Lester, Julius. 2000. Pharaoh’s daughter: a novel of ancient Egypt. New York: Silver Whistle. 

When Pharaoh began sending soldiers to kill Habiru boys, Almah takes her younger brother and hides him in a basket in the bulrushes. With a foreword that explains the author’s attempt to remove Moses from religious history and move him into human history, the story of Mosis is told in two parts. In the first part, Almah is introduced as an intelligent, confident young woman who has a closer relationship with her father than anyone else. When her baby brother is found by Pharaoh’s daughter, Almah goes to the palace along with her mother, Ima, to help care for Mosis. As Mosis grows, so does Almah’s connection with the Pharaoh, his family, and the religious practices of ancient Egypt. As Pharaoh’s adopted daughter, Almah becomes more herself even as Mosis becomes more confused and angry at his inability to fit in anywhere. In part two, Mosis’ frustration with his life becomes clearer as he feels that he is betrayed by those he trusted most. His frustration leads him to murder an Egyptian and banish himself from both the Habiru people and the Egyptians with whom he grew up. Lester’s research of ancient Egypt and his unique storytelling style brings readers into Egypt with all the sights, smells, and feel that must have been a part of the society. Although the story parallels one that readers may find familiar, the point of view from which the story is told will encourage readers to see both sides of a difficult situation and will encourage them to find a way to become more themselves as they read.