About This Book
Reach for this book when your middle schooler is ready for a gritty, fast paced adventure that challenges how we think about history and science. Set in the 1840s, this story follows fourteen year old Matthew as he assists a phrenologist on a perilous trek across the Sahara in search of Alexander the Great's skull. It is a perfect choice for children who are beginning to question authority and realize that even adults can be driven by misguided obsessions. Through the lens of a historical quest, the narrative explores deep themes of resilience, loyalty, and the ethics of early science. While the adventure is thrilling, it also provides a safe space to discuss the dangers of pseudo science and the exploitation of other cultures. Parents will appreciate how it fosters critical thinking while keeping the reader gripped by a high stakes survival story in one of the world's harshest environments.
