Topic: History

Paris

Is any city as beloved as Paris? People who live here revel in a culture that is both ancient and yet has changed with each wave of new arrivals. People who don’t live here have made it one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations, with beautiful buildings, romantic vistas, and a one-of-a-kind sense of place. Inside, read how Paris has changed over the centuries, how the city shapes modern France and Europe, and how visitors can make their Parisian dreams come true. 

Major World Cities travels the globe to bring readers the up-close story—from yesterday to today—of the people, sights, sounds, and achievements of key urban centers. This series is the ultimate city travel guide. 

Major World Cities: Paris takes an in-depth look into the city’s history by breaking down information into super-short sections. Each page has blocks of information typed in large font and placed into different-colored boxes to help readers distinguish when a topic changes. In addition, each page has one or more full-color graphic elements, including artwork and photographs. Each page has two to four paragraphs; however, the wide variety of topics may overwhelm some readers. Some words appear in bold text and are defined in the book’s glossary. Nevertheless, the complex sentence structure and advanced vocabulary make Paris best suited for strong readers. 

Anyone interested in Paris will find Major World Cities: Paris an interesting nonfiction book with a pleasing format. To show a change of topic, each page uses white and yellow boxes with large headlines. Most illustrations also have a one or two sentence caption that gives additional information. The book contains 18 two-page spreads describing Paris’s culture, religion, education, architecture, and other interesting topics. In addition, there is a map of the city, a timeline, and a glossary. 

Major World Cities: Paris is the perfect book for anyone who wants to research Paris’s past and present. Because the book covers so many topics, readers will find other fascinating topics to explore. For example, Parisians are diverse people who enjoy designer clothes, fine foods, and wine. Paris was also the home of many important historical people, such as Marie Curie, Napolean I, and Edith Piaf. Major World Cities: Paris will expand readers’ knowledge about this city known for its romance. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • In the 19th century, “murderers and other major criminals were executed in this square.”  
  • The Vikings “repeatedly attacked Paris, killing people, looting, and burning homes.” There is a black-and-white illustration of a raid, but no people are shown. 
  • The Roman Catholics and Huguenots fought in the Wars of Religion. Henry IV “had to become a Catholic before he was allowed into Paris in 1594, but he was later assassinated by a Catholic.” 
  • A two-page spread explains the French Revolution that started when “a mob stormed the Bastille prison in Paris. . . Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were guillotined in 1793. The following year became known as the Reign of Terror when opponents of the new government were killed.” 
  • When Attila the Hun was heading to Paris, a nun named Genevéve “urged the people of the city to pray for help. According to legend, she then had a vision in which Attila turned away from Paris. He really did so, and the amazed Parisians believe that Genevéve’s prayers had saved them.” 
  • In 2015, “a group of Islamic terrorists committed a series of attacks that in a few days terrorized the city. They stormed into the offices of a French satirical magazine. . . and killed eight people. Then they killed a police officer. . . Four hostages died, as did the gunmen.” 
  • In 2015, a terrorist attack “took the lives of more than 120 people. Gunmen and suicide bombers sent by the ISIS group. . . carried out multiple attacks on the city, including strafing restaurants, setting off explosions near a soccer match. . . and capturing a concert hall and killing nearly 100 people, some execution-style.” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  •  “Parisians drink wine, often French wine, with most meals.”

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • After the Franco-Prussian War, Roman Catholics built the Sacré-Coeur Church “as a token of thanks to God that Paris was not totally destroyed.” 

Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream

Have you ever heard of the Mercury 13 women? Did you know that nearly twenty years before the first women were let into NASA’s astronaut program, there were others who tried? 

What are the requirements for being shot into space, piloting a hunk of metal while carrying the hopes and fears of your nation? Mastery of flying, as well as courage, intelligence, resistance to stress, and fitness—any checklist would certainly include these. But when America created NASA in 1958, there was an unspoken rule in place: astronauts must be male, and they must be white. 

Here is the tale of thirteen women who proved not only that they were as tough as any man but also that they were brave enough to challenge the government. Their passage to space was blocked by prejudice, jealousy, and a note scrawled by one of the most powerful men in Washington. But in the end, their inspiring example empowered young women to take their rightful place in the sky, piloting jets and commanding space capsules. Almost Astronauts is the story of thirteen true pioneers of the space age. 

Every young girl should read Almost Astronauts, which gives the account of determined women who refused to take no for an answer. The Mercury 13 women “knew their own minds, their own hearts, their own dreams.” The women took the same test as male astronauts and often outperformed the men. “They showed up ready for anything: to be run ragged, spun in circles, pushed to their limits. They were ready to show their smarts, their strength, and their courage.” The Mercury 13 women’s stories will encourage young women to persevere despite the heavy roadblocks that are placed in front of them.  

Many people, including President Lyndon B. Johnson, NASA, and the Navy, believed that women should not be allowed to be astronauts, but they were careful “not to be seen as dismissing women’s concerns outright.” But pilot Jerry Cobb and other women refused to be dismissed. Pilot Jerry Cobb said, “The race for space will not be a short one—nor any easy one—but it is one in which we must all participate. Let us go forward, then—there is space for women!” In the end, while the Mercury 13 couldn’t overcome the social constraints of the time and become astronauts, they forced their way into the pilot seats of airplanes and opened the hatch that would eventually allow other women to take their place in the cockpit of a space shuttle.   

Black-and-white and color pictures appear every two to four pages. The text often breaks up information with subheadlines that include the date or topic. The back of the book includes an author’s note, an appendix, further reading, a bibliography, sources, source notes, and an index. The book includes information on many famous women who influenced NASA, including Katherine Johnson, Mae Jemison, and Mary Golda Ross.  

Almost Astronauts is an educational and engaging story that will empower young women to reach for the stars. It is a must-read because it shows how many women took their place in the sky, piloting jets and commanding space capsules. The women’s accomplishments show that women are truly capable of making impossible dreams come true. To learn more about how women influenced space travel, read To Fly Among the Stars: The Hidden Story of the Fight for Women Astronauts by Rebecca Siegel and Astronauts: Women on the Final Frontier by Jim Ottaviani & Maris Wicks.  

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

See-Through Mummies

From the pyramids at Giza to the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb, mummies—those ancient and awesome figures of the dead—are among the most fascinating and surprising mysteries of the ancient world. Now you can travel back in time and look beneath the mummy’s bandages as it goes from dead to perfectly preserved, all in just a few months.  

Featuring clear pages that allow the reader a glimpse beneath the surface, See-Through Mummies will show you the secrets, legends, methods, and the exact step-by-step science of the practice of creating ancient mummies. Readers will not only learn how and why mummies were made, they will also unravel the secrets of the Book of the Dead, the legend behind Egyptian gods and goddesses, the inside story of Osiris, the very first mummy, and will glimpse the riches of tombs treasures as only a see-through page can show them. 

So, open your eyes and prepare to be amazed. With this book, you won’t just see mummies; you’ll see through them.  

See-Through Mummies is a beautifully illustrated book that breaks the Egyptian’s beliefs and mummification process into short informational sections. Each section has a bold title that clearly labels what the text is about. Illustrations show the mummification process with captions that explain each illustration. In addition, many pages have an infographic titled “Mummy Matters.” The infographic uses a bullet point list with additional facts, such as, “The valuable heart was left in the body. The worthless brain was thrown away.”  

The book gives step-by-step instructions on how to mummify a person and explains the Egyptian’s beliefs regarding the afterlife. For example, before being allowed into the afterlife, each person’s heart would be weighed. If they lead an evil life, they would be condemned to a second death. “The prospect of dying for a second time filled Egyptians with horror. It was the worst thing that could possibly happen to them.” Ammut was a monster called the “‘devourer of the dead’ because she ate the hearts of those who had led wicked lives. She was feared by all, and everyone knew that once she had eaten a person’s heart, they could never reach the afterlife.” Squamish readers may find the descriptions of the mummification process upsetting. 

The book’s format will instantly engage readers with the illustrations that mimic an ancient scroll. Each page has a border with brightly colored symbols, but the illustrations use earth tones. While none of the illustrations show gory detail, several of them include blood flowing from a body. Each illustration helps the reader understand the Ancient Egyptian’s beliefs. For example, the journey to the afterlife illustrates the steps involved in the weighing of the heart ceremony, along with captions explaining the illustration. The transparent pages are strong and will not tear; plus, they give the mummification process an added element because they allow the reader to see each step.  

Everyone who is interested in Ancient Egypt or mummies should read See-Through Mummies. This fascinating book breaks facts into easily manageable sections, and the illustrations help readers understand the Egyptians’ beliefs. Learn more about Ancient Egypt by reading The Curse of King Tut’s Mummy by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld, the TombQuest Series by Michael Northrop, and the Kid Detective Zet Series by Scott Peters. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • The God Osiris was married to his sister Isis. Their brother Seth was jealous of Osiris and tricked him into getting into a coffin. “Seth shut the lid and threw the coffin into the Nile River, and Osiris drowned. . .” Later, Seth found the body and “ripped his body into fourteen pieces, which he scattered across Egypt.”  
  • Isis was sad that Osiris was scattered over Egypt, so she searched for the body parts. “She found them all save one, which a great fish had swallowed.” Osiris’s body was mummified, and Isis “blew life into Osiris, and he was reborn, not to live in this world, but to live for all time in the afterlife.” 
  • During the embalming process, the brain was removed. “It was pulled out in bits through the left nostril or scooped through a hole in the base of the skull.” 
  • Some people believe King Tutankhamun was murdered.  

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • During embalming, “the body could be washed with wine made from the fruit of palm trees.” 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • After a person “entered the afterlife, he or she was able to use supernatural powers. These powers could be put to good use, helping to solve problems for the living. However, they could also harm the living, causing them illness or trouble in the form of curses.” 

Spiritual Content  

  • The ancient Egyptians believed in many gods. The book references the gods Horus and Thoth. “Horus, who was the son of Osiris, was the god of eternal life. Thoth was the god of wisdom and writing.”  
  • After a person died, embalmers took away the body, and “priests attended to the body of a dead person, offering spells and prayers, and preparing it for the embalming process.” 
  • While a person was being embalmed, “priests recited sacred words from the Book of the Dead. This was a collection of around three hundred spells, all of which were designed to help the dead person travel to the afterlife.” 
  • When a body was wrapped in linen, “Amulets and spells were placed between the layers. . . During the wrapping, priest chanted spells each time a new piece of linen was put in place. . . the spells were also designed to protect the person’s akh, helping it on its way to the next life where it would live again.”

Cleopatra Rules!: The Amazing Life of the Original Teen Queen

Most of what we’ve known about Cleopatra—and what crept into art, film, and literature—came from her enemies, the Romans. Ascending to the throne at young age of 17, Cleopatra proved to be a brilliant negotiator who forged alliances that kept her in power and in control of her kingdom.   

Readers will be surprised to learn that Cleopatra was more of a bookworm than a seductress. The text is divided into small sections, with headlines announcing each topic. In addition, some sections answer common questions such as, “Was she beautiful?” To answer the question, the author refers to ancient documents. According to Plutarch, the ancient biographer, “The charm of her presence was irresistible, and there was an attraction. . . with a peculiar force of character. . . [that] laid all who associated with her under its spell.” 

Even though Cleopatra Rules is written at a high reading level, readers can use context clues to understand most words. Even reluctant readers will be able to enjoy the book because it features many sidebars and color illustrations: maps, photos of ancient artifacts, and artwork from many historical periods. The book is written in a humorous tone that can appear flippant. For example, the text explains the mummification process: “The organs, stuffed into special jars, stayed near the body. They pulled the brains out through the nose. After all, who needed brains?” 

Since Cleopatra’s life was entwined with both Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, readers will also learn more about Rome and the period’s politics. Anyone who loves history or is curious about Cleopatra will fully enjoy Cleopatra Rules because it presents history in an easy-to-read format that is engaging and educational. However, readers need to beware: Cleopatra Rules will make you want to dig deeper into ancient Egypt’s and Rome’s history because the political leaders are fascinating.  

Sexual Content  

  • In ancient Egypt, it wasn’t unusual for siblings to marry each other. Cleopatra’s father “probably expected the two to marry when the boy got older. And the eww factor gets even worse. After all, Cleopatra’s mother was likely also her aunt, her father’s sister.”  
  • The ancient Egyptian gods were often married to their siblings, which is why pharaohs often married each sibling. “All pharaohs were the human embodiment of Horus, sharing his divinity. When pharaohs died, they became fully divine. . .” 
  • The Romans believed Cleopatra was a “harlot.” However, she only had two romantic relationships.   

Violence  

  • When Cleopatra and her father went to Rome, Cleopatra’s sister Berenice claimed the throne. “It was a dumb move because as soon as Daddy regained control of the throne, Berenice parted with more than her crown. She parted with her life, too. . . she was executed for treason.” 
  • To gain Caesar’s favor, Cleopatra’s brother “had Pompey the Great—one of the most powerful leaders in Rome—beheaded on Egyptian soil.” When Caesar arrived in Egypt, “the boy king’s advisers shoved Pompey’s pickled head into his face.”  
  • Egypt attacked Caesar because he refused to leave Egypt. To escape, Caesar “jumped into the choppy waters and swam to a boat farther out to sea . . . Arrows and spears flew, nearly blotting out the bright Egyptian sun.” Caesar escaped, but Cleopatra’s brother drowned, and her sister Arsinoe was arrested. 
  • When Caesar became too powerful, “Twenty-six senators knifed Caesar to death at a senate meeting.”  
  • Mark Antony received a note saying Cleopatra was dead. “Antony then took the sword and stabbed himself in the belly,” causing “bleeding and gasping in pain.” When he discovered the note was false, he asked his servants to take him to Cleopatra.  
  • When Octavian captured Cleopatra, she “grabbed a dagger hidden in her dress and tried to stab herself, but Octavian’s man was too quick. She’d been captured.” 
  • After Antony died, Cleopatra “finished her ritual prayers at Antony’s tomb.” Then, she killed herself by letting a snake bite her. However, scholars debate whether this is true or if Cleopatra took poison. 
  • After Cleopatra died, her son was a threat, so Octavian “had him hunted down and murdered.” 
  • Cleopatra’s only grandson, Ptolemy of Mauretania, was murdered because he “wore a purple cloak that was prettier than” the Roman Emperor Caligula’s cloak. 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • When Cleopatra and Mark Antony were together, they threw parties where “tasty wine flowed.” 
  • Mark Antony drank heavily.  
  • The Romans celebrated a war victory with “food and wine. Party time!” The celebrations could last for days. The partying even had a religious vibe because the conquering hero was likened to a god.

