My Family and Other Romans

My Family And Other Romans by Marie Basting is an eccentric mix of a story based on Roman Britain and a 21st Century girl called Silvia. This brilliantly funny story entwines history with reality and the combination is nothing but captivating.

Silvia is an ordinary 12-year-old girl wrapped up in her father’s world of LARPing – Live Action Role Playing. Silvia's father has organised a Roman re-enactment near Hadrian’s Wall but when Livi's father suddenly goes missing and she is guided into a purple haze by a light bearing mysterious boy, Silvia does not realise that she has actually crossed realms into Ancient Romana. Silvia is disorientated and thinks she is dreaming, but when her very ordinary next-door neighbour - Mrs Burden - suddenly appears, she is more determined that ever to find out the truth and help rescue her dad.

As the story progresses, we discover that Silvia is actually a mortal Roman goddess and that some of her newly discovered relatives will do anything to cause war and destruction. Silvia - known as 'the undecided' - must fulfill an ancient prophecy and bring peace to Romana and save Britannia from her very own mother! But there is a twist in the plot and Silvia soon discovers that a very wise owl is at the heart of it all.

I really enjoyed reading this book as it was written in a different style - part story, part confession. The characters are based on mythological creatures and Roman gods and goddess but Marie Basting has given then relatable characteristics - for instance, Vulcan the Roman god of fire acts more like a new-age hippie who is addicted to sweets and Turkey Twizzlers. This makes the story so humorous; children will adore the characters and the theme.

What also makes this book special is how a glossary of all the Latin used in the book is translated into very funny definitions.

This book would be a brilliant accompaniment to the teaching of Ancient Rome in KS2, or as an end of the day story.

288 pages / Reviewed by Hayley Summerfield, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 9+

A fun and fast paced historical comedy read featuring time-travelling Roman role play fanatics and a version of Ancient Rome.

My family and other Romans is a lively, light-hearted and entertaining read. Schoolgirl Silvia Fortuna Juno De Luca lives practically on top of Hadrian's wall with her Ancient Rome-obsessed dad, who is now on the eve of finally opening his very own Live Action Role Play centre - Rome Play! 12-year-old Silvia loves the role play alongside her dad - most of the time.  What happens next, however, may be live action but no acting is needed when Silvia finally realises that, when searching for her dad, who has disappeared overnight, she has stumbled through some kind of portal into what looks, sounds and smells like the real, very Ancient and original Rome. Where, it seems, her schoolgirl status is uplevelled and she is actually a demi-God.

A riotous, madcap quest to find her father begins… and Silvia's alternate existence unfurls before her.  She meets her Roman family in all their God, Goddess and Mythical Monster guises. Siblings ? She has many; twin gorgon brothers, Romulus and Remus for a start.

Highly entertaining and very cleverly written. The story is packed with key Roman words, phrases and figures with text written in bold linked to a glossary at the back of the book so, in no time at all, those readers less familiar with Roman life can get up to speed about Silvia's adventures.

It seems that the Fates have mapped her life out and tasks and expectations need to be met…It is a good job that Silvia is an expert in battle training with a sword ( albeit a role play fibre glass one!)   Entertaining and educational, all in one comic caper!

288 pages / Reviewed by Jenny Caddick, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 7+