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Surviving Vesuvius: A Lucky Escape From the Tragic Fate of Ancient Pompeii
This narrative non-fiction book brings to life the powerful story of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius and the destruction of Pompeii, based on the first-hand account of Pliny the Younger.
The year is 79 AD. Seventeen year-old Roman student Pliny the Younger is at his home across the bay from the bustling town of Pompeii, where people are going about their daily business. The tremors that sometimes shake the ground are coming more frequently than usual, but all are unaware of the cataclysmic event that is about to unfold. Meanwhile, underground, pressure is building beneath the mountain that looms over the surrounding towns and villages. What follows is one of the most extraordinary and frightening natural distasters in recorded history.
This dramatic retelling is based on letters written by Roman historian Pliny the Younger after the event, and is reimagined featuring characters from the town of Pompeii who are known to have existed, such as the businesswoman Julia Felix and politician Julius Polybius.
The story describes the various stages of the eruption, as well as detailing how the history of Pompeii was later uncovered by archeologists. A timeline and glossary provide extra information, ideal for history enthusiasts.
The year is 79 AD. Seventeen year-old Roman student Pliny the Younger is at his home across the bay from the bustling town of Pompeii, where people are going about their daily business. The tremors that sometimes shake the ground are coming more frequently than usual, but all are unaware of the cataclysmic event that is about to unfold. Meanwhile, underground, pressure is building beneath the mountain that looms over the surrounding towns and villages. What follows is one of the most extraordinary and frightening natural distasters in recorded history.
This dramatic retelling is based on letters written by Roman historian Pliny the Younger after the event, and is reimagined featuring characters from the town of Pompeii who are known to have existed, such as the businesswoman Julia Felix and politician Julius Polybius.
The story describes the various stages of the eruption, as well as detailing how the history of Pompeii was later uncovered by archeologists. A timeline and glossary provide extra information, ideal for history enthusiasts.
- GenresPicture BooksHistory
80 pages, Hardcover
Published February 18, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
January 14, 2025
Surviving Vesuvius is a fascinating read for children presented from the perspective of a young man who lived across the bay from Pompeii.
This non-fiction is even more fascinating as it’s viewed through the eyes of seventeen-year-old Pliny the Younger, who later became a Roman historian.
As the pressure builds beneath the mountain, the people of Pompeii go about their daily duties as usual. The story presents such activities giving a good build up to the story until the eruption and its affects.
The story is accompanied by colorful illustrations depicting the dramatic events. Its target audience is 7-11 years. The narrative is presented in an engaging way and supported with good illustrations, thus making this challenging subject accessible for children.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This non-fiction is even more fascinating as it’s viewed through the eyes of seventeen-year-old Pliny the Younger, who later became a Roman historian.
As the pressure builds beneath the mountain, the people of Pompeii go about their daily duties as usual. The story presents such activities giving a good build up to the story until the eruption and its affects.
The story is accompanied by colorful illustrations depicting the dramatic events. Its target audience is 7-11 years. The narrative is presented in an engaging way and supported with good illustrations, thus making this challenging subject accessible for children.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 13, 2026
I really enjoyed this one! I think me from the past (when I was totally obsessed by Pompeii and volcanoes) would have loved it even more! In this one we follow various people in the area around Vesuvius and see how each is affected by the earthquakes and then later the eruption. And then later we see how the excavations began! It was an exciting and great read with fabulous illustrations everywhere. Highly recommended!
December 26, 2024
Surviving Vesuvius proves that historical books for children do not need to be boring. While it contains many facts of the event (the size of the eruption, the day and time of the event), the information is presented in an approachable “day in the life” format. I’ll admit that I learned more about the event as an adult as well. Though the book covers a challenging topic, it does so in a way that is still digestible for a younger audience (elementary to middle school).
Thank you to NetGalley, Christopher Harrisson and Wide Eye editions for the eARC.
Thank you to NetGalley, Christopher Harrisson and Wide Eye editions for the eARC.
January 4, 2025
A comprehensive re-imaging of the last days of Pompeii through the writing of Pliny the Younger who recorded some of the events affecting that area following the eruption of Vesuvius.
History is recorded most accurately by first hand accounts.
