Journey back in time to the Roman Empire and become a soldier! Learn about training, tactics, weapons, and more and find out if you have what it takes to join the army and defend the empire. This engaging nonfiction takes readers along on the challenges, adventures, and dangers of a long-ago soldier, with tons of facts, sidebars, historic images, and a quiz at the end to test their knowledge. Readers of this series will discover what it takes to succeed as a Greek hoplite, a samurai, or even a Viking. Short chapters and plentiful illustrations describe the life of a medieval knight or a Roman soldier and what qualifications were needed to become a fighter in each culture. The tools and training required are also covered, as well as success tips (e.g., taking up dancing to increase one's agility as an Aztec ­warrior). The reasons why fighters were needed are explained--disagreements between Greek city-states, for example. Along with the table of contents, index, and glossary, there is also a quiz at the end of each book to test the reader's knowledge. VERDICT An entertaining look at warriors from various cultures throughout history, and a good introduction for readers who enjoy learning about ancient times.--Suzanne Costner, Fairview Elementary School, TN "School Library Journal"