Language  

  • By killing a Roman general, Cleopatra’s brother made a “boneheaded move.”

Supernatural 

  • To Egyptians, jewelry was “a form of fancy magic. . .They figured the more jewelry you put on, the safer you were from bad things happening. . . Almost every piece of jewelry had some sort of symbolic meaning or magical power.” 

Spiritual Content  

  • The ancient Romans worshiped many gods, including Montu, the Egyptian god of war. “The Buchis bull was believed to be the incarnation of the war god, Montu. When a Buchis bull died, it was mummified and placed in a special tomb. . . “ Cleopatra celebrated in a ceremony for the Buchis bull. 
  • The Buchis bull was “papered” because Egyptians believed it “helped cure the sick and delivered oracles.” 
  • When Cleopatra became queen, she “dressed as Venus, lay beneath a canopy of gold cloth, with boys costumed as Cupid stood on either side, fanning her. Beautiful girls posed as minor goddesses, and sea nymphs burned sweet incense to perfume the air around them. . . To the Egyptians, she was Isis, the main goddess of Egypt. And, as in a religious experience, everyone was hushed in awe at the sight of the goddess-queen.” 
  • The Egyptians worshiped “a healer god of perfume—Nefertem.”  

Who Was Julius Caesar?

He came. He saw. He conquered. Julius Caesar was a force to be reckoned with. He was a savvy politician, an impressive orator, and a brave soldier. Born in Rome in 100 BC, he quickly climbed the ladder of Roman politics, making allies and enemies along the way. His victories in battle awarded him the support of the people. However, flush from power he named himself dictator for life, and the good times would not last much longer. On the Ides of March, Caesar was brutally assassinated by a group of senators determined to end his tyranny and bring his reign to an end. 

Who was Julius Caesar? focuses on Caesar’s rise to power in a time when power and wealth were the leading cause of many battles in Rome. Many powerful men were willing to fight for power, including Cinna and Marius, who were supposed to rule the Senate together. Since Caesar traveled widely, there is also a short excerpt about Cleopatra and her brother Ptolemy. Readers will find Caesar’s military expertise and ability to manipulate people fascinating. However, Caesar lived in a time of bloody battles, murders, and rebellions.  

The book has an easy-to-read format with a large font. Large black-and-white illustrations appear on almost every page. Many illustrations show maps, people, and objects from the time period. For example, there are illustrations of important people, Roman architecture, weapons, and maps. The wide array of illustrations and the short chapters will help keep readers interested until the end. Scattered throughout the book are one-page infographics that give more information about the time period, such as education in Ancient Rome, the Roman Forum, and Spartacus. The end of the book includes a timeline of Julius Caesar’s life and a timeline of the world during that time period. 

Julius Caesar is one of the most famous Romans of all time—he was even the topic of one of Shakespeare’s plays. Everyone should learn more about Caesar and Ancient Rome because they impacted the world. Political unrest embroiled Rome in many battles, causing death and destruction. Despite this, learning about Ancient Roman history shows how Caesar’s quest for power and wealth led to his demise, and while the Ancient Roman Empire accomplished many great things, the empire eventually crumbled.  

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • Pirates imprisoned Caesar. After Caesar’s ransom was paid, he was released. “He took each and every one of the pirates and had them killed.” 
  • Sulla and Marius were rivals who wanted to be the top general. When the two sides battled, “Sulla’s army burned down buildings and killed many people.” 
  • Marius’ army returned to Rome and “began killing Sulla’s supporters. Some victims had their heads chopped off and stuck to the ends of spears.”  
  • In Ancient Rome, many men fought for power, including Cinna and Sulla. “Wealthy citizens were being murdered by angry mobs. . . Cinna’s troops realized they were no match for Sulla’s army. . . They murdered their own commander.”  
  • When Sulla took power, “he began clearing the city of his enemies. A list of names was posted in the Forum. Anyone who killed a man on the list could keep some of that man’s property.” 
  • Spartacus was a slave who began a rebellion. “One night, Spartacus escaped with more than seventy other slaves. They were armed only with kitchen knives. As they fled, they came across wagons loaded with weapons.” Spartacus and his men killed many men. 
  • When Spartacus was killed, the rebellion ended. “For daring to rise up against Rome, six thousand rebels were crucified. The crosses stood one every hundred feet for a hundred miles, all along the road to Rome.” Spartacus and his rebellion are discussed over a page. 
  • Bibulus, a senate member, angered the people of Rome. “They threw things at him. Someone dumped a basket of animal poop on his head, and a mob chased him back to his house.” 
  • Caesar attacked Gaul. During this time, a group of three thousand Gauls planned to move to the coast. “They had burned their villages behind them, so no one could change their mind and move back home.” 
  • Caesar went to Egypt and the king gave him a gift, “a woven basket. . . containing Pompey’s severed head!” 
  • Caesar became so powerful that the senate decided to kill him. “The first to stab Caesar was a senator named Casca. He was so nervous that he only grazed Caesar’s neck. Caesar attacked with the only weapon he had—a pen—and stabbed it through Casca’s arm. Twenty-two more blows descended on Caesar, one knife after another.” Caesar died. 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • The Romans believed in many gods. “Caesar’s family said they were descended directly from Venus, Roman goddess of love and beauty!” 
  • In a speech, Caesar said, “The family of my aunt Julia is descended from kings on her mother’s side and, through her father, from the gods themselves. My family therefore holds the sanctity of kings who rule among men and of gods who rule over kings.” 
  • One page explains the religion in Ancient Rome. The Romans “worshiped Greek gods—after giving them Roman names. The most powerful Greek God, Zeus, became the Roman God Jupiter. . . Religion was part of everyday life in Rome. Almost everyone had a household shrine: a small cupboard with pictures and trinkets where they could pray and make offerings—often food and drink—to the gods.” 
  • Romans appointed a High Priest of Jupiter. “The God Jupiter was the protector of Rome.”  

The Thieves of Ostia

Flavia Gemina is a natural at solving mysteries. The daughter of a ship’s captain living in Ostia, the port of Rome, in AD79, she and her three friends, Jonathan, a Jewish boy (and secretly a Christian); Nubia, an African slave girl; and Lupus, a mute beggar boy, must work together to discover who is beheading the watchdogs that guard people’s homes, and why.

One of the best qualities of The Thieves of Ostia is the interesting and diverse characters. While Flavia is the main protagonist, the addition of Jonathan, Nubia, and Lupus adds interest and allows the reader to see how people in different social groups interact. Despite coming from different backgrounds, Flavia, her father, and her friends treat Jonathan, Nubia, and Lupus equally. This highlights the importance of treating all people kindly and allows the reader to see Flavia’s compassion.  

When Flavia first sees Nubia, who is naked and chained, Flavia decides to purchase Nubia instead of buying an expensive book. From the start, Flavia treats Nubia like a friend instead of a servant. Likewise, when Lupus enters the scene, he’s in filthy, threadbare clothes and is unable to talk because his tongue has been cut out. Despite this, Lupus is treated with care and quickly joins Flavia’s friend group. Flavia’s friend Jonathan is also well-developed, and through him and his family, readers learn how Christian Jews are discriminated against. This topic isn’t explored in detail. Instead, the story affirms the importance of treating everyone with respect. Flavia’s father explains how Jonathan’s family has different customs that must be respected. Flavia and her father accept each other’s differences and create a welcoming atmosphere that allows friendships to bloom.  

In addition to the interesting characters, The Thieves of Ostia revolves around a fast-paced mystery with Flavia and her friends roaming different parts of Rome. This gives a glimpse into the harsh realities of life, including slavery and death, which were common during this period. These scenes are often graphic and may upset some readers. One character who is especially cruel is Venalicius, a slave trader who is rumored to kidnap children to sell as slaves. In one terrifying scene, Venalicius sends his men to capture Flavia and her friends. This heart-pounding scene shows the perils of children who live in Rome. 

The Thieves of Ostia has many positive aspects, including interesting characters, a compelling mystery, and several positive life lessons. Through Flavia and her friends’ adventures, readers will learn the importance of forgiveness. In addition, the story’s conclusion shows the dangers of judging people based on their appearance. One reason people did not suspect the culprit was because he was attractive. Flavia says the criminal was “polite and handsome. . . It just never occurred to me that he might be bad.” Readers who get squeamish by graphic descriptions will want to avoid reading The Thieves of Ostia. However, readers who are ready to delve into the hard topics of death and slavery will enjoy The Thieves of Ostia because of the exciting action and adventure.  

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • A pack of dogs chases Flavia into a tree. While she’s trying to figure out how to move to safety, “One of the yellow dogs yelped and leaped to his feet, as if stung by a bee. Then the leader snarled and writhed in pain. A stone had struck him!” A boy slung rocks at the dogs until they “slunk off.”  
  • When Flavia goes into town, she sees “terrifying men with broken noses, mangled ears, and meaty arms. Some had lost arms or hands or legs.” It is unclear how the men were injured. 
  • \While by the port, Flavia hears “the crack of a whip and clink of chains. Out of the mist emerged a pitiful sight, a line of women, naked and chained at the neck. . . Some had open sores.” The women were naked and wore “wooden tags with prices scrawled on them.” 
  • Venalicius is known to kidnap children and sell them into slavery. It was rumored “that he had kidnapped a nine-year-old girl named Sapphira and sold her to a Syrian merchant.” 
  • Venalicius had one ear “bitten off by a slave he had afterward crucified, if the rumor was true.” 
  • Flavia sees a young girl who is being sold by Venalicius. Flavia asks her father what will happen to the girl, and he says, “She may become a lady’s maid. Or a cook’s assistant. Or perhaps someone will buy her for a wife. . . You know that eleven or twelve is not too young for slaves to marry.”  
  • When Shanakda, a slave girl, was too afraid to walk the gangplank, “without warning, Venalicius had furiously unlocked her collar and pushed her into the water, though her hands had still been tied. . . Nubia would never forget the sight of bitter seawater filling Shanakda’s screaming mouth and silencing her forever.” 
  • Flavia’s family’s cook “had died shopping for leeks in the forum when a donkey kicked him in the head.”  
  • Flavia’s neighbor, Cordius, was an officer in Germania, and “his whole family had been slaughtered by barbarians. A lovely wife, three fine young sons, and a baby girl, now all gone to the underworld. . .” 
  • Jonathan’s family’s watchdog is killed. Jonathan tells Flavia not to look because “someone has cut off his head and taken it away.” Later, another dog is found with its head cut off.  
  • Avita, a young girl, “died horribly, in great pain, of hydrophobia. . . The disease is also known as rabies.” Avita’s mom says, “Avita lost her appetite, and then she began to be terrified of the sight of water. She even refused to drink. Finally, she began to see things that weren’t there. But the end, when it came, was peaceful.” 
  • Avita’s father goes to several taverns, gets drunk, then travels to a lighthouse and jumps off. “There was a cry from the onlookers as the figure struck the edge of the first tier, bounced, and tumbled like a rag doll down to the concrete below.” 
  • A young boy climbed a tree to get away from a pack of dogs. Someone begins shooting arrows at the dogs. “One of the dogs yelped, leaped into the air, then fell back with a shaft in his gut. . . the second arrow struck the leader. . . Two dogs with arrows in them lay writhing on the ground.” Jonathan’s father, Mordecai, grabs a sword and “cut the dog’s throat with a single stroke, putting her out of her misery.”  
  • The other dog “leapt directly at Mordecai’s face. Jonathan’s father reacted by instinct. The bloody sword flashed again, and the dog’s head and body fell in two separate places.”  
  • Flavia befriends an orphan boy who cannot talk because “someone has cut out his tongue.” The reason for this is never stated. 
  • Flavia’s dog begins to whine. Then, Flavia sees “a trident, the kind fishermen use to catch fish. Its base was wedged tight between paving stones, and its three prongs pointed up toward the cold stars. On each of the three points was planted a severed dog’s head.” Flavia faints. 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • Jonathan uses marjoram oil for his asthma.  
  • When Flavia hurts her ankle, an adult applies ointment to help it heal. 
  • Flavia and her father purchased a young slave. Flavia “bathed the sores on her neck with a sea sponge and applied some of Mordecai’s soothing aloe balm.”  
  • At Flavia’s birthday dinner, the adults drink wine, and the children drink “well watered” wine. Jonathan becomes “slightly tipsy.”  
  • Flavia lives close to the graveyard. “She often went there with her father to honor her mother and twin brothers. . . Wind could be poured into [amphora] necks to refresh the ashes of the dead below.” 
  • A boy follows Avita’s father to several taverns, where he sees men drinking and gambling.  
  • Flavia’s family has friends over for dinner, and they drink wine. Flavia notices that her father has drunk too much wine. 

Language  

  • An adult exclaims, “Great Neptune’s beard!”  
  • “By Hercules” is used as an exclamation twice. 
  • Flavia and Jonathan both exclaim, “by Pollux” one time. 

Supernatural 

  • A boy overhears a soothsayer talking to Avita’s father. The boy “guessed the soothsayer was poking at chicken entrails or staring into a sacred bauble.” The soothsayer tells the father, “Unless you offer a sacrifice to the god Anubis, your daughter’s spirit will never be at rest. . . May the gods curse you!” 