However, what this book reveals is that the thriving community of Pompeii was not just buried on this fateful day but then almost lost and forgotten in the pages of history. The discovery of the ancient ruins and subsequent global interest visiting this site where “time stood still”.
The fact that so much has subsequently been excavated and documented means it is a unique historical location. Little has been found to contradict Pliny’s own observations and writing about the eruption.
This book will fascinate young inquisitive minds and its informative and interesting text bringing to life these fateful days and the folk that walked the streets.
In addition to the historical approach, I welcomed the explanation of volcanic activity, the scientific and geophysical facts. By the use of creative licence giving voice to the inhabitants of Pompeii we gain understanding about the psyche and culture of Roman times.
This book will appeal to a wide audience from the classroom to the home. It is so detailed and full of information new facts and interests will be gleaned and encouraged, each time it is read and studied.
I loved the time line and glossary as additional educational items in this fun and engaging book.
It was a real natural disaster that the empire responded to with financial support and mirrors modern events where with our sophisticated ways and extensive resources we are unable to the loss of lives in earthquake, fire or flood. Like Pliny the Elder in this account many still stray too close to a volcano and lose their lives in the name of science.
History is recorded most accurately by first hand accounts.
However, what this book reveals is that the thriving community of Pompeii was not just buried on this fateful day but then almost lost and forgotten in the pages of history. The discovery of the ancient ruins and subsequent global interest visiting this site where “time stood still”.
The fact that so much has subsequently been excavated and documented means it is a unique historical location. Little has been found to contradict Pliny’s own observations and writing about the eruption.
This book will fascinate young inquisitive minds and its informative and interesting text bringing to life these fateful days and the folk that walked the streets.
In addition to the historical approach, I welcomed the explanation of volcanic activity, the scientific and geophysical facts. By the use of creative licence giving voice to the inhabitants of Pompeii we gain understanding about the psyche and culture of Roman times.
This book will appeal to a wide audience from the classroom to the home. It is so detailed and full of information new facts and interests will be gleaned and encouraged, each time it is read and studied.
I loved the time line and glossary as additional educational items in this fun and engaging book.
It was a real natural disaster that the empire responded to with financial support and mirrors modern events where with our sophisticated ways and extensive resources we are unable to the loss of lives in earthquake, fire or flood. Like Pliny the Elder in this account many still stray too close to a volcano and lose their lives in the name of science.
January 31, 2025
With thanks to the author, publishers Quarto Publishing Group, and NetGalley for providing me with a DRC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I found this work to be a really informative overview of the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79AD and the subsequent destruction of Herculaneum and Pompeii.
As I write this in January 2025, Pompeii is back in the news once again following the recent uncovering of an entire block in Pompeii, revealing a laundry and bakery and a large private residence containing its own private bathhouse complex, suggesting that it belonged to a resident of significant wealth and importance. The images of that residence showing the obvious splendour in which its inhabitants would have resided serve only to emphasise the ferocity and destructive nature of the eruption.
Getting back to this book, it is obviously aimed at younger readers, but it doesn’t shy away from getting across the utterly tragic nature of the event. The story is told from the point of view of Pliny the Younger, who was 17 at the time of the disaster, and whose letters are the primary source of most of what we know today about the events of that fateful day.
The way the book references people who are known to have been living in Pompeii at the time and what their daily existence and activities on that particular day are likely to have been is well done and complements the telling of the story. In contrast, the explanation of what a volcano is and how Mt Vesuvius was formed, the breakdown of the various stages of the eruption, and descriptions of techniques used in the subsequent excavations up to the present day are quite technical and informative. This mixture of the emotional and the physical strikes a nice balance in the book, and makes it a compelling read for young and old readers alike.
I found this work to be a really informative overview of the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79AD and the subsequent destruction of Herculaneum and Pompeii.
As I write this in January 2025, Pompeii is back in the news once again following the recent uncovering of an entire block in Pompeii, revealing a laundry and bakery and a large private residence containing its own private bathhouse complex, suggesting that it belonged to a resident of significant wealth and importance. The images of that residence showing the obvious splendour in which its inhabitants would have resided serve only to emphasise the ferocity and destructive nature of the eruption.
