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Aria & Liam and The Coded Papyrus

They were just trying to save a cat. Now, the fate of Egypt is in their hands.

Thirteen-year-olds Aria and Liam are best friends who couldn't be more different. Aria thinks rules are made to be broken; Liam thinks rules are the only thing keeping him from eternal grounding. They may argue nonstop, but together they make an unshakable team.

All they wanted was to rescue a stray cat. Instead, they're thrown 3,000 years into the past into the kingdom of Ramesses II. There, they meet Asim, a boy on a secret mission, and Atlas, a donkey wiser than both of them combined. Together, the unlikely team must deliver a coded papyrus to Ramesses II that could change the fate of Egypt.

What begins as a simple mission quickly turns into a fight for survival. Danger stalks them at every turn: on the Nile, across the desert, inside a labyrinth of darkness, and in countless other trials that test their courage and friendship. And while a powerful dignitary named Menkh offers his help, is he truly a friend or Egypt's greatest threat?

If Aria, Liam, and Asim fail, Ramesses' kingdom will fall. And even if they succeed, one question remains: will Aria and Liam ever find their way back home?

Aria & Liam is a series of standalone middle-grade books. Young readers can enjoy each adventure in any order they wish.

Book information:

  • ISBN (paperback): 978-1-959814-25-2
  • ISBN (ebook): 978-1-959814-01-6

Find the book at your favorite retailer by clicking the link below.

I want to find it!

❝The biggest thing I learned on this adventure—other than promising myself never to follow Aria into one of her crazy ideas again—is that you can’t trust someone just because they look important or have a fancy title. A crown or shiny outfit doesn’t make a person good. Appearances can trick you! It’s way smarter to pay attention to people’s actions. Kind of like not judging a video game by its cover before you even play it. ❞

❝The most important lesson I learned—besides proving that Liam is totally wrong and I’m always right—is that dreams really can come true! I used to think time travel only happened in my imagination, but now it’s real. More importantly, I discovered that trusting my instincts actually works, and that teamwork makes all the difference.❞

❝When I was young enough to dream beyond reality, I often imagined traveling back in time to save key moments in history and wondered how the world might have changed if I had. That spark of imagination grew into a lifelong passion for history. To me, history is more than dates and events; it’s the stories of women and men, just like us, trying to navigate life as best they can. It can be full of wonder and fantasy, but most importantly, it carries wisdom.

So it felt natural for me to share this passion with children in a way that is both entertaining and inspiring. Ancient Egypt has always been one of my favorite eras with its fascinating pharaohs, powerful culture, and magical gods. In fact, it’s the period that first made me fall in love with history. That’s why I chose Ramesses II as the focus of the very first Aria & Liam adventure.

As for Aria and Liam themselves, I believe deeply in the strength of friendships between girls and boys. These kinds of relationships can help us grow in harmony and understanding between genders. That’s why I wanted two best friends—so different, yet almost like siblings—to lead the way in this series.❞

Coline Monsarrat

Meet the characters

  • Aria

  • Liam

  • Asim

  • Menkh

  • Atlas

  • Ramses

  • Merit

  • Herychef

Our Adventure Photo Dump

Meet the team

  • The Author

    Inspired by her love of storytelling and history, Coline created the book series Aria and Liam. This series takes young readers on exciting adventures through some of the most fascinating periods of history, with its two colorful characters, Aria and Liam.

    Learn more 

  • The Editor

    Thank you to Andrea and Michele at Two Birds Author for making this story better!

    Two Birds Author Website 

  • The Illustrators

    Thank you to Harsh, Ragini, Kaustavi, and Vanshika at Draftss for bringing the characters to life. You are all amazing!

    Cover and illustrations: Draftss

    Illustrators: Ragini Ingle and Harsh Chaudhary

    Design Manager : Kaustavi Baruah

    Project Manager : Vanshika Goyal

    Draftss Website