Spiritual Content  

  • Flavia wears an amulet. “One day, when she married, she would dedicate this bulla to the gods of the crossroad.” 
  • When Flavia finds her father’s signet ring, she says “a silent prayer of thanks to Castor and Pollux,” who are deities and the patrons of athletes. 
  • Jonathan’s family is Jewish. When Flavia meets his father, he is reading the Torah. Jonathan says the family moved after “our old neighbors wrote things on the wall of our house, and once they threw rotten eggs at Father.” 
  • Jonathan’s family are Christians who aren’t allowed in the synagogue. The Rabbi tells Jonathan, “I suppose you can’t be blamed for your father’s misguided beliefs. Besides, the Master of the Universe, blessed be He, tells us to act justly and to love mercy. . .” 
  • Flavia tells Jonathan, “I’ve heard that Christians eat their God, and my father says they burned Rome.” Jonathan defends Christianity. He says, “Christians are peaceful. We are taught to love our enemies and pray for them.” 
  • Jonathan’s father, Mordecai, encourages the children to forgive. He says, “Our faith teaches that if you say sorry to God for the wrong things you have done, and if you forgive the people who have done wrong things to you, you will be forgiven.” 
  • When eating at Flavia’s house, snails are served. When Jonathan asks if he can eat them, his father says, “God has made all things clean.” After a discussion that lasted a page, “Flavia closed her eyes and tried to imagine which god she was speaking to. Finally, she settled on the beardless shepherd with a lamb over his shoulder.” 
  • While discussing the criminal who killed the dogs, Mordecai says, “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”   
  • Flavia’s father sets off on a journey after he “visited the temple of Castor and Pollux, to make sacrifices for a good and profitable journey.”  
  • Avita’s mom says, “I believe that after we die, we will go to a place more wonderful than we can imagine. Not the cold, dark underworld, but a sunny garden, a paradise. I trust Avita is there now. She was also a believer.” This implies that Avita’s mother is a Christian.  
  • Flavia and her friends talk to a sea captain who sailed through a terrible story. The captain says, “All of us are thanking whatever gods we believe in that we’re alive . . .” 
  • When the slave dealer sends his men to capture Jonathan and his friends, Jonathan prays that they reach safety. 
  • When Emperor Vespasian dies, he says, “Oh, dear, I think I’m becoming a god.”  

You Wouldn’t Want to be a Roman Gladiator!

This interactive story makes readers part of the story by inviting them to become the main characters. The story warns: watch out as a barbarian fighting against the Romans, you are about to be captured, sold as a slave, and trained to become a Roman gladiator.  

Tips from the experts:  

  • Train hard — your life will depend on your fighting skills.  
  • Eat porridge, barley, and ash to become fit and strong!  
  • Don’t get caught if you attempt to escape — the punishments are severe.  
  • Fight well or face the consequences! 
  • Win every contest and live long enough to retire.  

If you’re ready to jump into the life of a gladiator, You Wouldn’t Want to be a Roman Gladiator!  will teach you how to fight, kill, and die in a suitably sporting manner to entertain the Roman crowds. If you survive, you could become a hero but don’t count on it.  

You Wouldn’t Want to be a Roman Gladiator! introduces readers to the dark and violent life of a Roman gladiator. Instead of depicting the horrors that gladiators face in a dark, dreary mood, the illustrations use humor. While fighting is illustrated, the men have exaggerated facial expressions, and no wounds are included. One page does show two men being chased by wild animals, and one of the gladiators is on the ground while a tiger is about to pounce on him. The book’s light tone allows readers to learn about this important era in history without traumatizing them with gory details.   

The book’s format is perfect for reluctant readers. Each page has one large illustration as well as several smaller illustrations. On each two-page spread, a large paragraph explains what is happening to the reader. Along the edges, there is more information about a gladiator’s life. For example, one page includes an illustrated list of what happens when a gladiator is getting ready to “fight to the death.” In addition, each two-page spread has a “Handy Hint” that gives even more information, such as “keep oon fighting—if you don’t, your trainer will send a slave to whip you or prod you with a hot poker.”  

You Wouldn’t Want to be a Roman Gladiator! is an interactive book that uses humor and illustrations to make learning about history fun. While some readers may not understand all of the words, context clues and illustrations will help them understand their meanings. Plus, there is a glossary at the back of the book. For more information about life in ancient Rome, you don’t need to search for an ancient scroll; instead, read the nonfiction book Ancient Rome and Pompeii by Mary Pope Osborne & Natalie Pope Boyce. Readers who want to experience a fictional gladiator’s life should read Ranger in Time: Danger in Ancient Rome by Kate Messner.  

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • The Romans and Gauls fight; the Romans enslave the prisoners who “are chained at the neck and led away to begin a new life as slaves.” An illustration of the fight is included.  
  • When the slaves are sold at the market, they are forced to work in the mines, in the quarry, as gladiators, and in other difficult jobs. The slaves are chained and must wear a collar with their owner’s name and address. 
  • Several times, the book mentions that slaves were whipped if they didn’t work hard enough.  
  • If a slave tried to escape, “a runaway will have FHE (for Fugitivus Hic Est) and the initials of his owner, such as LT (for Lucius Titius) burned into his forehead.” 
  • A list of the different types of gladiators is included. Each gladiator appears with the weapon that he would use. One gladiator pictured is a woman. “An uncommon sight, but women fight as gladiators, too.” 
  • If a gladiator didn’t want to fight, “your trainer will send a slave to whip you or prod you with a hot poker.”  
  • When you fight another gladiator and feel as if you will lose, “appeal to the emperor. As you raise your left hand, the emperor will turn to the crowd and let it decide your fate. . . If people turn their thumbs down to the ground, as if swiping a sword through the air, then the defeated man must die.” The picture shows a gladiator on his back with another man holding a sword against his neck. 
  • If you survive until midday, “you’ll have a chance for a rest, when you’ll be able to watch criminals fight to the death.” 
  • Some gladiators fought wild animals such as lions, tigers, and elephants, but “those who are criminals have no means of defense.”  
  • The Colosseum could be flooded so battleships could fight. “From a distance, you will shoot burning arrows at the enemy ship. Then, when you are upon them, you will use hand to hand combat.” Some men are seen jumping into the water, and it is implied that they will drown if they do not know how to swim. 
  • At the end of the games, “men drag away the bodies of the dead and dump them in a pit. . . Dying gladiators are killed by a man dressed as the mythical character Charon from the underworld.”  
  • At the end of the reader’s fight, “your body is dragged from the arena, the victorious gladiator is presented with his prize.” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • The night before the gladiators’ fight, they are given meat and wine. 

Language  

  • A man yells at a gladiator, “Fight, you lazy dog.”

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • When the Romans and Gauls are about to fight, you are captured. An unnamed narrator gives you this advice: before the battle, offer a gift to your gods by throwing a weapon into a bog. This is the entrance to their underground world. 

Reawakened #1

When seventeen-year-old Lilliana Young enters the Metropolitan Museum of Art one morning during spring break, the last thing she expects to find is a live Egyptian prince with godlike powers who has been reawakened after a thousand years of mummification.

And she really can’t imagine being chosen to aid him in an epic quest that will lead them across the globe. But fate has taken hold of Lily, and she, along with her sun prince, Amon, must travel to the Valley of the Kings, raise his brothers, and stop an evil, shape-shifting god named Seth from taking over the world. 

Lily is a compelling protagonist who has always been a rule follower and an obedient daughter. This all changes when she meets Amon. At first, Lily is suspicious of Amon and doesn’t understand the strange power he has over her. However, when Lily learns that he is a reawakened prince, her determination to help Amon gives her the strength to make decisions based on her own thoughts and feelings. Readers will admire her determination and willingness to put herself in danger to help Amon. 

Reawakened incorporates Egyptian history and rich world-building. However, at times, the world-building is long-winded and breaks the story’s pace. While much of the information is necessary to understand the book’s events, the information often seems like a boring lecture. Lily’s inner musings also slow down the book’s pacing. At first, Lily is trying to understand her physical attraction to Amon as well as Amon’s powers. However, nothing exciting takes place until after the two travel to Egypt. Readers who enjoy action and adventure may find it difficult to slog through the first part of the story.  

From the start, Amon’s goal is to reawaken his brothers. However, the brothers don’t make an appearance until the story’s end, which increases the story’s action and suspense. In addition, the brothers are so incredibly likable that the reader will wish they could jump into the story and meet them. The three brothers’ strong bond and dedication to each other is heartwarming. The brothers are so interesting that some readers will be disappointed that they weren’t given more time.

Unfortunately, the climax isn’t very dramatic because it’s seen through Lily’s point of view, which gives the reader a limited view of the fight against good and evil. However, the conclusion has several surprises, including Lily’s willingness to sacrifice herself for Amon. Readers who enjoy character-based stories that allow them to understand the inner workings of the protagonist will find Lily a relatable character who grows throughout the story. Instead of ending with a happy ever after, Lily’s and Amon’s story will continue in the next book in the series, Recreated. 

Sexual Content  

  • Amon tells a story about Iris and Osiris, two siblings who were married. Amon says “incest” was common among the gods and pharaohs. 
  • Lily often talks about her attraction to Amon and not all of the passages are included below. For example, while they are dancing, “his hands, splayed on my back, moved inch by tantalizing inch downward until they reached the bare skin at my waist. . . he put his forehead to mine. The side of his mouth tickled my cheek. . . I could be kissing him. But I was too much of a coward to make the first move.” The scene is described over a page.  
  • When Lily and Amon are really close, she thinks: “Any slight movement and we could be kissing. With a twang of alarm, I realized that I wanted to experience his lips pressed against mine, and I wondered if it was something I truly desired for myself or if he was making me want it.” 
  • After Lily is injured, Amon’s “gaze dropped to my mouth, and my breath caught. . . I knew without a doubt that he wanted to kiss me. And Egyptian heaven help me, I wanted him to. But despite the fact that I was vividly imagining the press of his lips against mine. . .” Amon moves away from Lily. Lily tries to get Amon to kiss her several times after this, but he continues to keep his distance. 
  • After Lily and Amon’s bond is permanently sealed, he kisses her. “I’d waited so long for his kiss, and it was so much more, so much better than I had dared imagine. Golden sunshine burst behind my closed eyelids as I became a being entwined with the sun.” 
  • Amon’s brother, Astern, makes many sexual innuendos. For instance, when his body is re-formed, Astern says, “I am also grateful for my fully re-formed front, since I am partial to it.” 

Violence  

  • Since the story revolves around Egyptian gods, much of the violence is documented below under supernatural. Amon tells a story about three siblings—Iris, Osiris, and Seth. Seth tricked Osiris into climbing into a box, and Seth’s servants “sealed the lid with molten lead.” Then, Seth went to find Iris. “He was determined to take possession not only of the throne but of his sister as well.” To escape, Iris “leapt upon a moonbeam and vanished.” 
  • Later, Iris discovers that Osiris’s chest “had been thrown into the Nile. By the time she was able to raise the box, it had been broken into by crocodiles, and her husband’s body had been torn to pieces.” 
  • The god Amun-Ra sent out fellow gods, Seth and Horus, to search for Nebu, a golden stallion that roamed the desert. “Seth had heard the rumor that Horus had very powerful eyes and he worried that Horus would likely be the first to find Nebu, so in an act of desperation, he stole upon Horus while he slept and ripped his eyes from their sockets. . . He left Horus to die.” Horus promised to become the leader that Egypt needed, and Amun-Ra gave him a third eye. “It is said that an amulet made with the Eye of Horus can ward off evil, shielding its bearer from harm.”  
  • While looking for Amon’s canopic jars, Lily and Amon enter an ancient passageway leading to a tomb. “Rocks and debris shifted, rising into the air. . .  Amon continued to murmur in ancient Egyptian and the rubble rose higher, shooting past us in a cloud of stinging dust. Pebbles came next, firing through the air like bullets.” Amon’s spell keeps them safe, but the entrance is sealed. 
  • Seth asked three kings to sacrifice their children. When the kings refused, Seth took over a priest named Runihura’s body. “Runihura thrust his fingers into his eyes and yanked the bloody orbs from their sockets. . . he squeezed each eyeball, then opened his hands, a puff of light rising from each palm. . . the light pierced [the son’s] foreheads, and the boys cried out as dark magic lifted them into the air and threw them across the temple.”  
  • The priest warns the kings of doom. “The dying priest gathered his remaining strength and spat. Blood and saliva spattered across the king’s cheek, spraying his white robes with red. . . King Heru surged forward and plunged his own dagger into the neck of the priest, whose body finally slumped in death.” 
  • Seth, who is also known as The Dark One, sends a sandstorm. Amon tells Lily to hide, but she does not. She “cried out in pain and glanced down. The tremendous force was crushing my forearm, bruising the muscles, grinding against my bone, ripping into me, but nothing was there. Suddenly, the pressure lifted, and a crescent-shaped puncture appeared on both sides of my left arm.” Lily is bit several times before she is pulled to a safe location. She discovers the Dark One sent the creatures that bit her.  
  • While in a mountain, “a worm the size of Godzilla” attacks Amon, Lily and Amon’s brother, Astern. “Its gray skin oozed. The front half was all mouth with sharp, circular teeth that went back as far as I could see.” The worm tries to wiggle out of the mountain and attack. “Amon slashed at its side while Astern created magic dust that blew up in puffs of light. . . In retaliation, the worm opened its mouth, spewing neon-green slime and fat clumps of glistening saliva over everything. . .” Astern turns into a bird and takes Lily to safety. 
  • When Amon was a boy, he and his brothers skipped school and went on an adventure. Their teacher didn’t want them to get into trouble, so he followed their trail. He came across jackals. The teacher “did not survive. Our beloved instructor’s gnawed-upon bones were laid before the three of us, and our father honored his sacrifice as a hero.” 
  • Amon finds a man “burned, abused, and bleeding, with one eye ripped out, broken limbs, and bones protruding in several places, yet he still breathed.” The man tries to give Amon a message, but “he gasped as an invisible power lifted his torso. His broken arms dangled at his sides . . .” The god Seth speaks through the man.  
  • In the multi-chapter conclusion, Amon and his brothers fight the Great One in order to keep the god of chaos, Seth, from ruling the world.  
  • To defeat Amon and his brothers, the Great One raises “Masaw Haput—those born of death. You would call them zombies.” A zombie goes after Lily and her companion, Dr. Hassan. “Dr. Hassan sank his two files deep into the zombie warrior’s chest. It just stared at the two of us, breathing raggedly. Then, raising its sword overhead, it let out a supernatural scream, its jaws unhinging, a metal staple the only thing holding the jaw to its skull.” One of Amon’s brothers “took its head off” before it could hurt anyone. 
  • Lily hears Amon’s screams. When she finds him, a tray of ancient tools is close to him. “A pool of sticky blood surrounded the tray . . . Rivulets of blood had dried on his arms. . . Deep slashes marked several places on his thigh, and ugly stab wounds peeked out from between the fragments of what was left of his shirt.” Amon’s eyes had also been removed.  
  • Mummy crocodiles and living crocodiles attack Lily and Dr. Hassan. Amon’s brother, Ahmose, turns into a bird, and the two climb on. Lily falls “landing on the back of a croc mummy that did not like the fact that its remaining back leg broke off upon impact. It spun quickly and snapped at [Lily], grabbing [her] shirt in its teeth.” The crocodile is killed before it can injure Lily. 
  • Dr. Hassan and Lily create an effigy of Sebak, a reawakened man given power by the god Seth. “Dr. Hassan hit the figure three times and I heard a sharp snap like bone breaking. A scream full of rage blossomed, not from the doll figure, but from the giant creature by the pyramids. . .” Sebak became a crocodile beast and was trying to get to Lily. “His left front leg hung limply at his side, and one of his back legs seemed to have given way.” Dr. Hassan finds a way to send Sebak back to the underworld. 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • While opening Amon’s canopic jars, Lily is covered in a red powder that makes her feel “nauseated, weak, and dizzy.” Later, she discovers that the red power was a poison that would have killed her if Amon hadn’t intervened. 