Getting back to this book, it is obviously aimed at younger readers, but it doesn’t shy away from getting across the utterly tragic nature of the event. The story is told from the point of view of Pliny the Younger, who was 17 at the time of the disaster, and whose letters are the primary source of most of what we know today about the events of that fateful day.
The way the book references people who are known to have been living in Pompeii at the time and what their daily existence and activities on that particular day are likely to have been is well done and complements the telling of the story. In contrast, the explanation of what a volcano is and how Mt Vesuvius was formed, the breakdown of the various stages of the eruption, and descriptions of techniques used in the subsequent excavations up to the present day are quite technical and informative. This mixture of the emotional and the physical strikes a nice balance in the book, and makes it a compelling read for young and old readers alike.
March 6, 2025
A very decent look at the end of Pompeii, based on the letters of the only known eye-witness to have had the literacy and scientific mind for such a report, Pliny the Younger. His uncle, Pliny the Elder, was the one trying to make a scientist out of him – and considering how much errant piffle was in said admiral's nature books, the success of that plan was probably debatable.
But either way, the towns and cities near the volcano were all doomed, what with the thousands of tons of matter leaving the earth per second, and the pyroclastic floes that did for so many that had not managed to escape. Those include slaves – and the book quite laboriously goes into that – and the belligerent or unfortunate – it's a beat of the drama where Pliny the Elder tries to get to a friend's villa to rescue them, but knows there is too much pumice floating on the seas for any boats to successfully leave.
This is a very finely-done balance of graphic novel and text book, making sure you understand the context of the times long before adding in any dialogue and spurious fictionalised beats, and still lightening the lesson no end. It is not perfect – in talking about the continental plates and tectonic activity, it is as if the Romans knew all about that stuff when we only learnt of it centuries later, but even so – Pliny Sr didn't realise Vesuvius was such a risk, and the earthquakes leading to the big bang were just shrugged off.
I wouldn't shrug off this, for it's very nicely done, with strong art and a nice readability. A story that takes us almost through two thousand years, and yet so easy on the eye for the primary school shelves? Both Plinys would approve, although one by now would be much embarrassed. A strong four stars.
But either way, the towns and cities near the volcano were all doomed, what with the thousands of tons of matter leaving the earth per second, and the pyroclastic floes that did for so many that had not managed to escape. Those include slaves – and the book quite laboriously goes into that – and the belligerent or unfortunate – it's a beat of the drama where Pliny the Elder tries to get to a friend's villa to rescue them, but knows there is too much pumice floating on the seas for any boats to successfully leave.
This is a very finely-done balance of graphic novel and text book, making sure you understand the context of the times long before adding in any dialogue and spurious fictionalised beats, and still lightening the lesson no end. It is not perfect – in talking about the continental plates and tectonic activity, it is as if the Romans knew all about that stuff when we only learnt of it centuries later, but even so – Pliny Sr didn't realise Vesuvius was such a risk, and the earthquakes leading to the big bang were just shrugged off.
I wouldn't shrug off this, for it's very nicely done, with strong art and a nice readability. A story that takes us almost through two thousand years, and yet so easy on the eye for the primary school shelves? Both Plinys would approve, although one by now would be much embarrassed. A strong four stars.
December 25, 2024
“Surviving Vesuvius” is the story of the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 CE. It is a dramatized account, but is largely based on the re-telling of the event by Pliny the Younger. The text does a great job humanizing the individuals of Pompeii and explaining technical concepts such as pyroclastic flow. The bulk of the story discusses the two days of the eruption. The last part of the story is how Pompeii was forgotten for centuries, but then it was later discovered and excavated. There is a mention of the lack of care of early explorers and the new methods of archaeology employed at Pompeii. A glossary and timeline round out the story.
The illustrations add a sense of urgency and, at times, despair, to the story. The tones are mostly muted with browns and grays dominant in the pictures of Pompeii.
This is a great book for children up to middle school years and would be a great addition to a middle school classroom library where students study Ancient Rome. It would be awesome to compare the story to excerpts from Pliny the Younger’s tale to see how an author creates a fictionalized account of an event. The two pieces together would also be great to discuss reliability in historical sources, particularly since Pliny the Younger’s piece was written years after the eruption.
