Jagger Jones is a whiz kid from Chicago’s South Side. Ask him anything about Ancient Egypt, and Jagger can fill hours describing all that he knows.

But when he and his precocious little sister Aria fall more than three thousand years back in time to the court of Amarna, Egypt, Jagger discovers a truth that rocks his world: books don’t teach you everything there is to know. Mummies, pyramids, and cool hieroglyphics make awesome movie props, but the ancient court of Amarna is full of over-sized scorpions, magical amulets, and evil deities determined to scare unwanted visitors away.

If Jagger and Aria are to return safely home, they must find nine soul-infested gemstones, defeat an evil general, save the royal family, and figure out how to rescue themselves! Armed only with Jagger’s knowledge of history and a few modern objects mined from his pockets and Aria’s sparkly purse, the siblings have exactly one week to solve supernatural riddles and rescue the royal family. If they can pull it off, Jagger Jones just might return to Chicago a hero.

PUBLISHER AND ACCOLADES

Month9 Books, May 2019

“This delightful book targets junior high age readers, but it’s a treat for all ages… a magical fantasy that will make your heart dance then break then dance again. For lovers of Harry Potter, Jagger Jones is a natural.”
—The Cat That Reads Blog

“Move over Indiana Jones!”
—Rosaria Munda, author of FIREBORN

“As a librarian, I would recommend adding this to every school or public library collection. Great way to grow your diverse book collection!”
—BooksEverlasting

“Being an actual Egyptologist, Malayna Evans does a wonderful job of slipping in juicy ancient facts all the while keeping the book modern, fun and youthful.”
—Pippa Chorley, author of COUNTING SHEEP

“This debut middle grade novel is a fun, exciting and tremendously well-researched ride.”
—Naomi Milliner, author of SUPER JAKE & THE KING OF CHAOS

“Evans’s world building is vivid and immersive, and I also learned a thing or two about Ancient Egypt. As a middle school teacher, I think my students are going to connect to Jagger and love following him on his action-packed journey.”
—Kimberly Gabriel, author of EVERY STOLEN BREATH

Twelve-year-old Aria Jones loves nothing more than a good adventure. But when she and her big brother Jagger are summoned back to ancient Egypt from their South Side Chicago home, danger lurks around every corner.

Can Aria use her newfound superpowers to track the evil General and his sidekick in order to save Princess Tatia and the gods of ancient Egypt? Or will the evil sun god banish magic from the land and destroy the royal family—and Aria’s own—in the process?

The adventures continue when Aria and Jagger reunite with good friends, forge new alliances, and battle old enemies. This time, Aria must find a way to interpret a troublesome prophecy if she and Jagger are to return home, safe and sound.

PUBLISHER

Month9 Books, August 2020

Jagger, Aria, and P-Soup reunite in ancient Egypt to rescue their friend, the heroic captain Babi, and a host of children who’ve mysteriously gone missing. But this time, when the friends face off against their old nemesis, the Aten, the sun god is armed with Babi’s memories. So when the heroes get separated, they’ll need to tap all their resources to survive and reunite: their understanding of ancient magic, their knowledge of science and how the world works, and a startling combination of artifacts from the past and present. Most importantly of all, they’ll need to hold tight to their belief in each other.

Ultimately, in order to conquer the god, rescue Babi and the missing kids, and return safely to Chicago, Jagger and Aria are asked to make an unexpected sacrifice. Will the siblings give up what they hold dear to save the past? Or will the sun god finally achieve the chaos he longs for?

PUBLISHER

Goddess Books, October 2021