Detectives in Togas [Paperback]

Henry Winterfeld (Author), Charlotte Kleinert (Illustrator), Clara Winston (Translator), Richard Winston (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2002 | Age Range: 8 and up

In these two delightful history-mysteries, seven boys in Ancient Rome solve strange crimes . . . thanks to some help from their cranky teacher, a little bit of logic, and a lot of amusing misadventure.

Yes, Rufus wrote CAIUS IS A DUMBBELL on his tablet at school, but no, he did not break into the schoolroom, did not tie up his teacher, and certainly did not paint his slur about Caius on the Temple of Minerva (even if it is in Rufus's own handwriting). Rufus is doomed unless his six classmates can find out who is really responsible. Every hour seems to bring a new, confusing clue . . . until the boys finally stumble upon someone who is not what he appears to be.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An original and humorous mystery story . . . tied neatly into a plot that has continuous suspense. . . . The boys are real in their mischief and eager deducing, and the historical details are so naturally a part of the story that the whole has a liveliness that the pictures suggest."--The Horn Book

Language Notes

Text: English, German (translation) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Sandpiper (November 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152162801
• ISBN-13: 978-0152162801
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (49 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #48,737 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #30 in Books > Children's Books > Literature & Fiction > Historical Fiction > Ancient Civilizations

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 28 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Not just a kid book August 9, 2001

By "teencynic"

Format:Paperback

This book is suitable for any ages. It's so funny and deftly written I was laughing on the bus and everyone though I was nuts. Read it and see why...

It starts around dawn, when two boys at a prestigious school have a fight, and one of them gets kicked out. Later, he's accused of a horrible crime and arrested, and his friends all rush to save him.

The author skillfully puts in all the boys, and you get to know them along the way. Rufus (the one who's kind of poor; his father's a general, who cause the trouble; Caius (the oaf, who fought with Rufus), Mucius (the leader, hard-working and a little pompous at times), Julius (the bright one, with sound logic and perception), Antonius (the daredevil with an active imagination), Publius (the wit, sarcastic and sceptical), and Flavius (timid and meek but has nice writing).

Blending historical fact with hilarious blunders, rich with snappy dialogue and runaway clues, it's highyl enjoyable from the start all the way to the surprise ending. I love it!

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Why I never minded learning Latin later... August 12, 1997

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

I read this book when I was a child, being book-eating, book-loving from the age of six onwards. This book is real fun for kids , telling a charming story of little Roman boys who have kindness, a sense of adventure, and the right spirit to help their friend. They solve a dark mystery, hiking throughout the City of Ancient Rome (not very ancient for them, but their home) in order to do that. The novel has sinister characters as well, with sinister names (but I should not tell what this is about...), but it is not cruel or violent. I liked the book very much, and the fact that I remembered it after such a long time when I came across it in the amazon catalogue, is telling. I want to be its champion here, because it gives - like a good historic fiction book should - you a familiarity for the characters their life and life style. After reading I wanted to have the second book in the series (which exists, by the way), because I could not wait for the next adventure. I ended up never minding to learn Latin at school, after all it was the language of Caius, Rufus and the rest of the gang.

(Charlotte Esser, Germany)

20 of 25 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Review of Detectives in Togas -by Sean Cook August 8, 2000

A Kid's Review

Format:Paperback

This book is a comical mystery about seven rich boys who live in ancient Rome and go to the Xanthos school for boys. Cauis isn't very bright, Rufus is the class clown, Aucius is a hard worker, Flavius is the slow boy, Antonius is the fast boy, Publius is the poorest one, and Julius is the boy with the best ideas. In the beginning of the book, Cauis and Rufus pick a fight with each other. Rufus, the class clown wrote, "Cauis is a dumbbell" on a writing tablet. The teacher cruelly punishes Rufus and kicks him out of school. The next day, when the teacher didn't show up for school, they went to his house and found him manacled. Everything in his house was demolished. The same day, another crime was committed. Graffiti was found on the temple wall that was dedicated to Cauis' father, Senator Vinivius...I think this was a great book with an unbelievable ending. The ending was so awesome because I never saw it coming.