The (Mostly) True Story of Cleopatra's Needle
Sale price
$1049
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2024

The (Mostly) True Story of Cleopatra's Needle

By Dan Gutman

How did a 200-ton monolith journey from ancient Egypt to New York City?

3.7/5 Goodreads · 267 ratings
224 pages
$10.99Save 5%

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Bookroo's summary

Five kids unravel the epic journey of Cleopatra's Needle, a 200-ton monolith, from ancient Egypt to 19th-century New York. As they delve into its history, they uncover daring feats and near disasters. Can they piece together how this monumental task was achieved against all odds? With each phase of its journey, the kids witness the incredible challenges faced by those who moved it across continents and centuries. This historical adventure, filled with photos and illustrations, invites readers to explore a tale of ingenuity and perseverance that feels like a cinematic experience.

From the publisher

From the author of the My Weird School books, an adventure story that spans centuries and continents. In Central Park, New York, stands Cleopatra’s Needle. But what do you know about? Did you know that thousands of people worked in 1461 BCE to build it? Then hundreds more moved it, and erected it in Alexandria, where it stood for 3,000 years? So how did a monolith weighing over 200 tons get moved all the way to New York City–and in the 19th Century, no less? In this historical fiction account by bestselling author Dan Gutman, five kids who watched the Needle at each phase of its history recount the daring story of how something that seemed to be impossible -and that nearly ended in disaster–finally succeeded against all odds. Including photos, diagrams, and illustrations, this book will leave history lovers and fans of problem solving astounded at all that was accomplished. And best of all, it will leave middle grade readers feeling they’ve just watched a really good movie–they’ll hardly even realize they were reading. A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

At a glance
Format
Paperback
Pages
224
Reading age
8–12
Audience
Middle Grade
Lexile
~800L
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The fine print

Book details

Reading levels
ATOS
5.09
F&P level
~S
AR points
5
AR interest level
MG
AR quiz
550297
Publication
Published
September 2, 2025
First published
June 4, 2024
Publisher
Holiday House
Edition
Language
English
Type
Chapter Book
Identifiers
ISBN
9780823461806

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