Pirates of Pompeii (Roman Mysteries) [Hardcover]

Caroline Lawrence (Author)

Book Description

Series: Roman Mysteries | Publication Date: April 1, 2002

AD 79, following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius and the destruction of Pompeii. Among the thousands of people huddled in refugee camps along the Bay of Naples are Flavia Gemina and her friends Jonathan the Jewish boy, Nubia the African slave-girl, and Lupus the mute beggar boy. Their discovery that children are being kidnapped from the camps - among them the daughter of the powerful Publius Pollius Felix - leads them to solve the mystery of the pirates of Pompeii. A terrifically exciting and dramatic story and a brilliant picture of the aftermath of a great disaster.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-7-Flavia, Jonathan, Lupus, and Nubia are once again faced with a mystery. The year is 79 C.E. and Mount Vesuvius has just erupted, leaving chaos and destruction in its wake. The children are living in a refugee camp with Jonathan's father and Flavia's uncle. The sky is hazy and red, everything is covered in a thick layer of ash, and the wails of professional mourners and families who have lost loved ones pierce the air. One by one, children disappear from the area and Flavia and her friends decide to find out why. Woven into the mystery are problems and issues of Roman life such as the abusive treatment of slaves and the class structure of the patron/client system. The search for the missing children is fast paced and in several instances peril seems imminent. Newcomers to the series may be a little confused by this one but fans will enjoy it.
Genevieve Gallagher, Orange County Public Library, VA
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Gr. 4-7. This third book in the Roman Mysteries series continues the first-century B.C.E. adventures of teen sleuth Flavia and her sidekicks. This title begins in a refugee camp in the aftermath of Vesuvius' eruption. While assisting the camps' doctors, Flavia and her friends discover that many children have disappeared in the chaos. Suspecting a kidnapping plot, the friends investigate, and their inquiries lead them to the opulent villa of a wealthy, charming nobleman. Is he behind the kidnappings? The friends discover the answer in a series of terrifying near-death adventures. As in the series' previous titles, Lawrence combines vivid period details and graceful imagery with a thrilling pace and some gory action scenes, always portraying Flavia and her friends as well-drawn young people whose playfulness, jealousies, outrage, and courage will resonate with contemporary readers. Additional themes of slavery and class issues add depth to the plot, while a glossary defines the many Roman terms used throughout. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Orion Childrens H/B & Trade Pb (April 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1842552023
• ISBN-13: 978-1842552025
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,112,893 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Pirates of Pompeii, May 10, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Pirates Of Pompeii, The (Hardcover)

The Pirates of Pompeii was a captivating book that took you from the night after the horrifying volcanic eruption to the healing of one of the four detectives. On the day after the eruption, the slave girl Nubia and the freeborn Roman, Flavia went out to look for the healing flower for the doctor of Pompeii, scrounging in the ash of the aftermath. When the two girls found the flower they also found a girl who could not find her brother. They took her to the village where the other two detectives were waiting Jonathan and Lupus. In the village they found out another boy was missing they were all curious to find out who it was they have clues but will they find the pirates of Pompeii? This book is very intriguing it takes you in to a new ancient world. Pirates of Pompeii are the third of Caroline Lawrence's three books. I truly recommend this book to inquiring readers wanting to know more.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best kids' series!, November 20, 2003

By 

B. Claypole White (Hillsborough, NC United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pirates Of Pompeii, The (Hardcover)

My son and I discovered the first book in The Roman Mysteries series in our local library. We both loved it - and waited so patiently for the second! Then, in the summer, we visited England. And discovered the rest! Pirates of Pompeii, which is, thankfully, available in America, was our favorite. If it was possible to choose. We could not put this down! I would recommend reading this after The Secrets of Vesuvius, since the action picks up from the next day. What a great page turner!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Magnificent Mystery, July 18, 2008

By 

D. A Wend (Arlington Heights, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Roman Mysteries 3: Pirates of Pompeii (Mass Market Paperback)

The Pirates of Pompeii brings more complexities into the lives of Flavia, Nubia, Jonathan and Lupus. In the aftermath of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius a refugee camp has been set up where Doctor Mordecai spends his days treating the injured. No one knows what happened to Clio and there is little hope that she survived. The people of the camp are visited by the Emperor Titus, who has brought supplies paid for out of his own funds.

Amid the hope that life might return to normal, parents report that their children are missing. In a nearby cave, Flavia finds a little girl who was almost kidnapped by two men wearing masks - her brother was not so lucky and has joined the missing. Flavia becomes determined to find the missing children and after an initial investigation has more questions than answers.

The setting of the majority of this story is at modern Sorrento at a fabulous villa built on a small island. Our intrepid children are guests as they go about solving the mystery but in the process their relationships with each other undergoes a test.

The Pirates of Pompeii is a nicely conceived mystery and is beautifully written by Caroline Lawrence. Ms Lawrence has really outdone herself in the complex weaving of the plot and her descriptions of places and daily life are magnificent. The series of the Roman Mysteries seems to get better with each book, and I must admit that my enthusiasm for Ms. Lawrence's book has spread to more people as I have talked about each volume.