The Golden Horsemen of Baghdad

Description

Written by bestselling author Saviour Pirotta, this fast-paced story is set in the Islamic Golden Age when Baghdad was the largest and most dazzling city in the world. Perfect for fans of thrilling adventure. Thirteen-year-old Jabir is hoping to save his family from being made homeless by finding work in Baghdad. Famished after his long journey to the city, Jabir is caught stealing bread and sent to prison. Luckily, one of the guards there notices that he has a gift for carving wooden models and he is released on the orders of the grand caliph Harun al Rashid himself. In return Jabir must carve twelve golden horsemen, a gift from the caliph to the emperor Charlemagne. But someone is determined to stop Jabir from completing the work and he will stop at nothing, not even arson, to achieve his aim. Can Jabir and his friend Yasmina finish the horsemen or will Jabir be sent back to prison? Ideal for readers aged 8+, this exciting and readable adventure story is packed with great characters and insight into Islamic civilisation and the historic culture of the Middle East circa AD 900, a period which is now studied in the National Curriculum. The Flashbacks series offers dramatic stories set in key moments of history, perfect for introducing children to historical topics.

Saviour Pirotta is originally from Malta and now lives in Scarborough, Yorkshire. He is the author of nearly one hundred titles, ranging from non-fiction about pirates to short novels, as well as stories for children's magazines. He is the author of The Orchard Book of First Greek Myths which has been published successfully around the world in countries as diverse as Italy, Greece, Brazil and Korea.

Set in Baghdad in the Islamic Golden Age circa AD 900, the book gives a good background to the National Curriculum studies. This exciting and atmospheric adventure is the story of Jabir, who hopes to save his family from being made homeless by finding work himself in Baghdad. * Parents in Touch * ... it's a great introduction to the Islamic Golden Age, to the sights and scents of Baghdad's streets and workshops, and the perils of the desert which surround it, but, with vivid story-telling and characters that children can relate to, it's easy to forget that this is part of a history lesson. * Our Book Reviews Online *