The Pompeii Disaster

Flashback Four #3

by Dan Gutman

In this explosive third installment of New York Times bestselling author Dan Gutman’s action-packed series, four thrill-seeking friends travel back in time to document one of the most devastating natural disasters the world has ever seen. Eccentric billionaire Miss Z is sending Luke, Julia, David, and Isabel on another mission back in time to capture one of history’s most important events. This time, the Flashback Four are headed to AD 79 to photograph the eruption of Mount Vesuvius! Can the Flashback Four get their photo and get back home before they become ancient history? With real photographs from Pompeii to help put young readers right in the action, plus back matter that separates fact from fiction, The Pompeii Disaster tells the story of one of the world’s most devastating natural disasters like you’ve never seen it before.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Time Travel, Middle Grade, Fiction, Adventure, Historical, Fantasy

256 pages, Hardcover

First published April 3, 2018

About the author

The author of over 80 books in a little over a decade of writing, Dan Gutman has written on topics from computers to baseball. Beginning his freelance career as a nonfiction author dealing mostly with sports for adults and young readers, Gutman has concentrated on juvenile fiction since 1995. His most popular titles include the time-travel sports book Honus and Me and its sequels, and a clutch of baseball books, including The Green Monster from Left Field. From hopeful and very youthful presidential candidates to stunt men, nothing is off limits in Gutman's fertile imagination. As he noted on his author Web site, since writing his first novel, They Came from Centerfield, in 1994, he has been hooked on fiction. "It was fun to write, kids loved it, and I discovered how incredibly rewarding it is to take a blank page and turn it into a WORLD."

Gutman was born in New York City in 1955, but moved to Newark, New Jersey the following year and spent his youth there.

Reviews

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this much better than the last one in the series even if the just in time ending is rather unbelievable. Actually, a lot was unbelievable but the author made it work. What I found most impressive was the author’s use of the authorial voice, stepping in and out, without a hiccup along the way! That and the scrupulous explanation of what was real and fictional in the epilogue. I’ll have to wait on the last book since I couldn’t grab it in my panic loading of books from the library for the pandemic.

[Addy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wouldn’t even think about it twice before giving it a one star. I really hate how this book is only two hundred pages and take up one hundred of them getting to the action. I think that the author needs to realize that most people reading his book isn’t reading for the characters, they are reading for the information. It really isn’t fun to read about a cliff hanger when you didn’t even read about it in ‘Flashback four Titanic disaster’. I don’t like how he is always talking about the characters and sometimes forgets how you are reading for the info. I mean of course this has it’s pros but very few. I really wouldn’t talk about how he doesn’t like it when authors talk about the weather on the first few pages and then in the hundredth or fifty page or so go on and on about the weather in Pompeii! It’s very un-satisfying to read for so much time about the characters for the first hundred pages when you don’t even know them. I under stand that some people like to read this particular series but most of us are only reading for info. I also think that Mrs. Vader should be talk more. She only really talks like twice in the book. If you are going through reading through these comments to see if you should read the book, I strongly suggest that you shouldn’t. As a fantasy person I was strongly disappointed at this fantasy novels. When you get wrapped up in the characters in a fantasy book, the author needs to remind you that it’s a fantasy book, this author really makes you get wrapped up in the characters. But then after the drama between the characters he forgets to tell you ‘ Hey in case you forgot this is a fantasy novel so here’s a reminder that they went back in time.’ And personally I can get really rapped up in the characters and the drama that happens that I can forget it’s fantasy. This was a huge disappointment to read.

[Rachel · Rating 1 out of 5]

I borrowed this from the library to use as a read aloud with my son while we did a unit on natural disasters, but I wish I had preread it before reading it to him. While it did engage him in the historical event and provide some interesting info about the Roman era, I could not stand the characters. The kids are rude, obnoxious brats and terrible examples. They might think quickly, but they are often inconsiderate and use physical force to solve problems when there are other options. Miss Z isn’t much better: she cares more about her museum and legacy and reputation than the safety and lives of children that she sent into the past woefully unprepared. I have no interest in returning to this series.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the third book in the Flashback Four Series. The Flashback Four are 4 kids that go back in time to take a photograph of a specific time in history. #1 - they went to take a picture of the Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln. #2 - They went to to the Titanic to get a picture of it sinking. #3 - They went to Pompeii as Mount Vesuvius erupted and covered the entire city in ash and molten rock. In each book, something goes wrong and the kids have to figure their way out of the problem so they can complete their mission.

[Maria Antonia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: This book is technically the third book in a series. The Flashback Four are a group of kids that time travel to various important events in history to… get this… take a photograph of said event. This book’s focus: Pompeii. And as you can probably guess, things won’t go smoothly with a volcano about to erupt.

