I Survived the Destruction of Pompeii, AD 79

I Survived Graphix #10

by Lauren Tarshis, David Shepherd (Illustrator)

A bold graphic novel adaptation of Lauren Tarshis's bestselling I Survived the Destruction of Pompeii, AD 79. The beast beneath the mountain is restless... No one in the bustling city of Pompeii worries when the ground trembles beneath their feet. The beast under the mountain Vesuvius, high above the city, wakes up angry sometimes -- and always goes back to sleep. But Marcus is afraid. He knows something is terribly wrong -- and his father, who trusts science more than mythical beasts, agrees. When Vesuvius explodes into a huge cloud of ash and rocks that fall from the sky like rain, will they have time to escape -- and survive the epic destruction of Pompeii? Lauren Tarshis's New York Times bestselling I Survived series comes to vivid life in graphic novel editions. Perfect for readers who prefer the graphic novel format, or for existing fans of the I Survived chapter book series, these graphic novels combine historical facts with high-action storytelling that's sure to keep any reader turning the pages. Includes a nonfiction section at the back with facts and photos about the real-life event.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Historical Fiction, Middle Grade, Childrens, Juvenile, Historical, Comics

160 pages, Hardcover

Published September 17, 2024

About the author

Lauren Tarshis often wonders how she came to spend most of her waking moments thinking about disasters, as the author of the children's historical fiction series "I Survived." Each book takes readers into the heart of history's most thrilling and terrifying events, including the sinking of the Titanic, the Shark Attacks of 1916, Hurricane Katrina, the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the San Francisco earthquake, 9/11, and the Battle of Gettysburg. Writing these books often makes her feel very nervous, as though at any moment a volcano could erupt right outside her window. Then again, she has learned a thing or two about avoiding being eaten by a shark.
Lauren is also the author of the the award-winning Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree and its sequel, Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell in Love.

For more information, go to her website: www.LaurenTarshis.com

And check out the I Survived Website: www.Scholastic.com/ISurvived

Reviews

[Daniel Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent series.

[⋆˚࿔ julia 𝜗𝜚˚⋆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ // spoiler free

“There is goodness and kindness in the world, Marcus. You cannot forget that.”

The I Survived series is always my “go to” when I’m in the mood for a short and adventurous children’s book. Even though this book is a children’s book, something I wouldn’t describe it as is lighthearted. These are all true and historical stories that many people suffered through. But, these are all events that we must keep learning and reading about. History must not be forgotten!

The plot and setting were very interesting! This was a graphic novel, and the art inside was so captivating and unique. The story was filled with a ton of “twist and turns”, emotion, and adventure!

The characters were smart and creative! It was fun to not only read about them, but also see their story through the wonderful art of this graphic novel.

The I Survived series was one of my first Historical Fiction series, and I will say this sparked the interest and my love for Historical Fiction! I will always love these books, and I hope you will too. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND the I Survived series!

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
•Age Rating: 10+
•Violence/Fear: ● ● ○ ○ ○
•Language: ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
•Sexual Content: ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
•Drugs/Alcohol: ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

[The Loco Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

The illustrations are so much fun, and truly bring Tarshis' story to life. I love this series, but the graphic novels make it even more exciting!

Content Warning: The story is a little intense -- two slaves, a boy and his father are separated and his dad is sent to be killed as a gladiater, spears, wrestling lions in a choke hold, pg. 79 shows dead sheep with a tongue and leg sticking out, pg. 111 shows a dead man who was struck by lightning

[Cherlynn | cherreading · Rating 3 out of 5]

A riveting tale of hope and courage, though I feel that it failed to truly capture the devastation of the volcano eruption. I loved the characters and setting. A quick and enjoyable read!

[Sierra Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

fascinating! i loved to see the elements of greek mythology in this one and to learn more about mount vesuvius.

[Daniel Stitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a middle school teacher, I’ve seen a surge of interest in the I Survived series among my students. Curious about the appeal, I recently checked out I Survived the Destruction of Pompeii from the library—though I initially thought I was getting the original novel, not the graphic novel version. That said, I was pleasantly surprised by how engaging and vibrant the graphic novel turned out to be.

The illustrations were rich, full of movement and emotion, and brought the story of Pompeii’s eruption to life in a dynamic and accessible way. The book explores what it would be like to survive a catastrophic historical event—in this case, the eruption of Mount Vesuvius—through the eyes of a young protagonist. At its heart, this is a father-son story filled with grit, bravery, and emotional depth. I appreciated how the characters weren’t just reacting to the disaster but were also wrestling with moral decisions, personal growth, and the responsibility they had to others. These themes—empathy, maturity, and community-mindedness—are especially powerful for young readers.

