THE LAST GIRLS OF POMPEII

For all of the daily prophecies in Pompeii, A.D. 79, the “chicken-gut-reading augurs” and oaths to the gods and goddesses, only the Sybil of Sarnus foresaw the end of the world, and for Julia and Sura, it’s a world they are none too pleased with. Sura is Julia’s slave about to be sold, and Julia has a withered arm, the Curse of Venus that makes her an outcast in Roman society. In the midst of older sister Cornelia’s wedding, Mt. Vesuvius blows, ruining the wedding and providing a chance for Sura and Julia to escape their fates. More than a story of the famous volcano, this is a richly observed story of two young women, each trapped by their circumstances in their culture, a reflection on time, destiny and memory, a story where early off-hand comments such as, “It’s not the end of the world” and “Some things never change” portend more than is known. An intelligent, ruminative work for thoughtful readers. (historical note) (Historical fiction. 10+)