Surviving Vesuvius is about the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 CE, mostly based on Pliny the Younger's version of events. It covers the two days of the eruption and how Pompeii was forgotten until it was rediscovered. The book also talks about how early explorers didn't take great care and how archaeology has changed since then. The illustrations make it really engaging. It's a great read for older kids, especially if learning about Ancient Rome!

Vesuvius told for older children, mostly by Pliny’s perspective, and beautiful illustrations with a cool colour scheme that reflects the vibes and the tragedy.

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.

“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.

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.

I wish that this book had been out when I taught Pompeii in November. This is a very informative book without being wordy.