Language  

  • Amon yells, “Son of a stunted jackal.” 

Supernatural 

  • Since many of the characters use chants and spells, not all of them are listed below. The story revolves around the god of chaos, Seth, who wants to defeat Amon and his brothers so he can rule Earth.  
  • Amon’s power “is a gift from the sun god Amun-Ra and his son Horus.” Amon says that he needs to “waken my brothers and complete the ceremony to align the sun, the moon, and the stars so that the Dark One, Seth, the god of chaos, may be kept at bay for another thousand years.” Amon often uses chants to help him complete his mission and keep Lily safe. Often, no specific words are given. The chants used to create spells appear below.  
  • After completing the ceremony, Amon “will have my full power and I will be able to manipulate time and send you back to your home so that you will arrive just a moment after we left. No one will miss you. Your family will never even know you were gone.” 
  • In order to talk to Lily, Amon “invoked a spell from the Book of the Dead to be able to communicate my thoughts to you.” 
  • Since he cannot locate his canopic jars, Amon must pull energy from Lily. When he pulls energy from her, “it felt like a gradual draining, but the pull was sharp and painful like someone was vacuuming out my insides with a steel wool attachment.”  
  • When Lily is injured, Amon uses magic to help her. “Amon ran his hand up my arm to my hurt shoulder, and I hissed as he cupped it with his palm. After a quick chant he poured enough warmth into the muscle to rival a heating pad.” Her injury has not completely healed but has lessened. 
  • Amon transports Lily by using sand. The first time, Lily “screamed as wind swept around our bodies, gritty sand stinging my skin like thousands of needles. I watched in horror as my body unraveled, piece by piece, to join the tumult, and my cry was cut off because I no longer had a throat, let alone a voice.” 
  • Amon can use his voice to command people. When Lily tries to leave Amon, he tells her to stop. When she didn’t, “my legs froze with a jolt so sudden that my bag flopped around my front and pulled me off balance. I feel in a heap. . .” 
  • When Amon commands Lily to take his hand, she “made a concerted effort to refuse his command and was rewarded with pain—stabbing, knife-twisting-in-my-gut pain. It made me gasp. . . When my determination weakened, and the pain overwhelmed me, I whimpered and gave in.”  
  • According to Amon, “When you know the true name of a being, be they god, human, or animal, you gain power over them.” A person’s true name “represents your ideal self. The person at the center. The name that is engraved upon your heart.” 
  • Amon reawakens two dead shabti. Shabti are described as, “Human servants were entombed with their leaders, with the understanding that they could journey to the afterlife with their masters and continue to act as servants for the dead kings or pharaohs.” In order to do this, Amon weaves a spell that begins with “Shabti servants, apportioned to me,/ You who molder in corruption,/ I summon you from the realm of the dead. . .” The spell is half a page. 
  • Amon discovers that one of the shabti broke his canopic jars. When Lily opens the one remaining jar, particles “coalesced until they formed a light. . . Slowly, the golden light rose up and out of the container, where it stretched until two wings became visible.” The light turns into a falcon. Amon weaves a spell by saying, “I call upon the falcon, born in the golden fires of the sun. . . Lend your whole, living soul to the one rent in pieces. / offer your resilient wings, your piercing talons, and your discerning eye. . .” Afterward, Amon and the falcon become one. 
  • Amon attacks the shabti. “The shabti shrieked and turned to run, but the falcon was upon him. . . its sharp golden talons grabbed the man, squeezing his torso mercilessly. . .” Before Amon can send him back to the underworld, the shabti disappears “with a puff of red smoke.” 
  • Apophis, a human priest, is a “lecherous man who abused anything or anyone he considered weak and soft. . . He lured women, and when they were at their most vulnerable, he’d strike. . . When he was ready to move on to the next victim, he would sacrifice the young maiden to a giant croc that he adorned with gold bracelets . . .” He was given the nickname, the Eater of Souls, not only because he threw victims to crocodiles but also because of his ability to control the undead. 
  • Apophis sent biloko to hurt Lily. Biloko are “invisible demons with crocodile snouts that, like Apophis, have a taste for females, though, in their case, they prefer the sweetmeats of the eyes, intestines, liver, and heart.” 
  • Amon murmurs, and “grains of sands twisted and writhed, and suddenly three horses burst from the dunes in a blast of shimmering powder.” The horses take Amon and his companions to a forest. 
  • Amon and his companions use an adder stone to pass through a mountain. Lily thinks, “What really freaked me out was that I wasn’t in a secret cave hidden within a mountain; I was passing through solid rock.” 
  • In order to raise his brother from the underworld, Amon weaves a spell. “The stars rise. The stars fall. The stars die. / As do you, my brother. / Astern—the embodiment of the stars. / It is time for rebirth. For renewal. For remaking. . .” 
  • As Amon chants, “sightless orbs and a gaping mouth rimmed with teeth peek[ed] through the wrappings as they fell away. . . The remaining skin was stretched tight and looked like fragments of old leather. In some places, it was ripped off completely, revealing graying bones with hanging bits of flesh.” When Astern is fully formed, he is handsome and muscular. Later, the third brother is also reawakened similarly. 
  • When Amon’s canopic jars were stolen, he lost some of his powers. Amon’s powers are restored when Lily is willing to sacrifice herself for him.  
  • In order to send Amon back, Lily must kill him. She is reluctant to do this, but when Amon reaches up to kiss her, “the kiss was brief. Amon lay back down, eyes wide, as a trickle of blood leaked from the corner of his mouth. . . the sharp blade as embedded in Amon’s chest up to the hilt.” Afterward, a god mummified Amon. Lily and the god recite a spell from the Book of the Dead and “commemorate his name as we do so. In naming him, we connect his body, his ka, or soul, his ba, which is the character, and his shut, or shadow.”

Spiritual Content  

  • In Ancient Egypt, three kings held a summit, and “each city worshiped a different god. . . The kings had been convinced by their priest that their patron gods had abandoned them and that they should come together as one to make offerings to appease a new god, namely, the dog god, Seth, in order to secure the safety and well-being of the people.” 
  • After the kings made an offering, each king’s wife became pregnant. But then, “the god Seth demands that three young men of royal blood be sacrificed to him and that they serve him indefinitely in the afterlife.” The princes were sacrificed.  
  • Amon, one of the sacrificed princes, chants to the god Seth. “Protect me, God of the Morning Sun. Rebuff those who work evil. Turn aside this calamity. . .” The chant is one page long.  
  • Amon has “been imbued, gifted, with a portion of [the sun god’s] power so that [he] may fulfill [his] duties.” 
  • Amon explains why the pharaohs aligned with a god. “They believed that if they took the names of the gods for themselves, they would receive divine aid. . . They made it so that to reject a pharaoh was to reject deity.” 

Ancient Rome and Pompeii

When Jack and Annie got back from their adventure in Magic Tree House #13: Vacation Under the Volcano, they had lots of questions. How did ancient Rome become an empire? Where did ancient Romans go for fun? And what happened to the Roman town of Pompeii? Find out the answers to these questions and more as Jack and Annie track the facts.  

Jack and Annie go to Pompeii and experience the volcanic eruption that buried the city. Ancient Rome and Pompeii gives more information about the history of Rome and introduces many of the historical figures of the time, including Julius Caesar, Octavian, and Cleopatra. In addition, the book discusses some of the people who tried to fight the Romans. By reading Ancient Rome and Pompeii, readers will learn more about the politics and culture of the Romans and how Ancient Rome impacted our world.  

This nonfiction story begins with the myth of Romulus and Remus and how Romulus founded Rome. While Vacation Under the Volcano only shows Pompeii, Ancient Rome, and Pompeii go into great detail about the Roman empire, the gladiators, the soldiers, and the construction of Rome. Curious readers will find The Magic Tree House Fact Tracker full of interesting facts that are new. 

Ancient Rome and Pompeii explain how the Romans believed in many gods. It also explains that many of the Romans’ beliefs are now considered myths. Emperor Caligula, who was eventually killed by his guards, believed he was the god Jupiter. Rome’s history is violent, and the book discusses many of the political leaders who were killed or committed suicide. The language is kid-friendly, but the deaths may upset or confuse some readers.  

Ancient Rome and Pompeii is packed with information that is easily digestible for young readers. Many tools help a young audience follow along. For example, each chapter is broken into small sections with historical information, and the illustrations break up the text into much smaller pieces. Pictures of Jack and Annie appear along the margins, giving readers more information and defining vocabulary words. The story also gives examples that will help readers understand concepts. For example, the Roman army had to march twenty miles carrying sixty pounds. The illustration shows Jack carrying a golden retriever with the caption: “Lugging sixty pounds around is like carrying a golden retriever on your back.” 

The Magic Tree House Fact Tracker presents nonfiction information in a way that will engage young readers. The book is perfect for readers interested in research because the author includes the best way to research Rome and more resources such as books, videos, and museums. Filled with up-to-date information, photos, illustrations, and fun tidbits from Jack and Annie, the Magic Tree House Fact Trackers are the perfect way for kids to learn more about the topics they discovered in their favorite Magic Tree House adventures. Learn more about ancient history by reading Through Time: Pompeii by Richard Platt and The Curse of King Tut’s Mummy by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld. 

Sexual Content  

  • None

Violence  

  • The god Mars had two sons, Romulus and Remus. They built a city, and then “a fight broke out over who would be in charge of the city. Romulus killed Remus.” 
  • The Romans went to the “Colosseum to see bloody sports—sports where people and animals died terrible deaths.” 
  • Gladiators were prisoners and slaves. “Some were freemen who got paid for fighting. Gladiators usually fought to the death. But if a fearless fighter was wounded, the emperor could spare his life.” There is a picture of two gladiators with their weapons.  
  • Centurions trained Roman soldiers. “The training was strict and brutal. Punishment included beatings and even death.”  
  • A section describes the “Roman War Machines,” including catapults, ballistae, and flamethrowers. “Soldiers loaded [the ballista] with rocks or pointed metal bolts that shot out at about 115 miles an hour! Anything in their path was immediately destroyed.” 
  • Carthage and Rome fought in the Punic Wars. “Years after Hannibal’s death, the Romans attacked Carthage and burned it to the ground.”  
  • “Julius Caesar’s army began a siege on Avaricum, a walled town in Gaul . . . Roman soldiers clambered over the walls . . . Death and destruction rained down upon the Gauls.” 
  • Julius Caesar ruled Rome. “He was such a strong leader that many feared he wanted to be crowned king. . . Several senators, including his friends Brutus and Cassius, planned to kill him. . . As Caesar sat down, the men grabbed him around the neck and began stabbing him. They stabbed him twenty-three times.”  
  • The book lists many people who committed suicide, including Cleopatra and Mark Antony. Some say Cleopatra died because of a poisonous snake bite.  
  • Queen Boudicca from Iceni refused to pay Roman taxes. “As punishment, the Romans tied Boudicca and her daughters to posts and beat them.” In retribution, Queen Boudicca went on a rampage “through the countryside. Thousands of people died.” When Queen Boudicca realized she would lose, she “drank poison rather than allow herself to be captured by her enemies.”  
  • The Roman emperor Caligula “behaved very badly when he was emperor. He killed anyone he wanted to.” Eventually, “his own guards murdered him.”  
  • Emperor Nero felt his mother was too powerful, “so he decided to poison her.” The poison did not work, and Nero tried to kill her several more times. “Finally, Nero ordered his soldiers to stab her to death. This time Nero succeeded!” 
  • People hated Nero. “Knowing that he would lose his thrown, Nero committed suicide.”  
  • A volcano destroyed Pompeii. “People were knocked down and lay where they fell.” The volcano’s explosion is described over two pages.
     

