January 11, 2005

10:55 AM

Yet another ChildhoodBookFilter question. This one involves ancient Egypt. [+]
posted by deborah to (5 comments total)

I read this book in the late 1970s or early 1980s. A girl is the main character and, of course, I can’t remember her name. There is also her (elderly?) babysitter and a new school friend named Seti Gamal. I remember that name because the kids at school were mean, as kids will be, and gave him the nickname Shitty Camel. The main character gets bumped on the head or something and wakes up in Ancient Egypt. While in Egypt she runs across characters that correspond to characters in her present life (the babysitter, Seti, school mates, etc.). There is a pharaoh mentioned that has dental problems (Seti? Ramses?) and may or may not have been her father. Eventually, towards the end of the book, she gets bumped again and ends up back in her own time.

I remember the book cover as something like the girl is standing in front of a tomb wall while holding her cat. On the tomb wall behind her is a carved-into-the-wall Egyptian girl standing and holding her cat. I believe the title was in orange letters.
posted by deborah at 10:56 AM on January 11, 2005

Could it be "Cat in the Mirror" by Mary Stolz?
posted by nixxon at 11:10 AM on January 11, 2005

That sounds right. I can't find a single image of it online though. I wish I knew someone with a camera phone at the other libraries that have a copy.
posted by icontemplate at 11:36 AM on January 11, 2005

I love ask mefi. I have been looking for this book for years, but had forgotten about Seti Gamal. Thanks to deborah, I've found it.
An image can be found here.
posted by routergirl at 12:03 PM on January 11, 2005

Holy cow on a pogo stick! 14 minutes for something I've been looking for for years! Thanks, nixxon!

Ahhh, that's the hardback, routergirl. I had read a paperback. I may just have to buy that copy...

*hugs AskMefi*
posted by deborah at 10:40 AM on January 12, 2005