Rosemary Sutcliff's The Eagle of the Ninth is the classic story of a young Roman centurion sent out to recover the infamous Ninth Legion's missing symbol of honor. Over a million copies sold worldwide, it was adapted to a major motion picture (The Eagle) starring Channing Tatum and Jamie Bell.

The Ninth Legion marched into the mists of Northern Britain--and they were never seen again. Four thousand men disappeared and their eagle standard was lost. It's a mystery that's never been solved, until now . . .

Marcus Aquila has to find out what happened to his father, who led the legion. So he sets out into the unknown, on a quest so dangerous that nobody expects him to return.

This remarkable collection of short stories-vivid, haunting, detailed-is based on life in Egypt more than 3000 years ago, during what we now call the New Kingdom. It was a time when Egyptian life was at its most colorful and varied, when Egypt virtually dominated the entire Mediterranean Sea, and its Pharaohs and merchants had acquired quite unbelievable wealth and power, while the masses of poor people and slaves conquered from other lands had nothing whatever to call their own.

There was nothing dull about life to the Egyptians. These stories, which might have been told or might have happened, give a picture of a people who were intensely alive. It is this quality that makes them exciting to read about, even though their civilization has long gone by.

-Olivia Coolidge

Violence and unrest are sweeping through Roman Britain. Justin and Flavius find themselves caught up in the middle of it all when they discover a plot to overthrow the Emperor. In fear for their lives, they gather together a tattered band of men and lead them into the thick of battle, to defend the honor of Rome. But will they be in time to save the Emperor . . .

Rosemary Sutcliff's The Lantern Bearers is the winner of the 1959 Carnegie Medal in Literature.

The last of the Roman army have set sail and left Britain forever, abandoning it to civil war and the threat of a Saxon invasion. Aquila, a young Legionnaire, deserted his regiment to stay behind with his family, but his home and all that he loves are destroyed. Years of hardship and fighting follow, and in the end, there is only one thing left in Aquila's life--his thirst for revenge . . .

A satisfying fast-paced conclusion, Ahdieh explores the difficulty of family, lasting loyalty, and love giving you a tale you won't soon forget.--InStyle

In a land on the brink of war, Shahrzad has been torn from the love of her husband Khalid, the Caliph of Khorasan. She once believed him a monster, but his secrets revealed a man tormented by guilt and a powerful curse--one that might keep them apart forever. Reunited with her family, who have taken refuge with enemies of Khalid, and Tariq, her childhood sweetheart, she should be happy. But Tariq now commands forces set on destroying Khalid's empire. Shahrzad is almost a prisoner caught between loyalties to people she loves. But she refuses to be a pawn and devises a plan. While her father, Jahandar, continues to play with magical forces he doesn't yet understand, Shahrzad tries to uncover powers that may lie dormant within her. With the help of a tattered old carpet and a tempestuous but sage young man, Shahrzad will attempt to break the curse and reunite with her one true love.

In this heart-pounding conclusion to The Kinder Poison trilogy--which People magazine proclaimed a delicious high-stakes adventure--war looms over Orkena, but can Zahru save her people without losing herself?

War has come to Orkena.

Zahru has risen as Mestrah, and she is determined to peacefully end the escalating tensions with Wyrim, her country's long-time enemy. Yet diplomacy proves to be futile, and when Zahru turns to Orkena's allies for help, she finds that none are willing to come to her aid--not without Kasta ruling at her side.

As Wyrim advances on the capital, Zahru is desperate to protect her people, even if that means accepting Kasta's help. But her enemy is merciless. And as ambushes and betrayals push Zahru to increasingly dark tactics, she wonders if perhaps Kasta had it right all along: maybe peace was never an option ... and maybe she was never meant to do this alone.

Can Zahru spare her enemy without sacrificing her kingdom? Or will Orkena's salvation only come if Zahru becomes the monster her people need?

Olivia Coolidge brings the Roman Empire to life through ten vibrant short stories highlighting the various peoples of that era. You are there in the amphitheater witnessing gladiatorial spectacles; you share with the poverty-stricken poet in the tense moments before a murder in the baths; you cringe before the hatchet-faced gangsters managing the charioteers; you stream out of the city with the Roman populace to pay honor to its dead on the Feast of Roses; and you realize that the time is ripe for Jesus Christ, born in the Roman world of Caesar Augustus.