I found myself impressed by the way the author balanced historical realism with a fast-paced, emotionally resonant narrative. The moral lessons woven into the story were subtle yet impactful, offering young readers more than just an adventure—they’re given opportunities to think about what it means to be ethical and selfless during a crisis.

That said, the writing in the graphic novel was fairly simple and leaned heavily on dialogue, which makes it a great entry point for reluctant readers but left me wanting a bit more depth in the prose. For my next read, I plan to check out the full-length novels in the series to experience a more detailed version of the storytelling.

One standout feature was the inclusion of historical facts at the end of the book. This not only grounds the narrative in reality but also turns the reading experience into an educational one. It’s a smart and effective way to blend fiction with nonfiction, making history come alive for young readers.

Overall, this graphic novel was a fun, meaningful, and educational read. I highly recommend it to educators, parents, and young readers—especially those drawn to history, survival stories, or graphic novels. I’m excited to dive deeper into the I Survived series and see how the original novels compare.

[Amanda [Novel Addiction] · Rating 3 out of 5]

I honestly don't remember why I requested this from the library. Maybe something about a controversial image that this book was recalled for? Who knows.

A solid graphic novel, I can definitely see why this series is popular with the youths.

[Tricia Price · Rating 3 out of 5]

My daughter got this for Christmas, and we read it together. It was a good story, and I thought the graphic novel version captured the important plot points well.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to say I liked the text one better, which surprised me because lava is very picturesque. But having to cram the social class of slaves into the frames was a bit strained, since we had to save room for the eruption and survival.

[Antonela LoRusso · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the graphic novel and just anything about this series an absurd amount. I love the touch of Marcus and Tata narrating the facts part of it. Thank you Lauren! This story is just amazing.

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great series of books, this one a welcome addition as many interesting historical details included about the signs of the eruption. I liked the stories of gods added too. Bonus that author had to move away from American characters, due to time of story.
2024 pop sugar reading challenge- a book on travel destination bucket list.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book in a great series. I didn't care for this one as much as I have for other books in this series. It just didn't seem as exciting as some of the other books. But I did enjoy reading it. And, of course, the illustrations are top notch.

[Becky B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Marcus and his Tata used to have a good life with the scientist Linus, but upon the scientist's death, they became property of Linus' nephew who is not a nice man. Marcus' father was sent to become a gladiator and Marcus is a slave at the nephew's Pompeii residence. As Mount Vesuvius starts rumbling and earthquakes shake Pompeii more severely, Marcus is reunited with Tata. They are on the run until they realize the city must be warned. Tata studied with Linus, and he sees the signs that Vesuvius is about to blow. Does Marcus have the bravery of the Greek heroes in the stories he's read to go back to Pompeii?

Tarshis wrote this story in such a way as to be able to give readers a little scientific information about volcanoes, even though such things would not be common at the time. It is made clear that most of the city thinks the monster under the volcano or the gods are angry. The story is woven in such a way to give readers a taste of what everyday life was like for different classes in Pompeii during the Roman Empire. Marcus relates several things to Greek myths, so readers get a dash of history, some science, and some Greek mythology through the course of this story.

Notes on content:
Language: None
Sexual content: None
Violence: People die during the eruption. Most aren't shown, but one person is struck by lightning and is shown dead on page. A slave is hit by an owner. It is mentioned that many gladiators fight to the death (not shown). Dead animals from the caustic gases on the mountain are shown (they look like they are sleeping).
Ethnic diversity: Tata is Germanic, most of the others are of Roman/Italian heritage.
LGBTQ+ content: None mentioned
Other: Treatment of slaves and lower classes by upper classes is shown (some good, many bad).

[Katarina]

No one in Pompeii worries when the ground rumbles beneath them. The beast that causes this grumbling is Vesuvius, high above the city, it can sometimes wake up angry, but it always usually goes back to sleep. Marcus is afraid. He knows/ feels like something is terribly wrong, and his father who trust science more than mythical beasts agrees. When the volcano explodes into ash and rocks that fall from the sky like rain. Will they have time to escape this disaster set upon their city?

I love these little graphic novels they are entertaining to read and learn about history. I also love the actually history that you get to read at the very end of the Graphic Novel, it just makes it so interesting and want to read them. These books are great for middle grade kids or if you trying to meet your reading goal, because these are short graphic novels.

The book was well done, so were the illustration's in this book and the colours in this book too. My favourite part of this book though is all the information in the back of the book. All ages will love this story and it's a great way for them to learn about the history of the world and what happened.

