Roman Diary - The Journal of Iliona of Mytilini

Roman Diary - The Journal of Iliona of Mytilini, who was captured by pirates and sold as a slave in Rome, AD 107

by Richard Platt & David Parkins

★★★★★

     This book is written as an illustrated journal of a young girl from a Greek Island, Mytilini, captured and enslaved in Rome.  It follows her journey of being captured, becoming a slave and learning her new position in life.  Because she is educated, she is given a position in a wealthy home helping to raise the children, but her younger brother is sent to work in the fields. The reading level is at about a sixth grade level and would be great for any middle schooler, or high schooler looking to learn more about Rome in it's height of power from a young slave's point of view.  

     I do have to warn that the content is a little hairy at times talking about ill-treatment of slaves, Gladiator tournaments, and war stories.  But it has a wealth of information, great vocabulary words and is a great history lesson in a relatively short book.  

Platt, Richard. Roman Diary - The Journal of Iliona of Mytilini, who was captured by pirates and sold as a slave in Rome, AD 107. Ill. David Parkins.  Candlewick Press, MA. 2009. 

ISBN 978-0-7636-3480-3

AR reading level: 6.0