Bodies From The Ash: Life and Death in Ancient Pompeii by James M Deem. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. 2005. 50 pages.

Deem retells the story of the devastating eruption of Mt. Vesuvius and subsequent destruction of Pompeii in 79 A.D. using lots of photographs, primary sources and side bars and lively text. Very well done and fascinating-- archaeology, science, social history and adventure-- all at once. In addition to photos, includes timeline, bibliography, and maps. Final chapter details the current precarious state of the ruins and raises the question of what would happen if the volcano erupted today. Loved it. Kids do too.

Fat Kid Rules the World by K.L. Going. G.P. Putnam's Sons, New York. 2003. 183 pages.

Troy is Fat Kid-- 17 year old high school senior, 6'1", 300 lbs. While seriously contemplating suicide in a NYC subway station, he meets Curt, a homeless high school dropout and punk rock musician, bone thin, dirty and sickly. And, a legend in Troy's high school. Drug Addict. Curt saves Troy from jumping and insists he become drummer in his nonexistant band. coming of age story, dead mother, damaged, grieving family, Fat Kid full of issues and insecurities, etc. Curt has problems too. Lots of promise in the book but it was just okay-- starts strong but after a few chapters, they all start to sound the same-- then Troy has an epiphany, saves Curt (in a sense), develops a good relationship with his dad and his brother -some very hokey and predictable dialog with the brother, but the poor writing was unusual for the book. even the other predictable parts were written well. I am not recommending it. Too many other books with the same themes that are better. A strong start with no finish.