel, and carry-my-bag-scams, Multiculturalism, Childhood and identity, Friendship and belonging, kindness, Family - mental and emotional abuse, separation families, Dealing with loss and letting go, guilt and shame friendships, Resilience and inner strength in coping with change and anxiety, The hero's quest.

Although the book includes themes of greed and abuse, it is also a story of resilience, hope, courage, and love.

Teachers notes available upon request.

About the Author;

David, originally born in New Zealand, has lived in Australia for over 40 years, and currently lives in the beautiful Huon Valley in Tasmania with his wife. two labradoodles and a few chooks.

He is a man of many talents; juggler, photgrapher, bee keeper, to name a few. And loves hiking the wilds of Tasmania.