About This Book
A parent might reach for this book when their child declares history class 'boring' and needs a jolt of excitement to get engaged. This book bypasses traditional dates and battles to focus on the squishy, smelly, and downright disgusting details of daily life in ancient Rome. It covers everything from questionable food and crowded housing to primitive medicine and public toilets with a heavy dose of humor. The core emotional theme is curiosity, sparking a sense of wonder about how different life was. It's a fantastic choice for kids 8-12, especially reluctant readers, who will be so entertained by the gross-out facts that they won't even realize how much they're learning.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
The book deals directly with historical violence, death, and disease. Topics like slavery, gladiatorial combat, and brutal punishments are described factually, but the overall tone is light and humorous, not somber. The descriptions of poor sanitation, disease, and medical procedures are graphic in a 'gross-out' way. The approach is entirely secular and historical. It does not offer a narrative resolution but rather a collection of fascinating, if unsettling, facts.
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