Escape From Pompeii [Hardcover]

Christina Balit (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 6 and up

"And then, in one terrible endless moment, they heard mighty Mount Vesuvius roar. Its top exploded in a scream, and flames ripped upward to the sky. A massive cloud of silver ash rose to the heavens, twisting and bubbling in every direction until everything was in total darkness."

Tranio, like most Roman boys, likes to watch whatever is going on: tradesmen selling their goods, ships unloading their exotic cargoes, politicians making speeches in the forum. But one hot August day a very different scene unfolds. The ground begins to shake, the sky to darken. People run gasping for air. Heading for the harbor, Tranio and his friend Livia hide on a boat and witness one of the most terrifying moments in recorded history-the eruption of Mount Vesuvius and the destruction of their beloved city, Pompeii.

Christina Balit's fictional tale is based on the latest research. With her dramatic illustrations and a historical note, this story makes an exciting introduction to a fascinating subject.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-4-There really is no way to sugarcoat the loss and destruction that the eruption of Mount Vesuvius wrought in A.D. 79, and those children who thrive on disasters will get a taste of the effects of the inferno in this fictionalized account. The narrative follows the comings and goings of a boy and girl against the hustle and bustle of the Roman port. In stylized scenes rendered in blues and terra-cotta, Tranio notes the activity on the docks, at the forum, and during his father's play rehearsal until the first tremors are felt. As columns split and actors freeze in place, the boy takes off to find his friend. At first they laugh at the frenzy, but as breathing becomes more difficult, the children flee to a boat. The explosion is presented in a dramatic spread with a fiery-red center and layers of billowing clouds as viewed from the sea. The final scene depicts the two (now aged) survivors, returned from Greece to lay flowers on their buried city as they wonder if future generations will remember it. A cross section of the underground reveals the bodies and buildings; an afterword provides a bit of history. Shelley Tanaka's The Buried City of Pompeii (Hyperion, 1997) offers a longer story as well as sidebars with facts and photographs. Both books provide an introduction to this tragic but fascinating city.
Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public Library
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Christina Balit has illustrated a number of children's books, including Atlantis: The Legend of a Lost City, which she also adapted and retold. Before becoming a prize-winning illustrator, Ms. Balit studied at the Chelsea School of Art and the Royal College of Art in London. She lives in Kent, England.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) (October 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805073248
• ISBN-13: 978-0805073249
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 10.1 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,204,495 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Too scary?, March 25, 2010

By 

bebe (san francisco) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Escape from Pompeii (Paperback)

Informative book, with nice illustrations. Perhaps a bit too scary for a small child? I found it rather sad to read about two small children escaping the volcano and watching from a distance as all of their village and loved ones are buried alive. Eek.