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • The god Mars had two sons, Romulus and Remus, who were raised by a shepherd. Legend says Romulus founded Rome.  
  • Since they worshiped many gods, the Romans built the Pantheon and dedicated it to all the gods. 
  • Caligula “demanded that everyone bow down to his horse. Finally, Caligula built a temple for himself. He thought he was the god Jupiter.” 
  • Every Roman street had shrines for their gods. The book lists the Roman gods, including Jupiter, Juno, Mars, Ceres, Neptune, Venus, Diana, Vesta, Mercury, and Vulcan. 

Vacation Under the Volcano

Who wants to vacation next to a volcano? Jack and Annie are about to find out when the Magic Tree House whisks them back to the days of the Roman Empire. They arrive in Pompeii and discover they’ve arrived on the day the city is going to be destroyed. Now Jack and Annie must race against time to find an ancient library before it is buried in ash!  

Suspense is created because Annie worries about being in Pompeii and thinks it “feels wrong.” In addition, the ground shakes and rumbles, and then Jack and Annie meet a soothsayer who warns them that the end is near. When the kids finally find the library, they don’t realize it at first because they are looking for modern books, while the Roman books are written on scrolls. Ultimately, Hercules saves the kids, and they return home safely. 

During their adventure, Jack and Annie learn about Roman culture. Jack uses a book to define unfamiliar words and look up facts about Pompeii, which allows the reader to learn more about its history. This information appears in a different font to give readers a visual cue that the information is factual. The back of the book contains more information about Roman culture. Readers who want to learn even more about Pompeii should read The Magic Tree House Fact Tracker: Ancient Rome and Pompeii. 

When reading Vacation Under the Volcano, children will learn about Roman culture and the destruction of Pompeii. Unfortunately, the siblings only have brief interactions with other people. Most of their knowledge comes from observation, so readers do not understand how Romans lived.  

Proficient readers ready for chapter books will enjoy jumping back into time with Jack and Annie. The story is accessible to young readers because of the large text and black-and-white illustrations every two to seven pages. The large, detailed illustrations help bring the characters to life and show how the Romans dressed and constructed their buildings. Even though Vacation Under the Volcano is part of a series, the books do not need to be read to be enjoyed.  

Vacation Under the Volcano gives readers a brief glimpse of what Pompeii was like before a volcano destroyed the city. This exciting book creates suspense using kid-friendly descriptions of the erupting volcano. In the conclusion, Jack and Annie are helped by a surprising hero—Hercules! For another exciting time travel adventure into ancient Rome, jump into the Imagination Station and read Attack at the Arena by Marianne Hering and Paul McCusker. Also, be sure to check out Wendy Mass’s The Time Jumpers Series, which also takes readers on exciting adventures in the past.  

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • Jack and Annie see gladiators. “The warriors’ feet [were] chained together, and guards walked with them.” Jack looks up information in a book: “They were forced to fight each other or wild animals like lions or bears.”
  • Jack and Annie feel the beginning of the volcanic eruption. “Everything was shaking and crashing down around them—pots, plants, the mermaid fountain. Water from the goldfish pond sloshed onto the patio.” 
  • When pumice, ash, and burning rock began falling, Jack and Annie used cushions to protect their heads. 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • When Annie gets to Rome, she wants to go home immediately. Jack asks her, “Are you nuts?” 

Supernatural 

  • The magic tree house can travel through time. When Jack and Annie travel, the tree house “spun faster and faster and faster. Then everything was still. Absolutely still.” When they arrive in Pompeii, they are dressed appropriately for the time period. 
  • One of the characters is a soothsayer “who could see into the future and warn others about what they saw.”  
  • Hercules helps Jack and Annie escape Pompeii. After the siblings return, they discuss whether Hercules is real or mythical. Annie says, “Hercules is a myth to people in this time. But in Roman times, lots of people believed he was real. So since we were in Roman times, he was real to us.” 

Spiritual Content  

  • Jack and Annie see a Roman temple. Romans “believed that many gods and goddesses ruled the world. This is the Temple of Jupiter, their chief god. In this temple, they prayed to Jupiter and offered him gifts. 

Who Was Leif Erikson?

Hold on to your Viking helmets as you learn about the first known European to set foot in North America in this exciting addition to the Who Was? Series!

Leif Erikson was born to be an explorer. His father, Erik the Red, had established the first European settlement in present-day Greenland, and although Leif didn’t yet know it, he was destined to embark on an adventure of his own.  

Leif, the wise and striking Viking, landed in the area known as Vinland almost five centuries before Christopher Columbus even set sail! “Leif the Lucky” and his fierce, sea-fearing crew were accomplished navigators who raided foreign lands for resources, hunted for their food, and passed down Old Norse myths from one generation to the next. This book gives readers a detailed account of what life was like during the time of the Vikings. 

Who Was Leif Erikson? includes information about Erik the Red and other historical figures such as Harald Fairhair, the First King of Norway. To establish Leif’s background, the book also includes information about Viking culture, such as “the Thing,” which was the oldest parliament in Europe. Plus, readers will learn about Scandinavia, Greenland, and Vinland. The historical information is fascinating, but the Vikings were feared for a reason—their culture was violent and included killing and enslaving people. 

One of Leif’s accomplishments was bringing Christianity to the Vikings. This section explains the Vikings’ belief in Asgard and the Norse Gods in detail. The Viking warriors “were training for the battle at Ragnarok, the end of the world—the ultimate battle between good and evil.” Anyone who has watched the Avengers movies will notice how the Viking culture inspired Stan Lee. The book ends by explaining how the Vikings are still remembered today in pop culture and the football team, the Minnesota Vikings. 

Take a step back in time and learn more about the 1000s and the Vikings’ search for new lands. The book has an easy-to-read format with large font. Large black-and-white illustrations appear on almost every page. Many of the illustrations show maps, people, and objects from the time period. For example, there are illustrations of the Vikings’ longships, their longhouses, and other aspects of their daily life. The wide array of illustrations and the short chapters will help keep readers interested until the end. Scattered throughout the book are one-page infographics that give more information about the time period, such as how stories were passed down from generation to generation. The end of the book includes a timeline of the Vikings and a timeline of the world during that time period. 

The fierce Viking culture and the Norse Gods still impact the world today, and readers will be fascinated to learn more facts about Erik the Red and Leif Erikson. The Vikings were brave warriors seeking adventure, and although they were known for plundering and killing Who Was Leif Erikson? explains why many people are proud of their Viking heritage. Readers who want to learn more about the Vikings should read Voyage with the Vikings by Marianne Hering & Paul McCusker. To jump on another ship of a famous voyager, read Ice Wreck by Lucille Recht Penner and Who Was Ferdinand Magellan? by Sydelle Kramer. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • Both Leif’s grandfather and father murdered someone from their own village. 
  • The Vikings acted like pirates. In the summer, Erik the Red and his men “sailed away in search of villages to threaten. In these violent and deadly raids, Erik and his fellow Viking warriors burned villages to the ground. . . Villagers who weren’t killed might be taken as slaves.” 
  • A Viking raid attacked a Christian monastery. “The Viking invaders descended on the monastery ‘like stinging hornets’. . . They robbed, tore, and slaughtered everyone—priests and nuns alike. . . Monks were taken as slaves or drowned in the sea.” 
  • The King of Norway tried to conquer England and was “killed in battle.” 
  • The Vikings believed that storms were caused by Thor, the god of storms and thunder, who “killed giants in the sky with his massive hammer.” 
  • While exploring North America, Thorvald, a Viking warrior, discovered it “was already someone else’s home. Immediately, Thorvald and his men attacked, killing eight of the nine native men.” The native people attacked the Vikings. “As Thorvald and his men ran back to their ship, arrows rained down on them. Thorvald was struck and later died.” 
  • When a native was “caught stealing weapons, he was killed on the spot.” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • The Vikings drank beer with meals. 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • Some people in England “wondered if these fearsome warriors [the Vikings] in their terrifying dragon ships had been sent by God to punish them.” 
  • When some of the Vikings moved to England and Iceland, they “began converting to Christianity.” 
  • The Vikings worshipped many different Gods, but King Olaf wanted to convert everyone in Norway to Christianity. “Leif Erikson wasn’t so sure the Greenlanders would want to leave behind all the gods they had grown up believing in . . . The Vikings believed the universe was centered around one big tree: The World Tree.” Six pages describe the Viking’s beliefs and gods, including Odin, Loki, and Freya. 
  • To be fearless fighters, warriors wore the “skins of wolves and bears into battle. They believed the spirits of these fearsome animals possessed them, along with the spirit of their god Odin. . . They believed if they died bravely in battle, they would be taken to Valhalla.” 
  • Lief became a Christian and “spread the word of God among the fellow Greenlanders by bringing Christian missionaries with him.” 

Behind the Legend: The Loch Ness Monster

Behind the Legend looks at creatures and monsters throughout history and analyzes them through a scientific, myth busting lens. Behind the Legend debates whether or not the sightings and evidence provided are adequate proof of the monsters’ existence.  

In The Loch Ness Monster, readers learn about all the sightings and proof of the Loch Ness Monster, from famous photographs to huge “footprints” found by the Loch. It also discusses the history surrounding the monster, such as how Nessie became a major figure in popular culture and other mythical beings that arose in Scotland. Complete with engaging anecdotes, interesting sidebars and fantastic illustrations, kids won’t want to put this book down! 

Author Erin Peabody uses a humorous and conversational tone that makes reading The Loch Ness Monster enjoyable. The oversized text and short passages are easy to read. Plus, large black-and-white illustrations appear on almost every page. The black and white drawings bring the legend to life. Scenes depicting the Loch Ness Monster attacking people are humorous, highlighting the lack of scientific evidence proving that the monster exists. The text does an excellent job of explaining how the culture of the 1900s helped reinforce belief in the existence of large creatures such as the Loch Ness Monster.  

Even though The Loch Ness Monster uses difficult vocabulary, the text is easy to understand since the book defines unfamiliar vocabulary and gives familiar examples. For instance, the root for cryptid is crypt, which “comes from the Greek word kryptos, and means ‘hidden’. . . There’s ‘Kryton,’” the home planet of Superman and Supergirl.  

In a time of fake news, The Loch Ness Monster explores how “pop culture, greed, and the temptation to trick and deceive can influence public opinion.” Thus, the book explains the importance of using scientific evidence in proving that a new species exists. Peabody also includes other sources readers can use to learn more about the Loch Ness Monster. 

The Loch Ness Monster uses many interesting stories and examples to explain why some people believe the monster still hides in the depths of the deepest loch in Scotland. The book includes sightings of the mysterious monster and explores how people have tried to gain proof of the monster’s existence. “Yet, despite all of the inventive, tech-savvy methods tried, not a single beastie bone, fossil, or other form of solid evidence ever turned up.” Even though there is no scientific evidence that the Loch Ness Monster is real, people are still trying to find proof of its existence.  

The Loch Ness Monster is a must-read for anyone who believes selkies, wizard shackles, or the Loch Ness Monster still find their home in Scotland. Spending an afternoon reading The Loch Ness Monster will be entertaining and educational. Plus, the book will give you many different ideas on how you can explore the legend of the Loch Ness Monster in more detail. 

Sexual Content  

  • None

Violence  

  • If a child got onto a kelpie’s back, “their fates were sealed. Instantly, the children would become stuck to the animal, which would then race into the water, not stopping until they’d dragged their poor victims to the bottom to drown. And then the kelpies would eat them.” 
  • The only way a child could escape a kelpie was by “cutting off his own fingers.” 
  • Scotland also has selkies, sinister shapeshifters, that lured “their victims into love affairs that would tragically end.”  
  • In Scotland, the wizard shackle, a nine-eyed eel, would wait for a human or horse “then lunge, twisting itself around its victim’s ankles and dragging its prey underwater to drown. . . the leechlike slitherer would suck its victim’s blood.” 
  • The boobrie is a carnivorous bird that “ambushes its victims [with its] large hook-shaped beak.” The boobrie eats lambs, calves, and children. 
  • When writing King Kong, George Spicer used “an exact description of Nessie. And the Nessie look-alike in the film is quite terrifying. In one scene, it seizes a raft full of men in a lagoon, savagely killing them in its apparent thirst for blood.” An illustration shows Nessie eating a sailor. 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

You Wouldn’t Want to Be a Pyramid Builder!

You are living in Egypt around 1500 BC. When a pharaoh dies, he joins the hawk-headed sun god Ra and travels the sky in his boat. To ensure his eternal life, the pharaoh’s corpse must not decay. So, each pharaoh gets his subjects to build him a gigantic tomb—a pyramid—which will preserve his body forever. Thousands of Egyptians are forced to work on it, including you.  

You Wouldn’t Want to Be a Pyramid Builder! immerses the reader in the story, making the interactive book fun to read. Readers will learn about the difficult work required to build a pyramid fit for a pharaoh. Much of the work was completed by unskilled workers who mined in a granite quarry or cut stone with a very hard rock. Skilled carvers and painters were also necessary to complete the inside of the pyramid. While most of the book discusses pyramid building in detail, it also incorporates the Egyptians’ belief in many gods and how the gods were vital to everyday life. 

Even though building a pyramid was serious work, the book uses humor to engage and educate readers. The text and full-color illustrations give accurate technical detail and give readers a vivid understanding of what life was like as an Egyptian pyramid builder. The book’s format is perfect for reluctant readers since each page has larger and several smaller illustrations. On each two-page spread, a large paragraph explains what is happening. Along the edges, more information about a pyramid builder’s life is given. For example, “On payday, your wages come in various useful forms, such as grain, oil, or fine linen cloth. 

Anyone who wants to understand how the pyramids were made will find this easy-to-read book fascinating. The nonfiction book includes informative captions, a complete glossary, and an index. While some readers may not understand all of the words, context clues and illustrations will help them decode their meaning. Readers don’t have to watch for scorpions or crocodiles to learn more about ancient Egypt. Instead, they can head to the nearest library to check out Mummies and Pyramids by Mary Pope Osborne or The Curse of King Tut’s Mummy by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • Tax collectors “always have ways of showing how wrong you are.” The illustration shows a man on the ground being beaten with a stick.  