I received an advance review copy for free from Netgalley and Quarto Publishing Group–Wide Eyed Editions, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The illustrations add a sense of urgency and, at times, despair, to the story. The tones are mostly muted with browns and grays dominant in the pictures of Pompeii.
This is a great book for children up to middle school years and would be a great addition to a middle school classroom library where students study Ancient Rome. It would be awesome to compare the story to excerpts from Pliny the Younger’s tale to see how an author creates a fictionalized account of an event. The two pieces together would also be great to discuss reliability in historical sources, particularly since Pliny the Younger’s piece was written years after the eruption.
I received an advance review copy for free from Netgalley and Quarto Publishing Group–Wide Eyed Editions, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 30, 2025
4-4.5/5. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.
I really enjoyed this book, as I'm a lover of history and archaeology, and the tragedy of Pompeii and Herculaneum has always fascinated me.
The author's use of a young historical personage (Pliny) to narrate an eye-witness account is a great way to make history seem immediate and relatable for younger readers. I thought the 'bios' of residents who've been identified by archaeologists was a great way to show what life would have been like based on evidence from the excavations. The illustrations were realistic but historically inspired - they really helped convey the scope of the events being narrated.
The author did a good job bringing in the geology of the event as well, and showing how the site was rediscovered in more recent times.
I think this would be a great book for classrooms or for reading with parents, maybe as part of a history report, as a lot of the vocabulary and ideas could need further explanation. I'm assuming the audience is advanced early readers/middle school due to the picture book format - some children this age may find some material frightening. There is violence and death depicted and discussed.
I really enjoyed this book, as I'm a lover of history and archaeology, and the tragedy of Pompeii and Herculaneum has always fascinated me.
The author's use of a young historical personage (Pliny) to narrate an eye-witness account is a great way to make history seem immediate and relatable for younger readers. I thought the 'bios' of residents who've been identified by archaeologists was a great way to show what life would have been like based on evidence from the excavations. The illustrations were realistic but historically inspired - they really helped convey the scope of the events being narrated.
The author did a good job bringing in the geology of the event as well, and showing how the site was rediscovered in more recent times.
I think this would be a great book for classrooms or for reading with parents, maybe as part of a history report, as a lot of the vocabulary and ideas could need further explanation. I'm assuming the audience is advanced early readers/middle school due to the picture book format - some children this age may find some material frightening. There is violence and death depicted and discussed.
February 18, 2025
A child who is interested in history, geography, science re: earthquakes and volcanoes, and of archeology should have a wonderful field day with this book. Step-by-step, the day Mt. Vesuvius erupted, is explained out based largely on the actual account by Plimy the Younger. There are speech bubbles for added interest and the illustrations I believe, will pique engrossment.
There's a list of a cast of characters, a map, a timeline of events of Pompei and of the eruption, and a glossary of terms used throughout this children's very informative and educational offering. In my humble opinion, it's a definite lure for any busy, inquisitive, scientifically-minded child who can read on their own. Of course it would also make an excellent tool for any parent or grandparent seeking greater and meaningful interaction with their children or grandchildren. The book could be read together for great discoveries and memories made of time spent in each other's company.
~ Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger ~
January 2025
Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent by Net Galley and the publisher.
There's a list of a cast of characters, a map, a timeline of events of Pompei and of the eruption, and a glossary of terms used throughout this children's very informative and educational offering. In my humble opinion, it's a definite lure for any busy, inquisitive, scientifically-minded child who can read on their own. Of course it would also make an excellent tool for any parent or grandparent seeking greater and meaningful interaction with their children or grandchildren. The book could be read together for great discoveries and memories made of time spent in each other's company.
~ Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger ~
January 2025
Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent by Net Galley and the publisher.
January 26, 2025
Thank you so much to Quarto Publishing Group / Wide Eyed Press and Netgalley for the ebook to read and review.
This was really interesting, I knew very little information on mount Vesuvius and pomepii, what I knew was very basic, so this book caught my eye and made me really interested in reading it. I’m glad I did as I managed to learn so much and now have a better grasp on the events that truly happened.
