The Colossus of Rhodes (The Roman Mysteries) Paperback – Illustrated, August 4, 2005

I've read the first nine volumes in this series. The stories keep me on the edge of my seat; there seems always to be a surprising plot twist! I enjoy Ms. Lawrence's use of history to weave a story that includes explanation of ancient culture as well as a tie-in to the Judeo-Christian culture of the time. I hope to introduce our granddaughter to this series when she's older; I think they help bring history to life! I have observed that volumes 10-17 do not seem to be available in Kindle format yet. Are there plans to have Kindle editions in the near future?

We love these books in my house because they are very believable and my kids get so involved in them they don't want to put them down. Sometimes my daughter tells me she almost felt like she was living right there with the characters, even in the very frightening times, because she knows the things that happen to the kids really did happen in those times. That's what makes it real to them.

O M G. That book has such an amazing twist to it. READ IT NOW. P.S. read this series in order. Enjoy reading.

It is very accurate and mentioned many Roman Gods and Goddesses. After some research I found that it was correct.

The ninth book in "The Roman Mysteries" proves that this series just keeps getting better and better. Four young children living in 80 AD solve mysteries that make the most of the historical context in order to shape the plots. Caroline Lawrence's research is thorough, her prose clear and descriptive, and her protagonists imminently likeable. Long story short, this is a fantastic series of books for any young readers interested in history, adventure, or sound coming-of-age narratives.Roman Flavia, Jewish Jonathan, African Nubia and Greek Lupus are catching up with some unfinished business. A previous book dealt with the uncovering of a slave-ring in which children were kidnapped from their homes and transported to Greece. Now Flavia's father is captaining Lupus's very own vessel, sailing to Greece in the hopes of catching up with the ship suspected of transporting the missing children. Lupus - the tongueless ex-slave and his friends are also aboard, eager to help in the hunt for the slave traders.But Lupus a secret plan of his own. Secretly he longs to find his mother, from whom he was separated when slavers killed his father and cut out his own tongue before taking him to Ostia. Now Lupus prays that his mother is waiting for him on the isle of Symis. Despite the voyage beginning with a few dark omens, everyone is optimistic that their mission will be successful.Of course, it's never that easy. Nubia is terrified on board the ship, haunted by memories of her own slavery, and Jonathan is still suffering some ill-effects from his stint as a gladiator. They hear contradictory rumors of the dangerous slave-trader who is master-minding the kidnappings, and Nubia can't shake the feeling that there's a traitor on board. It all accumulates in Lupus being forced to make a terrible decision at the climax of the story, one that's sure to get your heart pounding and perhaps even call up a few tears.Lawrence captures the excitement of sea travel, particularly for four youngsters who have never experienced it before, with enough intrigue and danger at work to make it a compulsive read. At the same time, she doesn't shy away from the grim reality of the slave-trade and the horrific conditions endured by two of our heroes - yet interestedly, she also adheres to the moral values of the time. The Romans are horrified at the thought of free-born children being taken as slaves, but naturally, they do not think the existence of slavery is inherently evil. It provides a potential discussion point for young readers, especially as Lawrence points out in her afterword that the slave-trade is still alive and well in many parts of the world.There is a bit of disconnect between this book and his predecessor. At the conclusion of  The Gladiators from Capua , Jonathan discovered that his parents were alive and reunited, but here the aftermath of that revelation is skipped in order to get straight to their latest adventure (not to mention that fact that Jonathan is leaving his mother so soon after finding her does not quite ring true). Still, this is really Lupus's book and his story is certainly a page-turner. I get the sense that this was an important book for Flavia as well: she's still rather boy-crazy, but here she begins to learn that to make judgments on first-impressions is not the wisest course.The book's namesake, the Colossus at Rhodes is used in an innovative action-sequence, and the relationship between the children and their slow-but-steady growth toward adulthood gains another level of poignancy and strength. With familiar faces from previous books, and plenty of threads left over to be picked up in the future, "The Colossus of Rhodes" is another fantastic installment in this equally fantastic series. Don't miss any of them!

this book is about lupus and his friends, travelling the greek.and lupus want to see if his mother alive and making his uncle's wishs come true. it's very fun and lovely, but amazing and exciting story.

Caroline Lawrence outdid herself in creating these histicly accurate, fictitious, adventures for children and youth. Both girls and boys will love finding a character they can relate to. They are wonderful read aloud books, or about 4th or 5th grade and up silent reading material. As Flavia, Nubia, Johnathan and Lupas travel through different parts of the Roman empire in about 79AD, we learn many things about Roman History and culture. This book actually takes them on a trip through the Greek Isles to break a ring of slave traders who kidnap free born children and sell them into slavery.While I highly reccomend this book, I do think it would be helpful to read the series in order. There is so much character development that takes place in the preceeding books.

The Colossus of Rhodes, is yet another great novel written by Caroline Lawrence. Lupus now owns a ship and he has given it to Flavia's father the sea captain so he can go on one of his voyages to Rhodes so he can more more money by bringing stuff back to Ostia. While on the ship, the four friends, Nubia, Lupus,Jonathan,Flavia, discover that children are being kidnapped and taken to Rhodes where they are headed. Lupus is very interested in this and when fate brings him back to his home where he thought his mother would be, he has to make a choice between two things; both depending on him.This is a thrilling adventure book and I would recommend it to anyone. It is very well done!

You can work out who the villain is on board the boat quite quickly but it doesn`t matter as the rest of the story moves at a good pace and the fact that there is unresolved business at the end is good as it makes you want to keep reading the series.

Thanks for your forbearance - delighted with book and service, J

Great read.

It is such a good book because you really get to know the characters and all of clues in the book all come together at the end. I would recommend this to all of my friends. :)