Product Description

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #757654 in Books
• Published on: 2005-10-01
• Released on: 2005-09-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 208 pages

From School Library Journal
Grade 5-8–This addition to the series occurs in A.D. 80, during the 100 days of games that celebrated the opening of the Flavian amphitheater, now called the Colosseum. Jonathan, one of four mystery-solving friends, is missing and feared dead in the fires that rage through Rome. When word reaches his friends that he may actually be alive but under arrest for arson, the search begins. Their hunt leads them to the Colosseum, where they fear he will be found among the prisoners who serve as gladiators. The author does not shy away from the gory facts of life there, and the myriad forms of torture, attack, and death are described in great and overworked detail. As in previous titles, Lawrence includes a wealth of information about ancient Roman life. This installment stands well on its own, though new readers may need to sort out the group dynamic. Fans of the series will be happy with the fast-paced plot and plucky young sleuths.–Pat Leach, Lincoln City Libraries, NE
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
Gr. 5-8. The sixth adventure in the Roman Mysteries series finds Flavia, Nubia, and Lupus in search of Jonathan, who may not have died as once supposed. Their hunt takes them to the newly opened coliseum in Rome, into the very midst of the "entertainments." There's more scene setting than suspense here, and kids unfamiliar with the series won't have an easy time jumping into the story. However, Lawrence does fit in a few truly exciting scenes, and readers able to handle some surprisingly detailed descriptions of gladiator battles and animal sacrifices may be fascinated by the idea that people who considered themselves so urbane could be so cruel. Stephanie Zvirin
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review
'As always with Caroline Lawrence, the research is impeccable and the ancient Rome she depicts is very real.' -- Elizabeth Hawksley HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW

Customer Reviews

Fast-Paced and Exciting
The Gladiators from Capua is a continuation of the story in The Enemies of Jupiter, one moth later. There has been a fire that devastated much of Rome but the epidemic has ceased. To take their minds off the troubles of the past six months, Titus has decided to hold 100 days of games to mark the opening of the new Flavian Amphitheater (later known as the Colosseum). Flavia, Nubia and Lupus are in Rome to attend the opening games but they have returned to Rome to search for Jonathan, who mysteriously disappeared. In their search the friends manage to get access to the lower sections of the Colosseum in order to search for clues. How they get inside the workings of the amphitheater brings each a measure of trouble that challenges each.

Caroline Lawrence provides a mesmerizing account of the opening games using Martial's book on the spectacles as inspiration (and there is a brief appearance by the poet). There are quite a few scenes of action that are magnificently described and the story keeps you guessing and on the edge of your seat. She also fleshes out her characters superbly so we see them as real individuals. The Roman Mysteries is the kind of series that you do not want to end with each succeeding book building on the prior one. These are excellent books for young adults to learn about ancient Rome but adults will also enjoy them.

Children's historical fiction at its best
If your pre-teen reads this book, she/he may want to run to the nearest bookstore to buy an armful of books on ancient Rome. Not because there's too much in it that's incomprehensible, but because Lawrence makes it a very realistic and compelling world--both the "good" and the "bad." The protagonists--all children--adroitly negotiate a morally difficult world where men, womnen and even children are victims of spectacular (and bloodthirsty) games in the Flavian amphitheater. However, the narration is also quite sensitive to the young reader's possible reactions, and sympathetic views are always heard from at least one character. The subject of personal loss and family tragedy is well explored here. I'm not a a mental health professional, but this books feels like the type that might help a child who has had to cope with the loss of a loved one. I've read every book in the series and as an educator in literature, I highly recommend it, and also the other books in the series.

Good but a little scary
Caroline Lawrence writes incredibly detailed, fascinating stories. This one is no different. The well-paced plot keeps you turning the pages to find out what is going to happen next.

However, this is a very bloodthirsty book mainly because the Roman games were bloodthirsty games. The children explore their feelings about the violence and find that the bloody nature of the sport can be both frightening and addicting.

I really felt that some of the descriptions bordered on too graphic. One of my main problems with this book was the part with the little girls being eaten by hippos and crocodiles. The main character, Flavia, just barely manages to escape death through the intervention of her former slave, Nubia. I found the entire scene with the girls in the water to be disturbing. It was fairly graphic and heartbreaking. I have a fairly vivid imagination and I actually ended up dreaming about this scene the night after I read the book.

The bottom line is, if you have a child who is prone to nightmares or who has an over-active imagination, then this would be one I would have them skip. However, since the plot line is important to the rest of the series, it would be good to read it and summarize the events for your child. This is what I did for my son.