The book is set in California during the mid-1960s, specifically on Orchard Avenue in a bustling university town. The surrounding neighborhood is residential, featuring a mix of apartment buildings, modest homes, and small shops. The community is ethnically diverse, with many residents working or studying at the nearby university.

April Hall has moved in with Caroline, her paternal grandmother. April's father died in the Korean War when she was very young, and her mother, an aspiring actress and singer, is currently on tour. Caroline resides in the Casa Rosada, a Spanish-style apartment building from the 1920s. The apartments are spacious yet affordable. Caroline, who works at the university library, chose Casa Rosada to accommodate April.

Near the Casa Rosada, several small shops can be found, including the A-Z shop, which sells antiques, curios, and second-hand items. This shop and its peculiar owner play a significant role in the story. On her first day at the apartment, April walks to the 5 & 10 store to purchase fake eyelashes. On her way back, she stops by the A-Z shop, explores it, and speaks with the owner, who appears indifferent to her and her questions.

The majority of the novel's events occur in the abandoned storage yard behind the A-Z shop. April and her friend Melanie discover a loose board in the fence, which allows them to enter the yard and uncover the land of Egypt.

Zilpha Keatley Snyder's The Egypt Game intricately weaves the themes of childhood innocence and adult intervention into its narrative structure. Through a fairy-tale-like opening, the novel quickly introduces a darker undertone, reflecting Snyder's thematic focus on the intrusion of the adult world into the lives of children. Despite its child-centric storyline, the book deftly incorporates adult perspectives from the very beginning, setting the stage for an exploration of the tensions between childhood imagination and adult realities.

The Adult Gaze

The novel commences with an ostensibly innocent line, "Not long ago ...," reminiscent of a traditional fairy-tale. However, this quickly leads into the presence of a watchful, mysterious Professor who observes the children at play. This early introduction of adult observation underscores Snyder's theme of adult encroachment, as the first chapter is seen entirely through the eyes of adults, from the Professor to wary neighbors. It's only after establishing this disquieting adult presence that Snyder shifts the focus to the child characters, beginning with April.

Symbolism and Themes

Snyder employs symbolism effectively to delve deeper into her themes. April's name itself is symbolic, reflecting her stormy past and strong-willed nature, akin to the turbulent month in spring. Yet, it also intimates her hidden vulnerabilities, suggesting the potential for growth and renewal. The setting of the children's game, nested within the A-Z shop owned by the Professor, signifies the beginning of a new language of friendship and creativity for the children, paralleling the foundational learning of the alphabet.

Security and Vulnerability

Even the stuffed octopus, Security, becomes a pivotal symbol within the narrative. Unlike typical comforting childhood objects, the octopus—with its multiple arms—represents a more foreboding aspect of protection, aligning with Snyder's notion that urban children are never fully sheltered from life's complexities. The children's imaginative creation, Egypt, serves as their sanctuary, yet it is not immune to danger, as demonstrated when Security fails to shield Marshall from witnessing an attack on April.

Realistic Resolutions

Despite these themes, Snyder offers a realistic yet hopeful resolution. The Professor, initially perceived as a threat, emerges as a protective figure, ultimately saving April and fostering a sense of community. By the end of the novel, April's journey reflects a nuanced understanding of safety—not as an absence of fear, but as the presence of supportive relationships. Much like Marshall, who leaves Security behind symbolizing his newfound independence, April embraces the stability offered by her friends and the community forged through their shared experiences in The Egypt Game.

Set in a bustling university community in California, The Egypt Game showcases characters from various ethnic backgrounds. While the children seem unconcerned with age or race, the adults harbor some prejudices against those who appear "different." Snyder clearly supports the children's perspective, as they are proven right about the Professor's innocence. Ultimately, the adults learn from the children and take steps to make amends with the Professor, whom they had wrongly accused of murder.

Parents and teachers might want to emphasize to younger readers the importance of being cautious around adults, especially strangers. However, the plot's inclusion of murders also underscores this point. Snyder incorporates the murders to add a sense of realism to her portrayal of urban childhood in the 1960s and to highlight a thematic message. The narrative does not delve into the specifics of the murders, and the victims are never introduced, which reduces the emotional weight of the incident.

Commire, Anne, ed. Something about the Author. Vol. 28. Detroit: Gale Research, 1982. Provides brief biographical details about Snyder.

Gunton, Sharon R., ed. Contemporary Literary Criticism, Vol. 17. Detroit: Gale Research, 1981. Contains excerpts of literary criticism.