"Like Platt’s previous ‘diaries’ about castles, pirates, and ancient Egypt, this offers an accessible introduction to history." —  Booklist Iliona never imagined that her sea voyage from Greece to Egypt would lead to Rome, but when she is captured by pirates and auctioned off as a slave, that’s where she lands. Readers are invited to view the wonders of Rome through Iliona’s eyes—the luxury, the excess, and the politics. Back matter includes notes for the reader, a glossary, an index, and sources. The episodic narrative holds readers’ attention while presenting characters from various aspects of Roman life, such as a senator, a soldier, field slaves, and entertainers…Truthful to history. —School Library Journal