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • When creating the decorations in a tomb, “It is very important to know the exact stance and gestures the figures should portray and what symbols and written spells should accompany them. . . If you get any of them wrong the decorations will lose their magic power of ensuring the pharaoh’s safe journey to the gods.”  
  • To keep evil spirits away, “place the god Bes in a shire set in the wall of one of your rooms. He protects homes.” 
  • Some days are considered unlucky, “when it is believed evil forces are particularly strong. . . On those days, it is best to avoid bathing, making a journey, killing an ox, a goat, or a duck. . . Illnesses are caused by evil spirits too, so doctors prescribe spells as well as medicine.” 
  • It is important to carry an amulet such as the eye of the Sun God, Ra.

Spiritual Content  

  • The Egyptians believed in many gods and that the pharaohs were gods. “The Egyptians think the gods look after them because their rulers, the pharaohs, are gods themselves. When a pharaoh dies he joins the hawk-headed sun god Ra and travels to the sky in his boat.”  
  • The Egyptians believed the gods controlled everything. “You must bring offerings of your best produce to the temples for them. . . when the crops fail or when the hot wind blows blinding sandstorms from the desert, the gods are angry.” An illustration gives an example that shows a man getting eaten by a crocodile.  
  • It is important to preserve a body because “if it decays your spirit will perish. In the case of a pharaoh, these arrangements are important because the well-being of Egypt relies on his union with the gods. . . The head embalmer wears the mask of Anubis, the god of the dead, and recites appropriate spells.”  
  • When a body is preserved, “lucky amulets are bound in wrappings and the mummy is completed by a face mask portraying the person within.”  
  • When burying a pharaoh, “sacred rites, performed by the temple priests daily, will keep his spirit alive forever.” 

The Bravest Dog Ever: The True Story of Balto

It is one of the worst storms ever—it’s been snowing for days and is 30 degrees below zero. But somehow Balto must get through. He is the lead dog of a sled team carrying medicine to sick children in Nome, Alaska. He is the kids’ only hope. Can Balto find his way through the terrible storm? Find out in this exciting true story! 

Follow this suspenseful tale as Gunner (Balto’s owner), Balto, and his team travel through a terrible blizzard. These dogs never give up, even as “snow blocked the trails. The dogs sank up to their necks in the snow. They could not move. Some began to panic.” Balto stays calm, which helps the other dogs wait as Gunner digs them out. But this is just one obstacle that Balto helps Gunner navigate. Readers will wait in anticipation as they watch Balto navigate this terrible storm and will cheer when Balto finally makes it to Nome. 

While the majority of the story focuses on Balto, readers will also see how many people had to work together to get the medicine to Nome. The illustrations will help readers understand why medicine could not be delivered any other way. For instance, one illustration shows a train stuck in the snow while another shows a map of the trip, giving readers a clear visual of the vast distances involved. The illustrations compliment the dire tone of the story, using light blues and browns on white backgrounds. These muted colors allow the snow to take center stage. 

The True Story of Balto is part of the Step into Reading Level Three Series, which targets readers in first grade through third grade. With three short chapters, Step Three books are longer and slightly more difficult than Step Two books. Each page has three to seven sentences and a large illustration. This level includes some more challenging vocabulary and concepts, though the meanings are made clear through context and illustrations. 

The True Story of Balto brings history to life with suspense and drama that will make the book hard to put down. While Balto’s bravery is highlighted, the book doesn’t leave out the other people who helped along the way. This story shows the importance of working together and persevering in difficult times. Any reader who loves dogs will enjoy learning more about the true story of Balto. Learn about more animal heroes by reading Pigeon Hero by Shirley Raye Redmond.  

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • On the trip, “In one team, two dogs froze to death.”  

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None

Through Time: Pompeii

Follow the story of a house in the center of a famous Roman city. Illustrations retell the lost story of Pompeii―the life of its people, its conflicts and disasters, and the changing fortunes of a house at the center of it all. Beginning in the sixth century B.C., a simple hut becomes a farmhouse, and gradually, the farmhouse is swallowed up by the expanding new city of Pompeii. The house grows as the city and its inhabitants prosper. But finally, it suffers the devastating effects of the natural disaster that swallowed up the city―the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. This is the story of the growth and destruction of a house, a city, and an empire. Further, it is a tale of discovery and revelation that tracks the extraordinary archaeological work involved in unearthing and interpreting Pompeii’s remains. 

Through Time: Pompeii uses full-colored illustrations to recreate Roman life and the fall of the great empire. By focusing on one house, readers can see how history shaped Pompeii and its people. Each page has one to three short paragraphs in addition to labels that explain the illustration. The labels also give information about life in Pompeii. For instance, two men are building a wall, and the caption reads: “Laborers rebuild the city wall, replacing soft lava blocks with sturdy limestone.”  

Readers will want to study each detailed illustration and track the changes that take place, such as a family “adding new rooms to the house.” In addition, the book explains how Pompeii flourished, allowing new businesses. For example, in 300 B.C., there was a “store selling luxury fabrics imported from Egypt, in Africa, and from Phoenicia and Syria to the east of the Mediterranean lands.” Through Time: Pompeii concludes with an illustration of Pompeii’s ruins and the tourists who visit it every year. 

Since each page uses so little text, some descriptions are not well-developed, leaving the reader with questions to ponder. For example, when showing a classroom, the description reads: “Slaves do the hardest work in Pompeii. Some of them are foreigners who have been captured in wars. Many of them are slaves because their parents were. Slaves are expensive to buy, so their masters take care of them as well as they would care for a valuable horse. The servants in the house are treated like a part of the family.”  

Even though Through Time: Pompeii may interest young readers, they will not be able to read the book independently because of the difficult vocabulary. Even though a glossary appears at the back of the book, some readers will have difficulty understanding words such as ballista, cenacula, cistern, and hypocaust. Sensitive readers may find the volcano’s eruption upsetting since people die. While excavating the ruins, archaeologists find the bodies of the dead. “The body casts show where people fell as they tried to escape or protect themselves.” There are several illustrations of the body casts.  

Through Time: Pompeii will appeal to anyone interested in history, archeology, or survival stories. Readers will truly feel as if they have stepped back in time to when Pompeii was a prospering city. The unique format blends illustrations with facts in a way that makes learning fun. Anyone who wants to research Pompeii will find Through Time: Pompeii a compelling book to use as a starting point to learn more about history.  

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • In 100 B.C., children were taught by slaves. “Misbehaving children are hit with canes across the hands or whipped over the back.” According to Aristotle, “all learning is painful.” 
  • In 89 B.C., “the Roman army is well trained, with the best weapon and equipment. They soon surrounded Pompeii and demanded that the citizens surrender. Their catapults smash buildings; flaming missiles start fires.” Families flee the city. 
  • When the volcano erupted, “people take cover inside of the closest building, hoping that they will be safe . . . By dawn they are dead, killed by falling roofs, poisonous gas from the mountain, or the fiery cloud that rolls over the city.” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • At a banquet, there was “free-flowing wine [that] has made the guests very relaxed.” 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None

Spiritual Content  

  • In 10 A.D., the Romans brought their religion and added “new temples dedicated to their gods and goddesses.”  
  • Some families have shrines. “Home shrines have paintings and statues of the gods and plates to hold offerings.”  
  • When Pompeii was rediscovered, “the salvage workers find the bones inside of body-shaped hollows at the bottom of the ash. They shudder and offer a quick prayer to Vulcan, the Roman god of fire.”  

Charlie Thorne and the Royal Society

Charlie Thorne is a genius. Charlie Thorne is fearless. Charlie Thorne may have finally met her match.

Charlie Thorne is used to being on the run. Ever since she was recruited by the CIA to track down Einstein’s most dangerous equation, Charlie has traveled around the world with former CIA agents Dante Garcia and Milana Moon to prevent history’s greatest discoveries from falling into the wrong hands. But after beating others to the secrets hidden by Einstein, Darwin, and Cleopatra, Charlie and her comrades realize they are not the only ones searching for an immensely powerful discovery of Isaac Newton’s.

From a chase over the rooftops of Cambridge University, to scaling the Sydney Harbour Bridge and skirting a volcanic eruption, Charlie will need to think one step ahead of her opponents in order to follow Newton’s trail of devious clues and keep herself out of the hands of the many enemies who are hot on her tail. 

Filled with high-stakes action scenes, historical facts, and plenty of adventure, Charlie Thorne and the Royal Society is a thoroughly enjoyable read. Along the journey, readers will enjoy deciphering the clues and ciphers leading to Newton’s discovery. In addition, readers will learn about the explorer James Cook, Ferdinand Magellan, and other historical figures. Since Charlie is following in Cook’s footsteps, she also explores the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.

Newton’s discovery has a surprising twist—Newton discovered an elixir that gave him immortality, but immortality was a blessing and a curse. Newton discusses how immortality affected his life, and when Charlie has an opportunity to use the elixir, she doesn’t take it because “I don’t want to live forever. Someday, I hope I’ll meet someone and have a family with them. I don’t want to outlive them and all my kids and grandkids, too. That sounds a whole lot worse than dying.” Newton makes it clear that the elixir should only be used by someone of great intelligence, like Charlie, so that it is not abused.

The conclusion wraps up the series and leaves readers with this thought: family is the greatest treasure. The Charlie Thorne Series is a must-read for anyone who wants to travel the world. The series will give readers hours of adventure and teach interesting historical facts. Readers can find more adventure by reading the Explorer Academy Series by Trudi Trueit and the TombQuest Series by Michael Northrop. For readers interested in decoding codes and ciphers, take a peek into how ciphers work by reading Spy Files: Codes and Ciphers by Adrian Gilbert and The Usborne Book of Secret Codes by Eileen O’Brien & Diana Riddell.

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • A mob forms outside of Isaac Newton’s house. “An angry laborer threw an empty liquor bottle at the building. It shattered off the wall just below Newton’s window. The other members of the mob cheered, then began to throw things as well: stones, garbage, empty bottles of their own.” Newton flees out the back door.  
  • When Newton flees in a carriage, several men try to stop him. “Two men clung to the outside of the approaching carriage. . . but Newton’s coachman coaxed a burst of speed from his horses at the last minute. . . The vehicle toppled into the street, throwing Newton’s potential attackers into the path of the other two carriages. The horses trampled them. . .” Newton escapes. 
  • Charlie finds one of Newton’s discoveries but a boy, Kenji, tries to steal it. “Charlie threw the book down onto his foot hard enough to make him yelp. . .” Charlie runs away, but two “big” men give chase.  
  • Dante sees the men chasing Charlie and swings a pole. “He swung it like a bat, catching the big man across the chest. . . the blow knocked him back a step but didn’t knock him down.” The man uses the pole like a spear and “charged like a medieval knight, looking to run Dante through.” The man clubs Dante, “knocking him to the ground. . . [the man] prepared to impale him with it.” Someone “clobbers” the man, knocking him out and saving Dante. 
  • In an emergency, Dante tries to take someone’s truck. When the man tries to stop him, Dante “dropped him with a single punch, then stole the keys.”  
  • Charlie is kidnapped by a wealthy man and Kenji’s grandfather, Yoshi. When she wakes up, her “wrists and ankles were bound with duct tape.” Charlie tells the man, “You realize that keeping a teenage girl tied up in your private office makes you look like a pervert, right?” The kidnapper forces Charlie to look for Newton’s discovery.   
  • When Yoshi drinks a potion and passes out, Kenji attacks Charlie. “Kenji clamped a hand on Charlie’s neck, hard enough to make her gasp. He pushed her against the wall. The rough stones jabbed into her back. Charlie struggled for breath, feeling her consciousness start to slip away.” Someone hits Kenji over the head and knocks him out. 
  • When Yoshi awakes, he tries to recapture Charlie. However, Newton helps her flee. Newton attacks Yoshi. “He drove Yoshi backward to a small ledge by a channel through which the lava was flowing. They tottered on the edge, then toppled into the channel. . . A burst of flame flared up as the molten rock consumed them.” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • King John keeps wild animals as pets and gives them wine and beer to drink. 
  • Yoshi discovers a vial that he believes is Newton’s discovery. When he drinks it, “his eye bulged. His face turned red. His hands clutched at his throat as he wheezed.” He passes out. 
  • Isaac Newton was in a carriage when “one rioter managed to leap onto the running board . . . He was so drunk that Newton could smell the liquor on his breath.” 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • As Isaac Newton flees, a young scientist says, “God be with you.”  
  • When explorer James Cook went to Hawaii, he was mistaken as a “powerful Hawaiian God named Lono,” and “James and his men were showered with food and gifts.” The natives finally realized Cook was not a god, and a mob killed him. 
  • Newton hid his discovery because “there were many more who might think it was the result of witchcraft—or a pact with the devil—or other dark forces.”

The Story of Helen Keller

Helen Keller is one of the most famous advocates for equality and people with disabilities. Her life served as a testament and encouragement for those who have blindness and deafness, and her ability to overcome her challenges inspired millions with disabilities to embrace their life opportunities despite their limitations. Her advocacy changed how the world viewed and treated people with disabilities, and her legacy continues to be recognized today. However, Keller’s journey as a humanitarian wasn’t easy, and her life was filled with hardships and obstacles. 

Born on June 27, 1880, Keller grew up in the small town of Tuscumbia, Alabama, during the reconstruction period after the Civil War. When she was just 19 months old, she contracted a mysterious illness that left her deaf and blind; this completely changed her life forever. Without the ability to see or hear, Keller struggled to fit in with other children. However, when Keller’s parents hired Anne Sullivan to tutor Keller, the opportunities in her life, like an education and a career, became possible!  

