See You Later, Gladiator

Time Warp Trio #9

by Jon Scieszka, Adam McCauley

Everyone’s favorite time-travelers are changing their styles!  The Time Warp Trio series now features a brand-new, eye-catching design, sure to appeal to longtime fans, and those new to Jon Scieszka’s wacky brand of humor.

Genres: Childrens, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Humor, Science Fiction, Adventure

96 pages, Paperback

First published October 23, 2000

About the author

Jon Scieszka is an American children's writer, best known for picture books created with the illustrator Lane Smith. He is also a nationally recognized reading advocate, and the founder of Guys Read – a web-based literacy program for boys whose mission is "to help boys become self-motivated, lifelong readers."

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gotta love the time warp trio. Gotta love ancient Rome. I was mildly disappointed with historical inaccuracies (Juvenal lived about 200 years after the fall of Carthage, but is quoted by a Carthaginian scholar apparently enslaved during the 3rd Punic War.) This, however, is a fairly ridiculous complaint, so I'll just say I had fun and leave it at that.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This isn't the best of the Time Warp Trio books, but it still is a very fun read for a nine-year-old boy -- I should know; I have one.

[Jenny Clark · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one goes to ancient Rome, and I like how it is different from the Greek one in not dealing with gods but rather gladiators. It is also addressed that the boys can speak other languages, but not read them, even if we don't get an answer as to why.
Overall, kinda ridiculous as with most of these, but still pretty fun.

Check out my YouTube channel for bookish videos and monthly wrap ups!

[Alex Carlson · Rating 2 out of 5]

In this Time Warp Trio adventure, Joe, Fred, and Sam find themselves transported to the Roman Coliseum for a gladiatorial journey that’s light on history, and heavy on jokes about Latin names. There are some helpful moments when the reader may learn some actual Latin phrases, but education doesn’t seem to be the goal in one of the less fun editions from Scieszka’s series.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this one much better than the previous one. This had a lot more action in it. And still had the same old formula and right balance of humor.

This particular one was no where near my favorite two: 2095 and Tut Tut, but it was better than some of the others because it had a lot of action and a enough going on to keep me reading.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sam, Fred, and Joe wind up traveling back to the time of gladiators. I like this series because it's entertaining, but you also learn a little bit of history. Not too much that you feel bogged down, but just the right amount for a humorous time traveling adventure.

[Ness · Rating 4 out of 5]

read this book when I was younger and I enjoyed reading it again

[Bexa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for Battle of the Books.

I like this only because I can see the appeal for young boys. As a female adult, it was really dull.

[Christie · Rating 4 out of 5]

We found this book when it was a wrapped library surprise. I was pleasantly surprised in the fun premise and liked the bits of historical and Latin content. I will check out more of the series.

[Amy Bodkin · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was funny but didn't have a great deal of substance (lots of modern references and language). Probably wont last from 9ne generation to the next.

[QuantiFIRE · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worth reading, though not a-lot different from the other books.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

So funny. My girls love his writing.

[Mark Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gladiators, time travel, Romans and a bit of history.. fun, short but nothing too special. 3/5

[Nicole Aeschliman · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Rebecca Carwile · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amusing, and gave some very surface knowledge on ancient Rome.

[Paul John · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

[Martin C.]

This book is about three kids, Sam, Fred and Joe. As you will find out during the story Sam is the intellectual one, Fred the goofy one and Joe the leader or kind of main character...
The three kids are also troublesome as i forgot to mention, you may notice by the first couple pages.One day the three kids are playing wrestling, when Fred is jumping victoriously on the bed, he makes the book fly off the book shelf and falls on his lap... The kids are suddenly in ancient Rome, to be more specific in a gladiator school about to be crushed by a giant gladiator!. What I like is that the author shows what funny ideas these crazy kids have in different situations like when confronting a big and hairy gladiator, stuff like "Hair came out of his ears and nose like paintbrushes". It is a very funny book and if you want to relax and take a break, be sure to include this book in it.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Time Warp Trio is at it again, this time becoming gladiators in ancient Rome. While I have enjoyed reading all of the stories in this series to our girls, they didn't like this one as much as the others. I'm not sure why; it follows the same pattern as the others and has just about as much excitement, danger and suspense. In any case, I'm sure we'll pick out more of the stories in this series to read together.

[Zeke · Rating 1 out of 5]

All that happened in 85 pages and 13 chapters:

They went to ancient Rome. They found a gladiator. Then they went to gladiator school. Then there was a ninja man. And then everyone started having a food fight. And then they escaped. And then everybody took a bath. And then they went to a coliseum, and they fought people. And then they escaped back home.

In good books that's about what happens in two chapters of five pages.

[Children's Literature · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gladiators have swords, armor, and get to fight each other and wild animals. Sounds fun, right? Wrong! The Book takes Joe, Sam, and Fred back in history two thousand years to ancient Rome. Are they smart enough and tricky enough to impress the emperor and gain their freedom? Can you think of a modern day example of a gladiator

[Ang · Rating 1 out of 5]

For a moment I am going to pretend that I am a 7-10 year old boy and I had just read this book. I would say, "Awesome! This book is cool! I really liked it" Written by a funny author who writes a great boy/guy book these are laugh out loud funny. if you are an adult, just remember elementary school. Boys in elementary will love it!

[Ubalstecha · Rating 3 out of 5]

The boys end up in ancient Rome, in a gladiator school, where they learn that fighting in the arena was not as glamorous as the old movies and TV shows. They have to figure out a way to escape and find someone to help them find the book, before they are fed to some lions.

More silly fun from Jon Scieszka.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very funny book along the lines of Sherman and Mr. Peabody from Rocky and Bullwinkle. Lots of adventure and sarcasm which I really enjoyed too. I think the grandsons enjoyed it as well and I plan to read them more of this series to them as well. Recommend to anyone who likes silly mixed in with a little history.

[Chuncho · Rating 2 out of 5]

this book is not so great. But is about tree kids that have a magic book. That book always take them to a ancient world. In this book they go to ancient Rome. When they were taken to that place they where on the Coliseum so the needed to fight with the big gladiators.

[Will Bigboss · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book talks about three little kids that find a magical book. They went back to the roman empire. then they got in a fuss with two roman gladiators.They then met someone called dorkius. dorkius helped him them throughout the story.They finally managed to get out of that time warp.

[Christy Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun adventure in ancient rome--dealing with a lot of concepts relatable to young kids--from being a "dorkus" to having to implement trickery in certain circumstances. Like all of them, I liked the sketchings present throughout the text. The latin phrases in the back were pretty cool too

[Melanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read aloud to Ben. Suggested on a book list to go along with studies of ancient Rome, but I thought there were more references to modern wrestling than anything else. The setting was Rome, but the story was silly. I will admit Ben liked it fairly well.

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

AR 4.2 -- 2

Time Trio wind up in gladiator school.

[Dionis Jimenez]

it is on the trio going back to ancient rome

[Mary Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not really liking this one very much. I chose it for my daughter because I wanted her to try a different book and I thought the title was pretty cute. My daughter liked the book though.