Twins Jess and Josh travel back in time to the ancient Roman city of Pompeii in search of their uncle. But can they find him and escape before Mount Vesuvius erupts?

From six bestselling authors, including New York Times bestseller Kate Quinn, comes a vividly imagined novel following the lives of those in ancient Pompeii on the fateful day Mount Vesuvius erupts. Pompeii was a lively resort flourishing in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius at the height of the Roman Empire. When Vesuvius erupted in an explosion of flame and ash, the entire town would be destroyed. Some of its citizens died in the chaos, some escaped the mountain’s wrath . . . and these are their stories: A boy loses his innocence in Pompeii’s flourishing streets. An heiress dreads her wedding day, not knowing it will be swallowed by fire. An ex-legionary stakes his entire future on a gladiator bout destined never to be finished. A crippled senator welcomes death, until a tomboy on horseback comes to his rescue. A young mother faces an impossible choice for her unborn child as the ash falls. A priestess and a prostitute seek redemption and resurrection as the town is buried. Six authors bring to life overlapping stories of patricians and slaves, warriors and politicians, villains and heroes who cross each other’s paths during Pompeii’s fiery end. But who will escape, and who will be buried for eternity?

Get ready . . . as a trusted slave in a quiet Roman town in 79 CE, you're about to undergo the most terrifying experience of your life. You'll never forget what it's like to live in Pompeii. Find out all about the horrible fate of the residents of Pompeii, what remains of the town today, and how Vesuvius' victims were preserved for eternity.

Usborne Guided Reading Packs have been developed and endorsed by top reading experts to provide teachers with exciting, effective and practical classroom resources. Oliver Twist is part of the Usborne Reading Programme Young Reading Series 3 and is suitable for National Curriculum level 4A.

It is AD 79 and you are a trusted slave, looking after your master's young son in a quiet and pleasant Roman seaside town. But there's something unusual about the mountain that looms over that town, and your life is about to change forever! This title in the best-selling children’s history series, You Wouldn't Want To…, features full-colour illustrations which combine humour and accurate technical detail and a narrative approach placing readers at the centre of the history, encouraging them to become emotionally-involved with the characters and aiding their understanding of what life would have been like as a slave in Pompeii. Informative captions, a complete glossary and an index make this title an ideal introduction to the conventions of information books for young readers. It is an ideal text for Key Stage 2 shared and guided reading and helps achieve the goals of the Scottish Standard Curriculum 5-14.

Combining fictional characterisation and factual research Alan Lloyd asks who were these people who lived in Pompeii and what were their lives like in those last days before the disaster? Alan Lloyd, an acclaimed historian and novelist, breathes life into the ghosts that haunt the empty streets, quiet courtyards and silent rooms of Pompeii while stirring the imagination of everyone who has seen the well-preserved ruins of the ancient city. Through the eyes of Taras, Lloyd's imaginatively reconstructed narrator, we discover the real Pompeii, its geography, history and culture with a compelling urgency as the city's last day approaches. Alan Lloyd's brand of popular history concentrates on the details and colour that make for engrossing reading, the skilful depiction of a seminal moment in history and, above all, a readable narrative. Pompeii's Secrets is an engrossing adventure novel, as well as a fascinating historical survey.

What are the most world-famous monsters? What are the deadliest dinosaurs? The most inexplicable phenomena? This quirky, kooky and ever-so-slightly creepy compendium features 100 entries about some of the scariest and most peculiar things ever, from ruthless rulers to hideous beasts. It is packed with vibrant, cartoon-style illustrations, clear, concise text and factoid panels designed to engage reluctant readers about everything from giant squid to the Abominable Snowman!