Marie Sontag
Author
Marie Sontag enjoys transporting middle grade and young adult readers to various time periods and locations by creating stories that bring the past to life. Her fifteen years of teaching middle school and high school have given her insight into what students find entertaining, and her B.A. in social science and M.A. and Ph.D. in education provide her with a solid background for writing historical fiction.
Born in Wisconsin, she spent most of her life in California, but now lives with her husband in Texas. When not writing, she enjoys romping with her grandkids, playing clarinet and saxophone in a community band, and nibbling red licorice or Tootsie Pops while devouring a good book.
Visit Marie online at: http://www.mariesontag.com/
Featured Title
Featured
The Alabaster Jar
& the Hidden Tomb
Middle Grade Historical Fiction
Amata gasped as Sam shone the light on the sarcophagus revealing a broken statue of Anubis, his jackal-shaped head not far from his wooden body. Stepping around the headless statue, Sam shone the light on a broken canopic chest, its sides colorfully decorated with the images of Osiris, Isis, Nut, and Thoth.
Amata stepped closer to the chest. “Look here, Sam.” She pulled four canopic jars out of the damaged container.
“Don’t open those!”
Even in the dim light, Sam caught her glare. “I know what these are, Sam. They contain what is left of this Egyptian’s insides preserved here for the afterlife.” She traced the edges of the limestone jars then placed them next to the broken container.
Sam shifted his attention to another broken chest. In the dim light, he made out the shapes of several wooden shabtis. They must have fallen out of the wooden box. The shabtis looked like miniature Egyptians, each carrying a basket of tools.
Amata moved to the other side of the sarcophagus. “Sam! Bring the lamp over here.”
Before he reached her, a loud crash boomed. Amata shrieked.
He rushed to her side, but his legs gave way as his body plunged into a dark hole.
The Whitcomb Discoveries Series
California Trail Discovered
After a mysterious house fire kills 13-year-old Daniel Whitcomb’s parents, he and his younger stepsister, Hannah, must move West with their guardian. Orphaned, and desperate to find a way back home to Illinois to solve the mystery of his parents’ deaths, Daniel’s trail leads him on an unexpected path. The rigors of travel by wagon train take their toll as the pioneers ford streams, argue over their chosen route, and deal with sickness, a shortage of food, and death.
Yosemite Trail Discovered
Join sixteen-year-old Daniel Whitcomb as he juggles a growing relationship with Virginia Reed, one of the survivors of the Donner Party, helps his Miwok friend learn how to read and write, and manages the account ledgers for his guardian, Jim Savage at his trading posts in the California gold fields.
WW2 Rising Hope Series
Underground Scouts
A Young Adult historical novel, Underground Scouts brings to light the brave efforts of Polish Boy Scouts and Girl Guides who fought alongside the Polish Underground during World War II.
The Ancient Elements Series
The Bronze Dagger & the Stolen Jewels
Twelve-year-old Samsuluna (Sam) needs to find his uncle. There’s only one problem. His uncle, the one who gave him his bronze dagger, lives 800 miles away. With Sam’s mother and brother dead, and his father… well, Sam wants to get as far away from his father as possible.
The stolen jewels hidden within the folds of his tunic should be more than enough to book passages on a caravan. But the secrets Sam keeps and the lies he tells endanger not only his life but also those of his new friends… especially when he violates Hammurabi’s Code.
Will Sam ever reach his uncle? Will he ever discover the mystery behind the stolen jewels?
The Alabaster Jar & the Hidden Tomb
Amata gasped as Sam shone the light on the sarcophagus revealing a broken statue of Anubis, his jackal-shaped head not far from his wooden body.
Sam shifted his attention to another broken chest. In the dim light, he made out the shapes of several wooden shabtis. They must have fallen out of the wooden box. The shabtis looked like miniature Egyptians, each carrying a basket of tools.
Amata moved to the other side of the sarcophagus. “Sam! Bring the lamp over here.” Before he reached her, a loud crash boomed. Amata shrieked. He rushed to her side, but his legs gave way as his body plunged into a dark hole.
This novel captivated me with it’s memorable characters and how Marie Sontag captured the essence of the plight of the Westward seeking Americans.