The kids have to take a picture of the historical event, but that’s about it. But, I’ve included it in my list because it is kind of neat to think of having a photograph of Mount Vesuvius about to bury the city of Pompeii in ash. Wow, just wow! [3 stars]

[AMY · Rating 5 out of 5]

230 pages. This was quite an exciting episode in the continuing story of the four kids who are brave enough to go into earlier times and risk their lives for a photo. This time they must endure all kinds of dangers in the time of Pompeii 79 AD, just before Mount Vesuvius explodes and buries the Roman city. This book will make students want to do research and learn more about the history of Roman life. It was dramatic and full of action. I think boys and girls will like it, but probably boys will like this book 3 of the series even more. Highly recommended for Grades 4-5.

[Katrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third book in the series and the boys age 10 and 13 have enjoyed the series. However this one stressed the younger one due to some of the things that happened in Pompeii. I don’t want to spoil the story but know that some things might concern a very sensitive child. The amount of detail could have been decreased in one area and the story still have been the same. We will move forward with the 4th book.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic intro to explain the eruption of Vesuvius. Too much wrap up from the previous book, but once the Flashback Four made it to Pompeii, it picked up. A little bit too long and wordy for me, but a good story mixing fact and fiction to paint a picture of daily life in Pompeii and then the eruption. Very easy to understand for elementary aged kids, with clear and conversational explanations.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
My kids all love this series. (Ages 5, 10 and 12). I liked the first one best, but feel like the premise only works for one book and not a series without it feeling that it is almost the exact same story with a different location. That basically is what it is. A fun way for learning history though and especially great option for my kids to listen to while traveling in Italy.

[Landon Sharlow]

I would rate this book an 8.
They travel to Pompeii to get a photo of the mountain blowing. They get trapped and the boys have to fight for their lives. The girls get put to work and have to step in pee to clean clothes, while they were doing it the mountain blew up. They all ran to the meeting spot and took a picture at the last second.

[Theresa Grissom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I LOVE this series! This is such a great way to bring some non-fiction into students lives. I am a huge fan of this series and the kids at school love this as much as I do. Great for 3rd/4th grade read aloud.

[Carol Moore Kollar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first of the Flashback Four series that I have read. Enjoyable and funny yet takes you back to a significant time in history. Kinda reminds me of Ms Frizzle in the magic school bus series. Kids will enjoy!

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like how the author talks to you he gets you to the edge of your seat but somethings are predictable and you know what’s gonna happen still a great read even the part when... just kidding I am not going to spoil it for you.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four precocious middle schools kids get into hijinks, this time trying to take a photo of the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in AD 79. The series is interesting, with Gutman artfully weaving history into a package that keeps my kids (10 and 7) riveted. Good stuff, if you like this sort of thing.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best of the series so far. I love the bits of history generously mixed in. Thanks for making Miss Z a bit more human and a bit less evil zillionaire this time around.

[Nhan · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing and cool

[Tyler Standish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great adventure for The Flashback Four. Never do a bat flip with a trident.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best new fantasy/historical fiction series! I love these books.

[Bianca Burrows · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love all of Dan Gutmans book. My favorite part is probably when Isabel and Julia have to clean the clothes using pee and their feet

[Pumkin pie · Rating 5 out of 5]

You never know what will happen next!😏

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was good but not as good as the others. It started off REALLY slow and I was a little bored but then it got better I would give this a 4 of 5 stars

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Time travel stories are not usually my favorites but I love these four!

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so in love with this series!

This book also made me realize how very little I know about Pompeii, so I'm off to remedy that immediately...

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audiobook. This was ok, but probably my least favorite of the Flashback Four series.

[Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

My kids liked it .

[Lupe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gutman really understands children! This historical fiction book is informative while still being fun! I enjoyed it and plan to purchase it for my library collection.

[Laura Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

The weakest of the series so far. Sending kids back in time to the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, especially after Miss Z’s terrible track record, is so obviously a terrible idea that it’s a little hard to suspend your disbelief. Even Peter was able to accurately predict what would happen- the group ends up thrown in jail “because that happens every time” (his words 😆). Even so, it held his attention and he couldn’t wait to read it each night. This series has exposed him to different historical eras he didn’t care about before

[Kim Gontarz]

Luke, Julia, David, and Isabel visit Pompeii in current times to see the ruins with Miss Z. They then journey back to just before the eruption of MT. Vesuvius to get a photo and things do not go as planned. Will they get the photo and get to the extraction spot in time?