Spartacus
One of a newly published series of non-fiction for primary age children called Lives in Action, this title tells the story of Sparticus, a young Thracian boy taken as a slave by the Romans after a battle in which his father was killed. Sparticus is bought by a rich Roman who hosts gladiatorial combat for his fellow Romans. The young slave is trained up as a gladiator, but his thoughts soon turn to rebellion. This title would be useful for teachers of Key Stage Two history looking at the lives of famous people. The book includes an index which would give children the experience of “looking up” and conducting their own research. The real life events are made exciting enough to encourage reading. Other titles in the series covering the ancient world are Alexander the Great and Cleopatra.