The Story of Helen Keller tells a biographical story about Helen Keller’s journey as an advocate for people with disabilities. Told from the perspective of an outside narrator, the book follows Keller’s life, beginning with her early childhood struggles and ending with her advocacy to raise awareness about blindness. While other characters appear throughout the story, like Anne Sullivan, Keller’s teacher and best friend, the story primarily focuses on Keller. As a result, Keller is portrayed as an inspirational figure whose perseverance through her hardships can be admirable and influential for readers. Although most readers can’t relate to Keller’s experience as a deaf and blind person, they can relate to the everyday challenges that Keller encountered as she grew up and pursued her dream of being a humanitarian. Because of these realistic circumstances in her life, her story comes across as very authentic and genuine. 

The biography displays a positive outlook on determination, perseverance, and advocating for oneself. Although Keller’s disabilities created obstacles for her education, career, and everyday life, her determination and unwillingness to give up highlights the book’s message about the power of tenacity in trials and tribulations. It challenges readers to identify their own troubles and learn how to overcome them. After all, Keller’s life exemplifies this message and serves “as an inspiration for overcoming challenges and achieving great things.” 

The Story of Helen Keller is part of a series called Story Of: A Biography for New Readers. Thus, the book is educationally oriented and includes supplementary material, like fun facts, discussion questions, a reading quiz, and a glossary. Hand-drawn illustrations are sprinkled in every one to three pages, and the back of the book contains real-life photographs that highlight the important aspects of Keller’s life. Some of the book’s text and vocabulary can be challenging for younger readers too, as most pages feature one to two paragraphs with large words, long proper nouns, and compound sentences. Nonetheless, The Story of Helen Keller presents an unforgettable tale about one of history’s most famous humanitarians. It’s an engaging story that will hook readers, young and old, and inspire them to achieve their dreams despite challenges.  

Sexual Content 

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Violence 

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Drugs and Alcohol 

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Language 

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Supernatural 

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Spiritual Content 

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Gamer Girls: 25 Women Who Built the Video Game Industry

Women have always made video games: from the 1960s, first-of-its-kind, projector-based Sumerian Game to the blockbuster Uncharted games that defined the early 2000s. Women have been behind the writing, design, scores, and engines that power one of the most influential industries out there. In Gamer Girls, you can explore the stories of 25 of those women. Bursting with bold artwork, easy-to-read profiles, and real-life stories of the women working on games like Centipede, Final Fantasy, Halo, and more, this dynamic illustrated book shows what a huge role women have played—and will continue to play—in the creation of video games.

With additional sidebars about other influential women in the videogame industry, as well as a glossary and additional resources page, Gamer Girls offers a look into the work and lives of influential pixel queens such as:   

  • Roberta Williams (one of the creators of the adventure genre) 
  • Mabel Addis Mergardt (the first person to write a video game) 
  • Muriel Tramis (the French “knight” of video games) 
  • Keiko Erikawa (creator of the otome genre) 
  • Yoko Shimomura (composer for Street Fighter, Final Fantasy, and Kingdom Hearts) 
  • Rebecca Heineman (first national video game tournament champion) 
  • Danielle Bunten Berry (creator of M.U.L.E. and early advocate for multiplayer games) 
  • And more! 

Anyone who plays or wants to make video games should read Gamer Girls, which gives readers a peek inside the video game industry. Many of the women made an impact on the video game industry by using their unique perspectives. The gamers discuss how they overcame obstacles; this includes creating new technologies that were necessary to bring their video game ideas to life. In addition, each woman gives advice. For instance, Kazuko Shibuya, the video game artist behind the Final Fantasy Series, explains: “There’s no substitute for experiencing things with your own two eyes, taking the whole atmosphere and context directly. A designer must hone all five of her senses. . . They are all connected to creativity. The more experiences you have to draw from, the more depth you will be able to impart to your creations.” 

Gamer Girls is broken into clear sections that are easy to follow. The first page introduces a new woman, features a full-page illustration of the woman, and lists her role in the video game industry. Each illustration is drawn using orange and purple, which give the pages a lively feel. Short sections titled “Side Quest” introduce other women who impacted the industry. And since some readers may not understand all of the technological terms, there is a glossary.  

Even girls who don’t dream of creating video games can still learn important lessons from the women featured in Gamer Girls. Donna Bailey, writer of the first romance game, advises, “Never stop learning new skills. Whether it’s choosing a new career because of a song, or leaving a career to reconnect with yourself, never lose the sound of your inner voice, and never lose curiosity.” Readers of Gamer Girls will come away feeling inspired to make their dreams come true. 

Sexual Content  

  • Game Developer Robin Hunicks spoke at a video game conference. “Robin quickly listed the types of game art displayed in hallways: ‘Sexy babes who can’t stop touching themselves. Coy babes who are kinda naked. Lesbian baaaaabes. Studded babes!. . . Latex babes.’ Hunicks went on to talk about how to reach women gamers.” After her rant, she “flipped the audience a set of double birds and walked off the stage.” 
  • A Japanese video game called Seduction of Condominium Wives was “a role-playing game in which a door-to-door salesman tries to sell condoms to women and fights Yakuza and ghosts.” 
  • Two video game designers became frustrated with people asking, “What’s the game mechanic for sex?” Later, they released “a game about sex that has nothing graphic in it. It’s a collection of flowers, shapes, colors, circles, and eyes.” 

Violence  

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Drugs and Alcohol  

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Language  

  • One game developer’s advice is to “know your shit.” 

Supernatural 

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Spiritual Content  

  • None 

The Story of Gandhi

Mohandas Gandhi was one of the “bravest and most outspoken leaders in India and the world,” and his dedication to nonviolent protests for freedom and equality led India to achieve independence from Great Britain. During his life, Gandhi’s efforts brought equality to many struggling minorities, and his peaceful methods of change, like fasting, inspired many other leaders worldwide to adopt other nonviolent manners of opposition. Today, millions of people admire Gandhi’s legacy and impact, and they continue to fight for change through his peaceful teachings. However, Gandhi’s journey wasn’t easy, and his path as a world leader required discipline and courage.  

Gandhi was a shy and curious child born on October 2, 1869, in Porbandar, India. Although he struggled to talk in public settings, his desire for honesty and equality led him to pursue a life of helping others. Gandhi started a way of life called satyagraha, where he encouraged people to protest unfair laws and discrimination through peaceful, non-violent actions. However, when Great Britain imposed strict laws on the colony of India, Gandhi’s nonviolent manners of change were tested. Would he achieve freedom through his peaceful movements? Or would inequality continue to reign over India? 

The Story of Gandhi tells the biographical story of Gandhi’s rise as a brave and forthright speaker. Told from the perspective of an outside narrator, the book follows Gandhi’s life, starting with his childhood in India and ending with his leadership in the fight for India’s independence. While other characters briefly appear in the story, the story primarily focuses on Gandhi. As a result, Gandhi is depicted as an inspirational figure whose courage through difficulties and dedication to his peaceful protests are admirable and influential for readers. The challenges that arose with Gandhi’s movements also showcase the realistic problems in his life, giving the story an authentic and genuine feel. 

The biography displays a positive outlook on the themes of courage and discipline. Although Gandhi was opposed and repeatedly thrown in jail for his actions, he held firm to his nonviolent protests and continued to protest peacefully despite the danger. His efforts emphasize the book’s message about standing up against injustice, and it challenges readers to fight for equality without violence. After all, Gandhi believed “in words instead of wars, victory without violence, and leadership through love.” 

The Story of Gandhi is part of a series called Story Of: A Biography for New Readers. The story is educationally oriented and includes additional supplementary material, like fun facts, discussion questions, a reading quiz, and a glossary. Simple, colorful illustrations are found on every one to three pages. The back of the book contains a small section for reflection, where the author asks questions for readers to ponder, like “Have you ever stood up for someone who you thought was being treated unfairly?” The book features difficult vocabulary and discusses heavier topics, like discrimination, in a kid-friendly manner, but younger readers may still overlook its significance. Overall, The Story of Gandhi conveys an aspiring tale about one of history’s greatest activists. It’s a motivating story influencing readers to fight for justice and freedom. 

Sexual Content 

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Violence 

  • Gandhi is repeatedly arrested and “thrown in jail for his peaceful protests” in India and South Africa. 

Drugs and Alcohol 

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Language 

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Supernatural 

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Spiritual Content 

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Pemmican Wars

Echo Desjardins, a 13-year-old Métis girl adjusting to a new home and school, is struggling with loneliness while separated from her mother. Then, an ordinary day in Mr. Bee’s history class turns extraordinary, and Echo’s life will never be the same. During Mr. Bee’s lecture, Echo finds herself transported to another time and place—a bison hunt on the Saskatchewan prairie—then she finds herself back in the present. In the following weeks, Echo continues to slip back and forth in time. She visits a Métis camp, travels the old fur-trade routes, and experiences the perilous and bygone era of the Pemmican Wars. 

Echo knows little about the Métis, the First Nations tribe from which she is descended. Even though Echo’s “grandpa was very proud to be Métis,” neither Echo nor her mother know much about their heritage. However, at the end of the book, Echo teaches her mother what she learned at school.  

Readers will have to rely on visual cues to understand Echo’s life because the graphic novel uses few words. In fact, Echo only has 20 lines of dialogue, and many are one-word responses. Despite this, Echo’s isolation is clear. Throughout the school day, Echo doesn’t interact with other students and tunes out the world by listening to music. When she goes home, there is little interaction with her foster mother or the other residents. Instead, Echo hides in her room. When Echo visits her mom, the two are not comfortable with each other, which adds to the feeling of isolation.  

When Echo enters the past, a young Métis takes her into the camp. Here, Echo learns about her people and watches a battle between the Métis and white settlers. In the current time, Echo’s history teacher, Mr. Bee encourages Echo to learn more about Métis history. Mr. Bee says, “The Métis have many things to be proud of. . . You’re not any less Métis because you don’t know your history.”  

Since most of the story is told through illustrations, the story lacks development. For example, Echo lives in a foster home. However, it’s unclear why Echo doesn’t live with her mother. Despite the lack of character development, the book teaches about the Pemmican Wars and explains how the Northwest Company and the Hudson Bay Company fought for dominance in the fur trade. During this time, the Métis’s land was taken over by white settlers, who demanded the Métis not sell pemmican or use horses to hunt buffalo.  

Including more historical information would help readers understand the significance of the Pemmican Wars. However, the book does include a timeline of the Pemmican Wars, a Pemmican recipe, and a poem about the wars. While the book doesn’t go in-depth, it shows the harmful effects of colonization, which are still felt by the Métis today. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • A battle between the Métis and white settlers is depicted over two pages. One illustration shows the Métis shooting at the white settlers. In the image, one man is in mid-fall with blood splatter around him while a Métis warrior, who has been shot in the chest, is being carried to safety. 

Drugs and Alcohol  

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Language  

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Supernatural 

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Spiritual Content  

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The Trail of Tears

In 1838, settlers moving west forced the great Cherokee Nation, and their chief John Ross, to leave their home land and travel 1,200 miles to Oklahoma. This book introduces the Cherokee’s creation story, how their communities were formed, as well as how they were displaced several times. Each time, the Cherokee were forced to move, the white settlers took the Cherokee’s houses, businesses, farm animals, and other personal belongings.  

The Cherokee Nation had a written language and many of their towns had a Cherokee newspaper. However, when the Cherokees became successful, many white settlers “did not want them around. President Thomas Jefferson believed in a policy called Indian Removal. This meant moving all Indians to Indian Territory. . . Jefferson thought this policy would protect the Indians from dishonest white people who might trick them or kill them for their land.” Many of the Cherokee disagreed on whether they should move or not. In the hope of creating peace, some people moved further west. Unfortunately, this did not solve the problem because the whites continued to move west and continued to take the Cherokee’s land. 

Written by Joseph Bruchac, who is of Abenaki, Slovak, and English descent, The Trail of Tears explains how the Cherokee people lived and worked. Many people may be surprised that the Cherokee towns were very successful and required schoolchildren to learn Latin, algebra, botany, grammar, and geography. Despite the Cherokee’s success, the white settlers and the government broke treaty after treaty and cruelly forced the Indians off their own land. Despite this, the Cherokee Nation continues to thrive today.  

As part of the Step Into Reading 5 Series, The Trail of Tears is intended for readers in grades 2 – 4 who are proficient readers. The book includes large, colored pictures of historical events and several pictures of the Cherokee being mistreated. For example, one illustration shows a woman being separated from her child and the soldiers with guns. Another picture shows people falling off a boat and drowning. Illustrations appear on every page, and some pictures fill an entire page. The book’s oversized text, large illustrations, and short chapters will appeal to younger readers.   

The Trail of Tears presents historical events from the perspective of the Cherokee people and introduces several brave Cherokee leaders who fought for their people. Readers will see how various United States presidents’ policies affected the Cherokee, as well as how the whites betrayed them. The book is written similarly to a history text, describing events in a factual tone. Bruchac leaves the reader with the message: “Lessons can be learned from the bitter journey called the Trail of Tears. One is that when promises are broken, many people may suffer.” Readers interested in United States history or Indigenous people will find The Trail of Tears interesting. To learn more, read Mary and the Trail of Tears: A Cherokee Removal Survival Story by Andrea L. Rogers.

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • After the American Revolution, “American settlers wanted the land owned by Cherokees. There was more fighting, this time against the Cherokees. A thousand Cherokee towns were destroyed.”  
  • Some white settlers killed Indians in order to take their land.  
  • At one point, the Cherokee were taken captive. “They were locked up in stockade forts. They had to leave behind everything except for the clothes they wore and what little they could carry. Groups of white men, following the soldiers, quickly took over the Cherokee homes. . . Many died while being held captive.” 
  • When the soldiers forced the Cherokee off their land, “People were loaded onto large flatboats guarded by troops. . . Some [Cherokee] fell into the water and drowned.” 
  • Some Cherokee resisted being moved off their land. “Two white soldiers were killed. One of the Cherokees, an old man named Tsali, was sentenced to death after he and two of his sons killed a soldier trying to capture them. He was killed by a firing squad of his own people. They knew that they would be shot if they didn’t obey.”

