Surviving Vesuvius is a fascinating read for children presented from the perspective of a young man who lived across the bay from Pompeii.

This non-fiction is even more fascinating as it’s viewed through the eyes of seventeen-year-old Pliny the Younger, who later became a Roman historian.

As the pressure builds beneath the mountain, the people of Pompeii go about their daily duties as usual. The story presents such activities giving a good build up to the story until the eruption and its affects.

The story is accompanied by colorful illustrations depicting the dramatic events. Its target audience is 7-11 years. The narrative is presented in an engaging way and supported with good illustrations, thus making this challenging subject accessible for children.

Pompeii is on my bucket list, and this book really made me want to go even more. This is a picture book that follows people affected by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, showing their surprise and fear.
What makes this book particularly strong is how interdisciplinary it is, mixing science, history, and geography to give a bigger picture of what was happening. The story was even more emotional and compelling because the reader is drawn back in time to experience what it would be like.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

Surviving Vesuvius is a children's book detailing the end days before the destruction of the communities around Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD. Told from the viewpoint of a young 17-year-old we can see the dangers to come and know that many of these characters will not survive what's to come. Based on actual documents written by survivors, this story will thrill young historians, volcano lovers, and those who like scary action stories. There is a glossary providing extra information and a timeline of the site.

A child who is interested in history, geography, science re: earthquakes and volcanoes, and of archeology should have a wonderful field day with this book. Step-by-step, the day Mt. Vesuvius erupted, is explained out based largely on the actual account by Plimy the Younger. There are speech bubbles for added interest and the illustrations I believe, will pique engrossment.

There's a list of a cast of characters, a map, a timeline of events of Pompei and of the eruption, and a glossary of terms used throughout this children's very informative and educational offering. In my humble opinion, it's a definite lure for any busy, inquisitive, scientifically-minded child who can read on their own. Of course it would also make an excellent tool for any parent or grandparent seeking greater and meaningful interaction with their children or grandchildren. The book could be read together for great discoveries and memories made of time spent in each other's company.

~ Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger ~

January 2025

Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent by Net Galley and the publisher.

A comprehensive re-imaging of the last days of Pompeii through the writing of Pliny the Younger who recorded some of the events affecting that area following the eruption of Vesuvius.

History is recorded most accurately by first hand accounts.

However, what this book reveals is that the thriving community of Pompeii was not just buried on this fateful day but then almost lost and forgotten in the pages of history. The discovery of the ancient ruins and subsequent global interest visiting this site where “time stood still”.
The fact that so much has subsequently been excavated and documented means it is a unique historical location. Little has been found to contradict Pliny’s own observations and writing about the eruption.

This book will fascinate young inquisitive minds and its informative and interesting text bringing to life these fateful days and the folk that walked the streets.

In addition to the historical approach, I welcomed the explanation of volcanic activity, the scientific and geophysical facts. By the use of creative licence giving voice to the inhabitants of Pompeii we gain understanding about the psyche and culture of Roman times.

This book will appeal to a wide audience from the classroom to the home. It is so detailed and full of information new facts and interests will be gleaned and encouraged, each time it is read and studied.
I loved the time line and glossary as additional educational items in this fun and engaging book.

It was a real natural disaster that the empire responded to with financial support and mirrors modern events where with our sophisticated ways and extensive resources we are unable to the loss of lives in earthquake, fire or flood. Like Pliny the Elder in this account many still stray too close to a volcano and lose their lives in the name of science.

I loved reading this book it went into great detail of what happened in Pompeii. This book was very educational and definitely recommend it.

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.