SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • Previews
  • Reviews
  • Manga
  • All Ages
  • Young Adult
  • Interviews
  • News

January 18, 2011 by Snow Wildsmith

Review: The Murder of King Tut

January 18, 2011 by Snow Wildsmith   2 comments

Tutankhamen captured the hearts and minds of the Western world in a way no other Egyptian pharaoh has. Since Howard Carter’s discovery of Tut’s undisturbed tomb in 1922, people have marveled at the wonders it revealed. But there were many unanswered questions about both Tut’s life and his death, most brought to light because of the attempts by Tut’s successors to wipe him from the historical record. This graphic novel adaptation of James Patterson’s nonfiction book tells the story of Tut’s life and of Carter’s amazing discovery.

The Murder of King Tut
Author: James Patterson; Adaptation: Alexander Irvine; Art: Ron Randall & Christopher Mitten
Ages: 14+; Grades 9+
IDW, November 2010, ISBN: 9781600107801
132 pages, $24.99

The main problem with this adaptation of Patterson’s book is that it gives too little information, a fatal error for a nonfiction work. The story begins abruptly in Ancient Egypt with Tut’s grandfather, though it takes some time for readers to realize that is who the dying pharaoh is. Without character guides, background notes, a summary of events, or other such explanatory material, the reader must already possess a good knowledge of Ancient Egyptian history in order to follow the story. Tut’s family history is contrasted with Carter’s career in Egyptology and archaeology, but the scenes with Carter are not any easier to follow, because they also lack background information. The last chapter switches to a voice over narration by Patterson, which is jarring after four previous chapters told through the eyes of the characters. Patterson talks about “following the evidence” to find out what happened to Tut, but he never offers any insight into what that evidence might be. There are no source notes, no bibliography, no other supporting information which would make this adaptation useful in a classroom or research setting.

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

What the adaptation does get right is pacing and artwork. Even with the shifting between Ancient Egypt and the early 1900s, the reader is never confused about when they are. This is accomplished by using two different artists. Mitten’s more artistic style presents the Egyptians as powerful people caught up in webs of politics, war, family, and love. Randall’s realistic art gives Carter’s story the historical grounding it needs. Irvine does a great job of making the story adventurous, exciting, and interesting, even with the major gaps mentioned above. Unfortunately, though, good art alone cannot save a graphic novel and there are just too many flaws for this adaptation to be recommended. Public library fans of Patterson’s novels may or may not be clamoring for this nonfiction work, but its many flaws definitely make it unsuitable for school libraries.

This review is based on a complimentary copy supplied by the publisher. All images copyright © IDW.

Filed under: Graphic Novels, Reviews

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments

About Snow Wildsmith

Snow Wildsmith is a writer and former teen librarian. She has served on several committees for the American Library Association/Young Adult Library Services Association, including the 2010 Michael L. Printz Award Committee. She reviews graphic novels for Booklist, ICv2's Guide, No Flying No Tights, and Good Comics for Kids and also writes booktalks and creates recommended reading lists for Ebsco's NoveList database. Currently she is working on her first books, a nonfiction series for teens.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

May 2023

School-Live!: Letters | Review

by Snow Wildsmith

May 2023

Dog Man: Twenty Thousand Fleas Under the Sea | Review

by Snow Wildsmith

May 2023

Thinking of You (But Not Like In a Weird Creepy Way) | Review

by Snow Wildsmith

May 2023

Four Eyes | Review

by Snow Wildsmith

April 2023

Frizzy | Review

by Snow Wildsmith

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

Endangered Series #29: The Zack Files

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Ellen Myrick Publisher Preview: Fall 2023/Winter 2024 (Part Five – Berbay, Cicada & Creston Books)

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

School-Live!: Letters | Review

by Renee Scott

Heavy Medal

And now there are 38: May Heavy Medal Mock Newbery Suggestions

by Emily Mroczek-Bayci

Teen Librarian Toolbox

Have Some LGBTQ+ Books for This Year by Riley Jensen

by Riley Jensen

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

Trying Something New: SPEED ROUND w/ Marla Frazee, Doug Salati, Dan Santat, and Amina Luqman-Dawson

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

9 Adult Graphic Novels for Teens: Sophisticated Takes on History, Humor, Sci-Fi, and More

From 'Gender Queer' to ‘New Kid', Graphic Novels Are Targeted by Censors

Author Jim Murphy Has Died; Kaepernick, Scholastic Publishing Graphic Memoir; and More | News Bites

Graphic Novels Extend Their Frontiers

SPONSORED

SLJ Debuts New Column “Mondo Manga”

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Katie says

    January 18, 2011 at 3:38 pm

    What the publishers also don’t want you to know is that a study came out a few months after the book was released proving that King Tut died of Tuberculosis. So the whole “murder” thing is pretty much fiction now.

  2. Snow Wildsmith says

    January 26, 2011 at 7:43 pm

    Very interesting, Katie! I didn’t know that. Thanks for sharing!

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

Follow This Blog

Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

Primary Sidebar

  • News & Features
  • Reviews+
  • Technology
  • School Libraries
  • Public Libraries
  • Age Level
  • Ideas
  • Blogs
  • Classroom
  • Diversity
  • People
  • Job Zone

Reviews+

  • Book Lists
  • Best Books
  • Media
  • Reference
  • Series Made Simple
  • Tech
  • Review for SLJ
  • Review Submissions

SLJ Blog Network

  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal
  • Neverending Search
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn

Resources

  • 2022 Youth Media Awards
  • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
  • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
  • Summer Reading 2021
  • Series Made Simple Spring 2021
  • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
  • Summer Programming Survey
  • Research
  • White Papers / Case Studies
  • School Librarian of the Year
  • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
  • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

Events & PD

  • In-Person Events
  • Online Courses
  • Virtual Events
  • Webcasts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Media Inquiries
  • Newsletter Sign Up
  • Content Submissions
  • Data Privacy
  • Terms of Use
  • Terms of Sale
  • FAQs
  • Diversity Policy
  • Careers at MSI


COPYRIGHT © 2023


COPYRIGHT © 2023