Drugs and Alcohol  

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Language  

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Supernatural 

  • Many Cherokees believed that their trip would be a hard one because there was a roll of thunder and black clouds appeared before they left. 
  • According to legend, “It is said that each drop of blood that fell from the Cherokees turned into a stone rose. Those red stone crystals can still be found along the Arkansas River.” 

Spiritual Content  

  • When the Cherokee Nation was forced to leave Tennessee, John Ross said a prayer. “We ask for God’s guidance on our journey, Amen.” 

American Indian Biographies: Sacagawea

Imagine being captured by your enemies and taken to live in a new village, without knowing if you would ever see your family again. At age 12, Sacagawea was captured by an enemy tribe of her Lemhi Shoshone people. As a teenager, she traveled from a village on the Missouri River to the Pacific Coast, with a baby strapped to her back. During this journey with the Lewis and Clark Expedition, Sacagawea helped by showing them which foods were good to eat and which plants the American Indians used for medicine. She also served as a symbol of peace to American Indian tribes. Today, many people celebrate Sacagawea’s contribution to the Lewis and Clark Expedition. 

As a young girl, Sacagawea was taken captive by a Hidatsa warrior, and then a French fur trader named Toussiant Charbonneau “visited the Hidatsa warrior’s lodge. . . Charbonneau purchased Sacagawea and Mountain Sage from the Hidatsa warrior. They became his wives.” The book doesn’t mention how the Hidatsa warrior or Charbonneau treated her. However, Wallner includes her opinion on how Sacagawea could have felt. For example, after Sacagawea’s village was attacked, Sacagawea saw her mother’s dead body. “It would have been difficult to hold back her sorrow any longer.”  

Most of Sacagawea is told in an informative tone that includes many facts, but it also implies that Sacagawea agreed to travel with Lewis and Clark, when she had no choice. Sacagawea’s emotions are described: “Sacagawea certainly would have been excited to see her family again. But she may also have been worried about making such a long, hard journey with a small baby.” No one knows how Sacagawea felt because the Shoshone people did not have a written history. Unfortunately, Wallner portrays the white explorers as kind and peaceful and doesn’t include any of the white people’s cruelty towards the American Indians.  

The American Indian Biographies lead you through the lives of famous American Indians. You will learn about their families, the types of homes in which they lived, and the chores they performed. Special sidebars will teach you crafts they made, games they played, or recipes they cooked. As you follow these American Indians through their lives, you will get to know their personalities, strengths, and weaknesses. And you will learn how the actions of these native people affect our lives today. 

Sacagawea’s story is told in this easy-to-read biography, which uses large, full-color illustrations on almost every page. The book is divided into short chapters, with oversized text, pull-out quotes, and illustrations and captions that blend to make it visually appealing. A short glossary can be found at the back of the book.  

Sacagawea provides basic facts about Sacagawea’s life after she was kidnapped from the Lemhi Shoshone people. Unfortunately, the book doesn’t include information about her Native community or explain how Sacagawea felt about being forced to live in the white man’s world. Sacagawea is an admirable woman who stayed calm during difficult situations, but she is best known for helping Lewis and Clark navigate during their expedition.  

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • The Hidatsa Indians attacked Sacagawea’s village. “One of the few men in the camp rushed out of his teepee, calling to the others. His warning cries stopped suddenly as an arrow pierced his heart. Women and children fled into the nearby forest.” Later, Sacagawea “noticed the dead body of her mother.” 
  • Sacagawea tried to run away from the Hidatsa Indians. “A Hidatsa warrior reached down and grabbed her. Sacagawea fought hard. She bit and scratched, but the warrior just laughed and held her firmly in front of him on the horse.” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • While in labor, Sacagawea was given medicine made with “two dried rings from a rattlesnake’s tail with water.” 

Language  

  • None

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

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In the Footsteps of Crazy Horse

Jimmy McClean is a Lakota boy, though you wouldn’t guess it by his name. His mother is Lakota; his father is half white and half Lakota. Over summer break, Jimmy embarks on a journey with his grandfather, Nyles High Eagle. While on the road, his grandfather tells him the story of Crazy Horse, one of the most important figures in Lakota and American history. Through his grandfather’s tales about the famous warrior, Jimmy learns about his Lakota heritage and, ultimately, himself. 

Expertly intertwining fiction and non-fiction, author Marshall chronicles the many heroic deeds of Crazy Horse. Crazy Horse took up arms against the U.S. government. He fiercely fought against encroachments on the Lakota’s territories and to save the Lakota’s way of life. Crazy Horse led a war party to victory at the Battle of the Greasy Grass (the Battle of Little Big Horn), and he played a major and dangerous role as a decoy at the Battle of the Hundred in the Hands (the Fetterman Battle). Alongside Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse was the last of the Lakota to surrender his people to the U.S. Army.  

By drawing references and inspiration from the oral stories of the Lakota tradition, Marshall gives readers an inside perspective of the life of Tasunke Witko, better known as Crazy Horse. Jimmy and his grandfather follow in the footsteps of Crazy Horse, which allows Jimmy to better understand his heritage and to learn lessons from Crazy Horse’s life. For instance, Crazy Horse conveys the importance of generosity when he uses his hunting skills to “take care of the helpless ones.” Crazy Horse didn’t help others “because he wanted people to notice. He didn’t even want people to thank him. He just didn’t want anyone to go hungry.”  

When Crazy Horse’s best friend and his daughter died, Crazy Horse wasn’t afraid to show his grief. Crazy Horse openly cried, and his tears demonstrate that “even tough guys cry.” Many times, Crazy Horse proves his bravery when he puts his life on the line to help others. The Lakota believed that “courage was a warrior’s best weapon, and that it was the highest honor to give your life for your people. . . That’s what being a warrior was all about: facing the scary things no matter how afraid you were. That’s what courage is. And what’s more, it doesn’t only happen on the battlefield. You can have courage and face the tough things that happen to you anywhere.”  

While many warriors wanted to continue fighting the U.S. army, Crazy Horse ultimately surrendered for the tribe’s well-being. “He did it for the helpless ones, the old people, the women, and the children.” Surrendering was courageous because it meant acknowledging defeat and giving up his people’s freedom. In the end, Crazy Horse’s decisions emphasize the importance of bravery, generosity, and putting others’ needs first.  

Most of In the Footsteps of Crazy Horse focuses on Crazy Horse’s life. Since the story is being told to Jimmy by his grandfather, this allows Jimmy to ask questions and connect Crazy Horse’s experiences to his own life. In the Footsteps of Crazy Horse is an engaging story that teaches the importance of storytelling and remembering the past. The story allows readers to see history from the Lakota’s point of view and examines the reasons that Crazy Horse fought to keep his people free. To learn more about Native American’s culture and their unique struggles, you can also read Rez Dogs by Joseph Bruchac. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • The Lakota called the American soldiers Long Knives. “Long Knives were known to attack any Lakota—man, woman, or child. They were mean people—if they were people at all.” 
  • When Light Hair [Crazy Horse] was a boy, his village was attacked and set on fire. “The ground was scorch black where the flames had passed. Every buffalo-hide lodge was burning or had already been turned into a pile of ash. . . Light Hair saw that the bundles on the ground were people.” As Light Hair walked through the village, he saw many bodies. “Some of the bodies were small children.” 
  • After the attack, Light Hair finds a woman hiding. She says, “They shot people. My husband is . . . He’s gone. . . So is my baby.” The Long Knives took some of the people captive. The battle is described over four pages.  
  • A cow wanders into the Lakota’s village and is “butchered and the meat given away to old people.” Soon, soldiers appear, wanting the cow. The Lakota offered payment, but the man wanted his cow. Soon, Long Knives had gathered at the village. A soldier “demanded that the man who had killed the cow be brought to him.” 
  • When the Lakota can’t turn over the cow, a soldier fires a cannon into the village. “Conquering Bear was one of the first to fall, severely wounded. The waiting warriors attacked, charging the Long Knives. . . Many soldiers fell, and some ran away. Those fleeing were chased and cut down.”  
  • When the Long Knives were away from the fort, the warriors attacked. “Crazy Horse could hear the screams and shouts of the soldiers. Frightened horses were screaming too. . . Many of the soldiers were running, crowding together in the narrowest part of the ridge, and warriors on both slopes were firing arrows at them.” The soldiers tried to hide “but many had already fallen, struck down by bullets and arrows.”  
  • The warriors flanked the soldiers. “At a signal from Crazy Horse, the flanking warriors charged the remaining soldiers. Crazy Horse struck down with his war club.” Eighty soldiers were killed, and “some say forty warriors were killed.” 
  • During the fight, Crazy Horse’s best friend, Lone Bear, was killed. “Lone Bear had been shot through the chest. But it was so cold, the blood froze around the wound and stopped the bleeding.” Crazy Horse “held his friend in his arms until he died.”  
  • A Cheyenne woman dressed like a man and followed the warriors into battle. “When her brother’s horse was shot down, she raced in to rescue him. Soldiers were shooting at her from two sides, but she still managed to save him.” 
  • During a battle, “firing from the soldiers and the [enemy] warriors was constant. Every moment was filled with the sound of gunshots.” Some soldiers tried to take cover, but the Lakota “fired guns and bows and started fires.” The soldiers tried to cross the river, but “soldiers were falling, hit by bullets and arrows.” The scene is described over six pages. 
  • Later that day, the warriors attacked the soldiers who made a barricade. “Custer’s soldiers, his five companies, began to suffer casualties. That is, soldiers were being hit by bullets and falling. . . The sad fact is that Custer lost all his men, including himself. Every man in the five companies he led was killed in this second part of the battle.” The second part of the battle is described over three pages. 
  • After a battle, people from the Lakota village sought their loved ones. “Many of them were angry at the Long Knives . . . Then someone took a knife and cut a soldier’s body. All that anger was hard to hold back. So they began stripping bodies, taking things, and then mutilating them. . . Cutting arms and legs.” Grandpa Nyles says, “I personally think it’s a bad thing no matter who does it. But that’s the way it was then.”  
  • Soldiers and jealous warriors tried to capture Crazy Horse to imprison him. “When the Indian policemen saw [Crazy Horse’s] knife, they surrounded him. [An Indian leader] Little Big Man grabbed his arms from behind.” A soldier came and saw “a Lakota fighting with the Indian policemen, so he thrust his rifle with a long bayonet on the end of the barrel, at Crazy Horse.” The wound killed Crazy Horse. 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

American Indian Biographies: Tecumseh

What would you do if an army threatened to take your town and home away from you? In the early 1800s, the U.S. government had already taken much land away from American Indians. Tecumseh wanted to stop the government from taking more. He believed that if all the American Indian tribes joined together, they could defeat the U.S. soldiers. Tecumseh traveled south from his home village in present-day Ohio. During his journey, he visited many American Indian tribes, hoping to gain their support. Today, many people respect Tecumseh’s vision of unity. 

Even though Tecumseh could not unify the American Indians, he is still an admirable leader because he bravely fought to save his people from being pushed off their native land. Tecumseh dreamed of creating an Indian confederacy. “By joining as one nation, Tecumseh hoped the American Indians could protect their land and cultures.” Tecumseh was a great leader who showed generosity and compassion. Although Tecumseh died while fighting the U.S. Army, he is best known “for his vision of peace and freedom for the American Indian people.”  

The American Indian Biographies lead you through the lives of famous American Indians. You will learn about their families, the types of homes in which they lived, and the chores they performed. Special sidebars will teach you crafts they made, games they played, or recipes they cooked. As you follow these American Indians through their lives, you will get to know their personalities, strengths, and weaknesses. And you will learn how the actions of these native people affect our lives today. 

This easy-to-read biography tells Tecumseh’s story using large, full-color illustrations on almost every page. The book is divided into short chapters with oversized text, pull-out quotes, and illustrations and captions that blend to make it visually appealing. The text doesn’t describe violence in detail, but several battles are illustrated. A short glossary can be found at the back of the book.  

Tecumseh brings history to life in an engaging book that won’t overwhelm readers. Tecumseh’s story shows how the U.S. threatened the Shawnee way of life by continually breaking their treaties and eventually forcing the Shawnees onto reservations where they were forbidden to practice their traditional way of life. Anyone interested in early American history should read about Tecumseh, who tried to bring peace not only to the Shawnee people but to all American Indians.  

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • Tecumseh was seven when “his father was killed in a battle with the white people.”  
  • At 14, Tecumseh joined a war party. “Tecumseh had never watched warriors in battle, and he was scared. When he remembered the battle in later years, he said, ‘It was the only time in my life I felt afraid. When I heard the war whoops and saw the blood, I ran and hid beside a log.’” 
  • A tribal leader, Chiksika, and Tecumseh joined a Cherokee war party. “Chiksika had a vision that he would be killed during the battle. . . As Chiksika foretold, he was killed during the battle. At the sight of the brave warrior falling to the ground, the other warriors panicked and retreated.”  
  • When Tecumseh was away, the U.S. Army “crossed into Shawnee territory. . . the warriors attacked the white soldiers early in the morning . . . Within two hours, Tecumseh’s warriors were defeated. . . The white soldiers destroyed Tippecanoe Village.” 
  • During a battle, “a U.S. soldier shot and killed Tecumseh.” When Tecumseh died, the American Indian retreated.

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • Tecumseh’s brother, Temskwautawa, was a religious leader known as The Prophet. Temskwautawa told others “that it was their responsibility to protect the land the Great Spirit had given them.” 
  • “According to the Shawnee elders, the shooting star was The Panther, a powerful spirit who passed across the sky each night. Very rarely did the spirit show itself to people.”  
  • Tecumseh’s “land could not be bought or sold. He had believed that the Great Spirit had given his people the land to use, not to own or sell.”  
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