I really liked we got to meet characters that were actual people alive in that time, I liked that we got to see the everyday lives of the people living there. I liked that there was also more than just pompeii, I never knew there were multiple places that got affected by the eruption.
This was throughly entertaining from the start, so packed of facts and wonderful illustrations showing you everything as it happened. I really enjoyed learning so much and expanding my mind on a topic of history I knew so little on.
It’s a great book for helping teach the topic to children and I highly recommend it for educational purposes, you’ll get so much information but it’s also like a good story, which makes it so much more fun and entertaining to read.
This was really interesting, I knew very little information on mount Vesuvius and pomepii, what I knew was very basic, so this book caught my eye and made me really interested in reading it. I’m glad I did as I managed to learn so much and now have a better grasp on the events that truly happened.
I really liked we got to meet characters that were actual people alive in that time, I liked that we got to see the everyday lives of the people living there. I liked that there was also more than just pompeii, I never knew there were multiple places that got affected by the eruption.
This was throughly entertaining from the start, so packed of facts and wonderful illustrations showing you everything as it happened. I really enjoyed learning so much and expanding my mind on a topic of history I knew so little on.
It’s a great book for helping teach the topic to children and I highly recommend it for educational purposes, you’ll get so much information but it’s also like a good story, which makes it so much more fun and entertaining to read.
December 27, 2024
Before I read this book, I knew very little about Vesuvius's eruption. Though I'd read a few fiction books taking place in Pompeii and the surrounding cities, I was unsure what was based on actual history and what was added to create a better plot.
This book was able to clear up a lot of the inconsistencies I've seen, with Pliny the Younger's letters effectively telling the stories of many people of different backgrounds in a way that is so simple even a child could understand. The letters took us through daily life in 79 AD Pompeii (and its neighboring cities), showing the choices the people had to make, choosing whether to try to wait out the storm or escape with very little belongings. Tragically, Pliny's own uncle was eventually lost in the storm. In addition to all of the information about the people, there was even an explanation as to why the volcanic eruption happened in the first place!
The appendix includes a glossary, as well as two timelines: one of Pompeii's creation up to its destruction, and a timeline of the eruption.
This book was able to clear up a lot of the inconsistencies I've seen, with Pliny the Younger's letters effectively telling the stories of many people of different backgrounds in a way that is so simple even a child could understand. The letters took us through daily life in 79 AD Pompeii (and its neighboring cities), showing the choices the people had to make, choosing whether to try to wait out the storm or escape with very little belongings. Tragically, Pliny's own uncle was eventually lost in the storm. In addition to all of the information about the people, there was even an explanation as to why the volcanic eruption happened in the first place!
The appendix includes a glossary, as well as two timelines: one of Pompeii's creation up to its destruction, and a timeline of the eruption.
January 13, 2025
Surviving Vesuvius is a children's book detailing the end days before the destruction of the communities around Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD. Told from the viewpoint of a young 17-year-old we can see the dangers and know that many of these characters will not survive what's to come. Based on actual documents written by survivors, this story will thrill young historians, volcano lovers, and those who like scary action stories. There is a glossary providing extra information and a timeline of the site.
April 6, 2025
Great description of the events of Vesuvius using the letters of Pliny the Younger that were sent to Tacitus (the only known first hand account of the eruption of Vesuvius).
Well laid out story, good illustrations and not a lot of text. There is a Glossary, and a Timeline of the Eruption at the end of the book.
Well laid out story, good illustrations and not a lot of text. There is a Glossary, and a Timeline of the Eruption at the end of the book.
February 15, 2026
It helps that my parents are Classicists, but I've always been really interested in ancient Pompeii. This book is super readable and gives a lot of story and meaning to the natural disaster. Kids who are interested in the time will enjoy this read.
December 23, 2024
I wish that this book had been out when I taught Pompeii in November. This is a very informative book without being wordy.
January 3, 2025
I loved reading this book it went into great detail of what happened in Pompeii. This book was very educational and definitely recommend it.
October 17, 2025
This extremely accessible account of the eruption of Vesuvius was fascinating.
December 19, 2025
Alright but I've definitely read better. Even for a kids book of the event I thought more detail could have been given.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews