Returning from his conquest and destruction of Corinth in Greece, Roman general Lucius Mummius presents his young son Flavius with a Corinthian slave named Ariphron to serve as his pedagogue. This gift makes “little Flavius” the envy of all his friends. Flavius is initially oblivious to the suffering of Rome’s captives but he grows to see Ariphron not as a slave but as a trusted friend. What secret of Ariphron’s does Flavius learn? And what will happen when Flavius’s father decides to punish Ariphron?
Snedeker’s picture of ancient Greece for older readers is The Spartan while for younger readers it is Lysis Goes to the Play. In a similar manner, her description of ancient Rome for older children is The Forgotten Daughter, and for the younger set it is A Triumph for Flavius. Opening with the portrayal of a Roman triumph or victory parade that gives a clear idea of both its excitement and its cruelty, the book is written in a very simple, understated style that will be easy for the middle-grade reader to handle. It is a wonderful introduction to the study of classical Rome and Greece that will bring these cultures to life, including what school was like for Roman boys. The developing compassion of Flavius for his captured Greek slave is especially touching. ( )