Jack and Annie go to Pompeii to find a special book to bring back to Morgan La Fay. Looking around too long and not paying attention to warnings, they almost don't make it back to the magic tree house. ( )

Limited Pictures. Fiction. Their magic tree house takes Annie and Jack to Pompeii just as Vesuvius is about to erupt, and they must find a Roman scroll before everything is covered with burning ash. Great for grades k-4.

This is a good example of fantasy. The reader is engaged in the story to begin with and then when the main characters transport back to the time of Pompeii, the reader is caught up in the story and it makes the idea very believable.
Age Appropriateness: Intermediate
Media: Pencil ( )

Jack and Annie tied pillows to their heads so the volcano ash wouldn't hurt them. It was neat to read about Pompeii and when Mt. Vesuvius erupted. ( )

Genre: historical fiction
Media: pencil drawings
Characterization: Annie is a flat static character. You don't know too much about her from the beginning. She is simple and likes to have adventures. Throughout the book you learn more about her, but her views and cautiousness never change. She is constantly wanting to leave Pompeii and get their mission over with. Because of this she does not mature very much in the book.
Review: This is a wonderful example of historical fiction. Every fact about Roman culture and Pompeii is true and to date, as stated in the more facts section at the end of the book. The book makes you feel as though you have really transported to Pompeii and are experiencing the disaster first hand. The only fictional part in the book is the two kids who actually transport to Pompeii and their mission in the book. However, because they are visitors to the town it makes it acceptable for you to be a visitor as well.