Happy Reading!!!!!

[Panda Incognito · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars, rounded up.

The story is action-packed and compelling, but I find it very annoying that the author felt like the main character's father had to be interested in ~SCIENCE~ to make this relatable to contemporary readers. The word "science" appears in this book over and over, even though that term did not exist for centuries after the eruption of Pompeii. This character could have had experience as a naturalist without all of the anachronistic language, and I found the historical inaccuracy off-putting, especially as it creates a sense of smug superiority about how superstitious other Romans were.

[Carrie Fairbanks · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm giving this book a one based solely on the fact that the publisher felt the need to recall and destroy the original printing because there was an illustrated rendition of a penis on a statue. The book was reprinted and released with fabric over the statue's penis. Heaven forbid the children see a historically accurate DRAWING of a penis. Warning to all those that were terrified of the original printing: do not go to Italy. Do not visit Pompeii. Do not visit ANY classic art museum. And if you do, go at your own risk and make sure you leave the kids at home (or cover their eyes with blindfolds).

[Mark Will Never Cry · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story itself was kinda interesting, but so far I see this as one of the worst books in the series. There are a lot of things that are wrong about the culture of ancient Rome (such as the lie about vomiting at banquets and gladaitors always fighting until death) and this was written for kids, that are obsessed with that stuff, so I do not really see how this would have been very interesting for them. This also just felt weird in a way, because of how the story is told, where I did not feel as if the 'destruction of Pompeii' actually mattered that much, it felt more like just a plot device to show how smart Marcus' dad was.

[Rachel Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a phase of Pompeii obsession when I was a child and still have never really gotten over it, so when I saw the graphic novel version of this I Survived book at a local Scholastic book fair, I had to pick it up. What an interesting, engaging, and educational book, with lovely comic-book-style artwork to go along with the story. I appreciated the multi-faceted layers in the story, particularly the relationship between Marcus and his father, and the presence of the old beggar woman (who we all know is the equivalent of Shakespeare's fool as far as wisdom provided to the protagonist). A great, quick read about the history of Pompeii.

[Micah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think we didn't see much action in the book, I didn't like that the sheep die from gasoline before the volcano erupts and I don't like that he's a slave to this man that hates him. I'm happy at the end, he escapes with his dad. I don’t like that the dad was a warrior and he had to fight to the death. The son had no clue that he was one, so he’s trying to get him out of that and then go on the volcano. Overall not my not my favorite, but I do enjoy the series.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

As far as graphic novels go, I liked this better than many. I think because most kids won't really have the content knowledge to be able to visualize the setting of Pompeii, that a graphic novel is helpful for that. I thought it was a good story that packed a lot in a short number of pages. I cared about Marcus and his father. I liked Marcus getting inspiration from (what are to us) ancient heroes. Would definitely recommend to my students!

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty good story about the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD. Since teaching my 6th graders about this disaster, I've become more intrigued by it. I got this book to share with my students. It's a very quick read, but what I liked best was the additional info and other resources at the back of the book.

[Ellon · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars (I liked it)

I visited Pompeii (and Herculaneum) this summer so it was extra interesting to read this I Survived book. I'm not exactly sure what I was expecting but it wasn't a story of slaves and gladiators. Don't get me wrong, I'm not mad about that or anything. It was an interesting way to tell the story. I just didn't expect it.

[Estrella Nguyen · Rating 4 out of 5]

My review of the original book

Everything I said there still stands. Now I'm here to add that Marcus is so cute! I love his round little face and fluffy hair so much. And his father is so handsome! MARRY ME!!!

[Jas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pretty good graphic novel. One day I will read the original book but I can't seem to find it anywhere. The illustration is very beautiful and I like how the story feels like it's being narrated by the character

[stephanie bond · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not like this book because it never really told you how it got destroyed. It just told you how the people got away. I think they could have made the book a little more detailed and tell more about the city getting destroyed.

[Kelly Ewing · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really well done and easily understandable facts about Pompeii and the whole event, start to finish. i really loved the facts in the back, an easy to use glossery/idex style information. I can see why kids really enjoy the I Survived series!

[Amanda Zayas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this to my third grade class, the book under the document camera so they could see all the pictures on the screen. I’ve never had the room so silent! They loved the story and I loved getting to live out my dream of being a voice actor for a captive audience.

[Lexi · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's not even historically accurate like come onnnnn

[Barbara Evans · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn’t realize this was a graphic novel when I bought it. Not easy to read on an ereader. That spoiled it for me.

[Spinster · Rating 5 out of 5]

The kid in this one is a badass.