Be A Scribe!: Working For A Better Life In Ancient Egypt By Michael Hoffen Brings To Life The Tale Of Egyptian Teen Who Lived Almost 4,000 Years Ago

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On The Table Read Magazine, “the best book magazine in the UK“, with two co-authors, Egyptologists Christian Casey and Jen Thum, teenage author Micheal Hodden released new book, Be A Scribe!: Working For A Better Life In Ancient Egypt.

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Be A Scribe!: Working For A Better Life In Ancient Egypt

Michael Hoffen, a teenager himself, has bridged a 4,000-year gap to introduce readers to the world of ancient Egypt. His debut novel, Be A Scribe!: Working For A Better Life In Ancient Egypt (Callaway Children’s Classics, April 9, 2024), follows the story of young Pepi as he navigates his father’s ambitious plans for a royal court career.

A passion for ancient texts ignited Hoffen’s journey. Since middle school, he has been captivated by the intricacies of hieroglyphics. His fascination with the Middle Kingdom text, The Instruction of Kheti, or “The Satire of the Trades,” served as the foundation for this extraordinary project.

Collaborating with Egyptologists Christian Casey and Jen Thum, Hoffen spent three and a half years meticulously translating the ancient text into modern prose and complementing it with stunning visuals.

Beyond the engaging narrative, Be A Scribe! offers a visual feast. Over 100 captivating images of Egyptian artifacts, paintings, and illustrations bring the ancient world to life with vibrant colors and intricate details.

Hoffen’s achievement is remarkable. By sharing the timeless tale of Pepi and Kheti, he demonstrates that the human experience, including parental aspirations and teenage uncertainties, transcends eras. This book is not only a captivating adventure but also an inspiring exploration of personal growth and the pursuit of knowledge.

The Authors

Michael Hoffen on The Table Read Magazine — Michael Hoffen

Michael Hoffen is the youngest-ever recipient of the annual Emerson Prize, awarded by the Concord Review for outstanding promise in history. While still in middle school, he was introduced to the joys of translating ancient texts and never looked back.

During the COVID pandemic, Michael embarked on an ambitious project to bring ancient Egyptian literature to life outside the classroom. Be A Scribe! is Hoffen’s first book in a series. When not chasing down new stories to translate or write, he enjoys biking, swimming and rock climbing. He lives with his family in New York.

Dr. Christian Casey is an Egyptologist who specializes in the study of ancient Egyptian languages. He obtained his Ph.D. in Egyptology from Brown University in 2020 and now works as a researcher at Freie Universität Berlin. He is especially interested in sharing the exciting world of ancient Egypt with young people and other interested members of the public.

Dr. Jen Thum is an Egyptologist, educator and curator at the Harvard Art Museums. She studied Egyptology and archaeology at the University of Oxford and Brown University. Dr. Thum’s work celebrates the learning potential of ancient material culture, especially across disciplines. She teaches at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, writes and leads workshops about learning with art and artifacts, and is the lead editor of Teaching Ancient Egypt in Museums: Pedagogies in Practice. She conceived of Be A Scribe! after recognizing the need for accessible ancient Egyptian primary sources for young learners.