What are some similarities between April and Melanie in The Egypt Game?

Starting with simple similarities, both
characters are young women that live in the same neighborhood; however, there is a lot more that
is similar between these two characters. Both girls are incredibly intelligent and very
imaginative. This is one reason why they are able to work so well together in creating the
entire Egypt Game. Melanie might be the girl that introduces the concept of imaginary games to
April through the paper dolls, but April is incredibly receptive to the idea and helps enhance
it through her own imaginative powers. For example, it is April that immediately knows what to
do with the abandoned lot.

Both Melanie and April are also both incredibly
loving, caring, and patient with younger kids. The best evidence for this can be found in how
both girls treat Marshall. Marshall is a four year old kid, and that is not an easy age to
incorporate into a lot of things, but Melanie is an excellent big sister. She never tells him to
get lost. In fact, she actively looks for ways to include Marshall in her life's
activities.

April is also incredibly tolerant of Marshall. While April can be
aloof, she is not this way with Marshall. April and Melanie both take Marshall for walks while
Mrs. Ross is gone, and they help make him feel welcome in all of their imaginative
games.