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Rating: 
Summary: A CAPTIVATING READING
Review: Bookstores are awash with detective/thriller stories boasting female protagonists. Yes, we have met quite a few brave, clever gals who can solve a mystery without chipping their manicures. However, I venture to say there are none like Flavia Gemina, introduced in Caroline Lawrence's debut novel. You see, Flavia is a Roman sea captain's daughter who lives in 79 A.D. She's a carefree young miss who lives with her Dad in the port city of Ostia. She's also an animal lover, so when the dogs on her street start dying she is bound and determined to find out who is killing them and why anyone would perpetrate such senseless acts. Kim Hicks, a very talented Brit who has performed in praiseworthy one-woman shows, gives captivating voice to Flavia and her buddies - including neighbor Jonathan; Nubia, a slave girl; and Lupus, a mute beggar boy. As the group sets about solving the mystery they uncork a genie's bottle of adventures, escapades, and narrow escapes. Listeners will particularly enjoy the setting of this tale as they learn something about life in ancient Rome. - Gail Cooke
Rating:
Summary: A CAPTIVATING READING
Review: Bookstores are awash with detective/thriller stories boasting female protagonists. Yes, we have met quite a few brave, clever gals who can solve a mystery without chipping their manicures. However, I venture to say there are none like Flavia Gemina, introduced in Caroline Lawrence's debut novel. You see, Flavia is a Roman sea captain's daughter who lives in 79 A.D. She's a carefree young miss who lives with her Dad in the port city of Ostia. She's also an animal lover, so when the dogs on her street start dying she is bound and determined to find out who is killing them and why anyone would perpetrate such senseless acts. Kim Hicks, a very talented Brit who has performed in praiseworthy one-woman shows, gives captivating voice to Flavia and her buddies - including neighbor Jonathan; Nubia, a slave girl; and Lupus, a mute beggar boy. As the group sets about solving the mystery they uncork a genie's bottle of adventures, escapades, and narrow escapes. Listeners will particularly enjoy the setting of this tale as they learn something about life in ancient Rome. - Gail Cooke
Rating: 
Summary: DO NOT READ THIS BOOK!!!!!
Review: The book I am reviewing is a fictional story.
It is an adventure / mystery set in Ostia the port of ancient Rome in the year 79 AD. The main characters are four children, Flavia Gemmina a Roman sea captains daughter, Nubia an African slave girl, Jonathan a Jewish boy and Lupus the mute beggar boy who become friends. The book is about who is killing the dogs of Ostia. My favourite bit of the story is when they found that there were only two people that could have done the killings of the dogs but they don't know witch one did it and when they discovered the tomb of the Girl that was killed by a mad dogs bite. I feel quite sorry for them because they are always in dangerous situations. My favourite character is Lupus because he's the bravest. I'd really like to meet them in real life because I'd get myself into big scary adventures. This book is 195 action packed pages long together with maps and my one is signed by the author. I would recommend this book for age seven and upwards. To Boys and Girls, especially if you are interested in history. Anyone who is of a nervous disposition, pregnant or if you have a weak stomache or has heart-disorder
DO NOT READ THIS BOOK!!!!! By
Ollo Weguelin
Rating:
Summary: The theives of ostia
Review: The Theives of Ostia is the first of an amazing series of 6. It begins in Ostia, port town of rome in about 90 ad. 4 children meet up to solve a mystery, this book contains many cliffhangers and shocks that will send your mind reeling. Secrets and lies tangle up in this book and at the end all ends meet. The Theives of Ostia contains magnificent historical detail, many classic teachers use these books as reference for their teaching. This book also shows how the tension mounted between pagans, jews and christians in the great roman empire. This book is marvellously entertaing as well as educative! The most entertaining part in the books is when you expect something to happen but it always happens in the opposite way that you would have imagined. The theives of Ostia even contains slight humour. But this book is not all about adventure and small children, it has love and the feelings of rejections. Some deaths in this book have brought me to tears, this is a truly emotional novel. The reason I chose this rating is because this book contins a touch of every style of writing possible and merges it together, it combines the best with the best! A competiter worthy of J.K. rowling. A must read for all children intrested in the roman empire!
Rating:
Summary: Great, But Not the Best
Review: The Thieves of Ostia is a pretty good book. Not the best, I have to say, but pretty good. It's about 4 children: Nubia, a slave girl; Lupus, a mute beggar boy; Flavia, a Roman sea captain's daughter; and Jonathan, Flavia's new neighbor. Dogs on Flavia's street are being killed and Flavia is determined to find out who killed them.
During the search, Flavia discovers more about her street and has a suspect. But her suspect commited suicide and the dogs are still dying.
Her search causes her to meet up with Nubia, Jonathan, and Lupus. They soon form a group that will solve any case that comes their way.
Rating:
Summary: the thieves of ostia
Review: the thieves of ostia is a wonderful book.It is part of the Roman Mysteries. The second book is called The Secrets of Vesuvius. The Pirates of Pompeii is the third book. These books are set in the year 79 A.D. The Thieves of Ostia is about four kids. Flavia is the main character. Jonathan lives next door to Flavia and became her friend. Lupus is a boy who Flavia and Jonathan find and he had his tongue cut out, so he can't talk. He can only use signlanguage. Nibia is a slave girl who Fiavia's dad buys her from an ugly slave dealer. Nibia can't speak Engilsh and Flavia dosen't use her as a slave.The mystery in this book is when someone start beheading dogs,and taking there heads.The four kids don't know who did it but there determined to find out.I like this book because I like mysteries and if you do like myteries you will love this book!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book, Excellent Series
Review: The Thieves of Ostia is the first book in a series titled the Roman Mysteries. The entire series is a wonderful read for youngsters. The books deal with four kids (8 - 10) who get involved with various problems. These are not Hardy Boy mysteries, but are involved and difficult situations - not for the squeamish. People die; slaves are beaten; dogs are killed and mutilated; kids are buried by an erupting Vesuvius. ...The books don't hold back; they stare unflinchingly at ancient practices. The author doesn't preach that slavery is wrong, she simply shows it. One of the characters is miserable because he is an outsider as a Jew among Romans, yet is also an outsider as a Christian among Jews. This is great stuff. Just a note. We were living in England where the books are published first. The author is an American who went to study in England and stayed...
Rating:
Summary: the thieves of ostia
Review: This fast-paced story leads young readers through an action-packed adventure while
trying to introduce them to Roman life in the first century CE. While the story
grabs the reader's interest from start to finish, historical distortions abound.
Historical objects and their uses are described well in context, and the violence of
everyday life feels realistic. But social relationships are modern and contrived.
Twenty-first century cultural diversity is forced upon the cast of characters so that a
rich sea captain's daughter, a Jewish/Christian convert boy, a black Nubian slave,
and an abused tongueless beggar boy become instant friends to solve a crime.
Unrealistic depictions of human nature, scientific fact -- even dog behavior --
distract from the story at every turn. The special thrill of historical fiction, of
immersing oneself in a different time, is missing here.
Rating: 
Summary: Heavy handed on the Christianity
Review: When I started reading the series I was really impressed: then, as another reviewer noted the unlikely aspects (Nubian slave rescued by young Roman girl and lives as her equal, for example. )became increasingly distracting. As the series unfolds, it becomes clearer that the main message is that Christianity is the "priceless treasure" . Those characters who start out not Christian are quickly attracted to the idea of praying to The Carpenter. Begger boy, Roman girl, Nubian "slave" and Jewish Christians become best friends who solve mysteries -- all leading to Jesus Christ.
This is the first time I've objected to a religious book -- but it all seemed so artificial and strained.
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