First published 2014
Marcus lives in Pompeii where trembling ground barely bothers anyone. The citizens dismiss the shaking as normal activity from Mount Vesuvius towering above their busy streets. Most people believe a mythical creature sleeps beneath the peak and sometimes stirs restlessly before settling down again. Marcus feels different. Fear grips him as the tremors continue. His father shares this worry and relies on scientific observation rather than ancient legends about underground monsters. Their concerns prove justified when Vesuvius erupts violently. A massive cloud of burning ash billows skyward while flaming rocks plummet like deadly rainfall. The city faces complete annihilation as the volcanic explosion transforms their world into chaos. Marcus and his father must find a way to flee before the catastrophic forces consume everything around them.
Genres: survival, historical-fiction, adventure, young-adult
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: family, survival
Setting: Pompeii, Mount Vesuvius
Period: AD 79
108 pages · Paperback · Scholastic Inc.