The Colossus of Rhodes

The ninth book in "The Roman Mysteries" proves that this series just keeps getting better and better. Four young children living in 80 AD solve mysteries that make the most of the historical context in order to shape the plots. Caroline Lawrence's research is thorough, her prose clear and descriptive, and her protagonists imminently likeable. Long story short, this is a fantastic series of books for any young readers interested in history, adventure, or sound coming-of-age narratives. Roman Flavia, Jewish Jonathan, African Nubia and Greek Lupus are catching up with some unfinished business. A previous book dealt with the uncovering of a slave-ring in which children were kidnapped from their homes and transported to Greece. Now Flavia's father is captaining Lupus's very own vessel, sailing to Greece in the hopes of catching up with the ship suspected of transporting the missing children. Lupus - the tongueless ex-slave and his friends are also aboard, eager to help in the hunt for the slave traders. But Lupus a secret plan of his own. Secretly he longs to find his mother, from whom he was separated when slavers killed his father and cut out his own tongue before taking him to Ostia. Now Lupus prays that his mother is waiting for him on the isle of Symis. Despite the voyage beginning with a few dark omens, everyone is optimistic that their mission will be successful. Of course, it's never that easy. Nubia is terrified on board the ship, haunted by memories of her own slavery, and Jonathan is still suffering some ill-effects from his stint as a gladiator. They hear contradictory rumors of the dangerous slave-trader who is master-minding the kidnappings, and Nubia can't shake the feeling that there's a traitor on board. It all accumulates in Lupus being forced to make a terrible decision at the climax of the story, one that's sure to get your heart pounding and perhaps even call up a few tears. Lawrence captures the excitement of sea travel, particularly for four youngsters who have never experienced it before, with enough intrigue and danger at work to make it a compulsive read. At the same time, she doesn't shy away from the grim reality of the slave-trade and the horrific conditions endured by two of our heroes - yet interestedly, she also adheres to the moral values of the time. The Romans are horrified at the thought of free-born children being taken as slaves, but naturally, they do not think the existence of slavery is inherently evil. It provides a potential discussion point for young readers, especially as Lawrence points out in her afterword that the slave-trade is still alive and well in many parts of the world. There is a bit of disconnect between this book and his predecessor. At the conclusion of The Gladiators from Capua, Jonathan discovered that his parents were alive and reunited, but here the aftermath of that revelation is skipped in order to get straight to their latest adventure (not to mention that fact that Jonathan is

The Delphina sets sail in The Colossus of Rhodes on a mission to free the children enslaved by Venalacius. On board are Flavia, Nubia, Jonathan and Lupus joined by Bato, one of the magistrates of Ostia, and Marcus Valerius Flaccus (a poet and future author of a version of the Jason's quest for the Golden Fleece) and his personal slave. Of course, Captain Geminus is at the helm but is a bit reluctant to bring the children along. They are tracking a ship called the Medea (a good choice of name since Medea killed her children) and sail to Corinth, where the ship is hauled over the isthmus, and on to Rhodes without finding anyone who has heard of the ship. Along the way some accidents occur on board ship that convince the four friends that someone wants to prevent them from completing their quest. Presumably the saboteur is working for the elusive criminal behind the slave trade in kidnapped children - someone only know as the colossus. No one knows who this mastermind is but he has spies everywhere. Along the way, the Delphina passes the island of Symi where Lupus and his family lived. He is anxious to return to the island but Flavia is determined to find and free the children first. This creates some tension between the characters and not only do they have to worry about a saboteur when a storm blows up that threatens the safety of their ship. And if the ship makes it in one piece to Rhodes, how will they defeat the colossus? This is a very entertaining volume with vivid descriptions of Greece and the island of Rhodes where the ancient wonder - the Colossus of Rhodes - stood before being toppled in an earthquake. Caroline Lawrence also describes sailing in the ancient world with nice detail, and she provides a diagram of the Delphina along with a route map. This is an excellent adventure and provides a wealth of information.

We love these books in my house because they are very believable and my kids get so involved in them they don't want to put them down. Sometimes my daughter tells me she almost felt like she was living right there with the characters, even in the very frightening times, because she knows the things that happen to the kids really did happen in those times. That's what makes it real to them.

The Colossus of Rhodes, is yet another great novel written by Caroline Lawrence. Lupus now owns a ship and he has given it to Flavia's father the sea captain so he can go on one of his voyages to Rhodes so he can more more money by bringing stuff back to Ostia. While on the ship, the four friends, Nubia, Lupus,Jonathan,Flavia, discover that children are being kidnapped and taken to Rhodes where they are headed. Lupus is very interested in this and when fate brings him back to his home where he thought his mother would be, he has to make a choice between two things; both depending on him. This is a thrilling adventure book and I would recommend it to anyone. It is very well done!

Caroline Lawrence outdid herself in creating these histicly accurate, fictitious, adventures for children and youth. Both girls and boys will love finding a character they can relate to. They are wonderful read aloud books, or about 4th or 5th grade and up silent reading material. As Flavia, Nubia, Johnathan and Lupas travel through different parts of the Roman empire in about 79AD, we learn many things about Roman History and culture. This book actually takes them on a trip through the Greek Isles to break a ring of slave traders who kidnap free born children and sell them into slavery. While I highly reccomend this book, I do think it would be helpful to read the series in order. There is so much character development that takes place in the preceeding books.