Anubis Speaks!: A Guide to the Afterlife by the Egyptian God of the Dead (Secrets of the Ancient Gods)

The Red Necklace

Down the Mysterly River

Echoes and Empires

The Trials of Apollo: The Hidden Oracle

Shadow Forest

The Dysasters

Daughter of the Deep

Curses and Smoke: A Novel of Pompeii by Vicky Alvear Shecter is a historical fiction set in the ancient Roman city of Pompeii, just before the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. The story follows the lives of two young people: Tag, the son of a medical slave and a healer in his own right, and Lucia, the daughter of a wealthy merchant. Despite their different social standings, Tag and Lucia form a deep bond. As their friendship blossoms into romance, they struggle against societal constraints and personal tragedies. The novel intertwines their personal drama with rich historical details, providing a vivid portrayal of life in Pompeii, including the class system, gladiatorial games, and religious practices. The tension builds as the fateful day of the eruption approaches, culminating in a dramatic and heart-wrenching conclusion as the city is engulfed in volcanic ash and pumice. The book combines love, destiny, and the struggle against inevitable disaster to create a gripping tale set against one of history's most infamous natural disasters.

Discover Your Child's Next Read

Anubis Speaks!: A Guide to the Afterlife by the Egyptian God of the Dead (Secrets of the Ancient Gods)

Antoine Revoy, Vicky Alvear Shecter, 2013

The Red Necklace

Sally Gardner, 2007

Down the Mysterly River

Bill Willingham, Mark Buckingham, 2011

Echoes and Empires

Morgan Rhodes, 2022

The Trials of Apollo: The Hidden Oracle

Rick Riordan, 2016

Shadow Forest

Matt Haig, 2007

The Dysasters

P.C. Cast, Kristin Cast, 2019

Daughter of the Deep

Rick Riordan, 2021