Roman Quests: Escape from Rome: Book 1

Rome, AD 94. Juba must escape with his brother and sisters, and journey to the distant Britannia on the edge of the known world. He must seek a safe haven there, a land of druids and barbarians. When the Emperor's men arrive at midnight, shattering their family forever, Juba is tasked by his mother to keep his siblings, including baby Dora, safe. They flee through the streets of Rome, evading their pursuers, to the port, hoping to find a ship which can give them passage. Having had all their valuables stolen, Juba has to make a heart-rending choice to secure their places aboard; even then, they have to work on the weeks long trading voyage to Londinium. Once there, the adventure is not over as they encounter thieves, dark family secrets and hostile Britons. One person they do have the good fortune to meet is Flavia Gemina, a character from the acclaimed Roman Mysteries series, now married, helping in the governor's office and still a detective! As you would expect in a novel by Caroline Lawrence, whose deep knowledge of the period is evident in her writing, the reader learns a great deal about life in Roman times, both at the heart of the Empire and in Britannia. In chapters headed by one Latin word, which relates to the events described and explained in the glossary at the end, fact is entwined with fiction in a rollercoaster adventure, written in a style which makes it accessible to readers of 7+. Under the new curriculum, the Romans may be studied by Years 3 and 4; this, the first in a new series, would make a good class read aloud for the topic. 240 pages / Ages 7+ / Reviewed by Jayne Gould, librarian.

Suggested Reading Age 7+