Detectives in Togas

I found it interesting to read about what life might have been like for some children in ancient Rome and I was curious to see the mystery solved, but for me there were too many content issues with this book. Especially because it's a children's book. There are two mentions of someone thinking or mentioning suicide. There are multiple mentions of giving gifts to household gods. There is one character who is a seer. Someone accidentally jumps to their death.

"Caius is a dumbbell", in Rufus's handwriting, is found scrawled in red paint on the wall of the temple of Minerva. Such desecration is enough to send Rufus to prison. Rufus swears he is innocent, and in a fight against time his schoolmates (including, as the matter grows serious, even Caius) set out to find the real culprit. As their search grows warmer, the clues become frightening in their political implications, and a terrifying visit to the soothsayer nearly spells disaster. - back cover. Good historical details (aside from the illustrator's peculiar decision to depict CAIUS IS A DUMBELL written in English) and plenty of humour: I'll look for a copy of this book next time I have a boy of later elementary school age interested in, show more or studying, Ancient Rome. show less

A lively and entertaining story about the misadventures of a group of Roman schoolboys. I enjoyed this a great deal. It's funny, fast-paced, and the scrapes the boys get into while trying to solve the mystery feel authentic.

The picture of ancient Rome portrayed in this novel reminds me of some of my early Latin classes, which seems to me appropriate since the book was written at a time and place when children were commonly taught Latin in the schools, and I think some of the appeal is particular for someone with that background. (At least one fairly important clue to the mystery is made quite clear - perhaps too clear - for someone with a knowledge of Greek as well as Latin, however.)

Caius is a dumbbell! At least, that's what Rufus wrote. During school hours, no less. But then somebody swipes the slate and imprints it on the temple wall! A desecration! AND THEY THINK RUFUS DID IT!....so it's up to his classmates to figure out who really did it...but they keep messing up, so it's really funny.
--Saro

Readers learn about ancient Rome in spite of themselves as they follow the adventures of Roman schoolboys who arrive at school to find...

In an effort to save a boy wrongly accused, a group of young friends living in ancient Rome search for the culprit who scrawled graffiti on the temple wall.

This is a great book about Roman culture and intrigue. The plot was complex for my young children (5 and 8) and yet they always wanted to go on to the next chapter. I had difficulty with the number of characters but we likely read the book over too long a time. There is some violence but it isn't graphic. I would definitely recommend for older elementary aged children and parents.