A hard life (You Wouldn't Want to be a Roman Gladiator! - John Malam)

Member Name: juicy_lucy

Product:	You Wouldn't Want to be a Roman Gladiator! - John Malam
Date:	06/02/07 (164 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Lots of bit size information

Disadvantages: None

There are few things children enjoy more when studying an era of history, than finding out the gory bits! I think this is one of the successes of the Horrible Histories series- it focuses on real rather than icing cake life. This book is a bit of a misnomer because yes, they would rather know the facts contained in the book.

**The Book**

The book starts with a brief introduction, which sets the scene; 1st century AD, in a Roman province in Northern Europe. It states that you (the reader) still try to fight the Roman army, and then gives a few suggestions as to what might happen to you if you are unlucky enough to survive the battle and be taken as a Roman prisoner.You could be sold into slavery, sent to work in the mines, but the one thing you would NOT want to happen to you is to be sent to be trained as a gladiator!

The book then goes on to describe in very short chapters (double page spread each) what happens to people taken by the Romans.

It is divided into 12 chapters with the first being "Gotcha! Romans get their man", and follows the fortunes (or misfortunes) of the captured person. There is a chapter on being sold at the market, gladiator school, different kinds of gladiators, sea battles, and fights with animals.

Each section gives lots of information, and asides, with bits of humour thrown in to maintain the interest of children. There are handy hints, such as "learn to swim", "know your escape routes", and each handy hint is accompanied by a picture, usually with one of the brave and fearless gladiators looking terrified!

Because the book is all short sections within the chapters, it is very easy to read, and rather than read the whole book, it can be dipped into for different information.

At the back of the book, is a useful double page glossary, explaining words and expressions, such as Man of straw (post or sack which a gladiator practiced using his weapons against), Greave (leg protector). In fact, I don't think there are any words used in the book which may confuse children which are not included in the glossary, so good stuff. Often words are used and there is an acceptance that we non experts will know what they mean and I am left stumbling for inspiration.

**Other bits of information**

ISBN: 0-7500-3067-4

Publisher: Hodder Wayland

Printed and bound appropriately enough in Italy.

**What I think of the book**

I have used this on several occasions with children in Year 3 and Year 4, when involved in the topic of Romans. We do usually touch upon the subject of gladiators, and from this comes the subject of slavery and what exactly happens to all of the people the Romans captured. This book puts the whole gruesome subject into a fairly amusing context, and one which children will understand. There are no nasty, serious scenes, and definitely no bloodshed, which whilst it is not historically correct, would be too much for 7 and 8 year olds to stomach. The information is, as far as I know, all correct, but the way it is written makes it interesting and amusing rather than gory.

The short chapters and plentiful, humorous illustrations mean that even reluctant readers will have a go at gathering the necessary information. I find that children are able to take in and remember the amount of information given in texts like this.

The fact that the scene is set at the beginning of the book means that children are immediately involved, and will tend to want to know what is going to happen to them once captured- after all, we have been told that it is their village under attack

All in all, a recommended book for anyone studying this historical period with children.

Thanks for reading.

Daniela xx

Summary: A handy book for anyone wanting snippets of information about gladiators