Ahmose is a graphic novel that explores the complex geo-political situation in Egypt during the 16th Century BCE, where the Egyptian people have lost much of the land in Lower Egypt to the Hyksos.  The graphic novel does a good job of piecing together a lot of the fragmentary pieces of evidence that exist and filling in the gaps with plausible connections.  

This volume establishes the dual Point of View of the two Ahmose’s who would essentially establish the 18th Dynasty; Ahmose the Pharaoh who would be responsible for the expulsion of the Hyksos and the reunification of Egypt, and Ahmose son of Ibana, one of Egypts most successful and decorated soldiers.  While they don’t meet in this volume, their stories mirror each other through their personal losses, the guidance they receive from their mothers and their name.  I thought the parallels were framed really well and helped to establish a story that had a solid, cohesive flow.

The novel did a fantastic job of setting the scene and educating the reader authentically, integrating it seamlessly into the story and including key information and evidence that is already existing.  The content connects to certain syllabus dot points I teach and I think it will be a great resource for students who are reluctant readers.  As this book is covering a period of war, it deals with a lot of death and violence, which is quite graphic and represented on page, readers should be aware of this before going in.

I thoroughly enjoyed it and I am looking forward to Book II