Under Augustus, there really came to be a golden age. If we really want to study what the people of Rome-in the broader sense-were like, we should look for them there. Olivia Coolidge

The White Isle is Britain-a barbaric land to the patrician Claudian family exiled from Hadrian's Rome, but an island of strange enchantment and stirring adventures to their daughter, Lavinia. The story of Lavinia and her family, of their long, arduous, and constantly exciting trip through Gaul to the farthest province of the empire, begins in Rome and comes to a romantic climax in the new home. It portrays a spirited picture of Roman life in Gaul and Britain.

Because Favonius Claudius, Lavinia's father, had been too much in sympathy with the old Republic, he had incurred the Emperor's disfavor, and was suddenly appointed legatus to faraway Britain. The family hears that Britain is a land cold and unforgiving, and their hearts are filled with trepidation. But, after sad farewells and a suddenly canceled wedding, the whole family and their retinue begin their long journey through the northern provinces and into Gaul along Roman roads still famed today. In Britain at last, Lavinia finds her true home.

Lavinia's new experiences; her moving introduction to Christianity just taking root in Britain; and her romance with a young British-born Rome make for a great story, expertly told by two-time Newbery honor medal winner Caroline Dale Snedeker.

In Bronze Age Britain, young Drem must overcome his disability-a withered arm-if he is to prove his manhood and become a warrior.

This is a story based on the life Metiochos, son of the Ancient Greek general Miltiades; a boy who was raised in Athens and whom fate was to make governor of a province in Persia and a favorite to the Great King Darius. As his story develops, Metiochos's relationship with his father and with Darius come into focus. His conflicting emotions reflect the greater conflict of two superior civilizations when they meet head on. The events of Metiochos's life, from his earliest days when he learned politics at the wily hands of Cleon to his later years when he married the niece of Darius and ruled peacefully over a a foreign land, seemed to lead him directly to the moment when he must make his final choice. Now the two armies, Athenian and Persian, face each other across the plain, the blazing heat of the Mediterranean sun reflecting on their shields and helmets. The horn sounds, the battle begins-and Metiochos rises to meet his fate.

Master storyteller Olivia Coolidge weaves an original tale around ancient figures, crafting an unforgettable story of the Battle of Marathon.

At fourteen, Ramses, the second son of the Pharaoh Seth, must begin to pass a series of royal tests designed to build his mental and physical prowess-or break him. Is Seth planning to leave the world's most powerful empire to Ramses, and not his corrupt brother, Shaanar? Before he knows it, the younger prince is surrounded by enemies and turning to his friends: Moses, the brilliant young Hebrew; Setau, the snake charmer and mage; Ahmeni; the frail scholar; and Set and Nefertari, the two beautiful women Ramses loves.

And so begins the journey of the hero the world has yet to know... Let the saga begin.

The first in Christian Jacque's bestselling Ramses series, recounting the thrilling story of Ramses, the legendary king who ruled Egypt for more than 60 years. Ramses sets into motion a tapestry of royal intrigue, treacherous plots, and romantic adventures that will keep readers spellbound and hungry for more.

In this inspiring and richly illustrated young adult mystery-adventure, a Chicago teen discovers that Egyptian hieroglyphs may be more relevant--and powerful--than he thought.

A dazzling, erudite tale of archaeological intrigue and self-discovery. --Fredric P. Williams, retired director of exhibits, Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service

A cruise to the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World turns dangerous for 17-year-old Dante Rivera when he defies orders to stop blogging about a shadowy organization that collects legendary antiquities.

As Dante falls ever deeper into harm's way, his connection to Thoth--the ancient Egyptian god of wisdom, magic, and writing--grows.

The sudden appearance of a series of Egyptian hieroglyphs--signals from Thoth, he's convinced--leads Dante to revelations that could spark an untapped talent and self-discovery.

Inspired by this new guide to push on, Dante begins to gain insights into the secretive organization, its connection to an Ancient Wonder lost to history, and its possible link to his estranged father. Will Dante prevail against the weight of a haunting childhood memory and the nefarious organization dead set on his downfall?

Five Hieroglyphs brings to life the power of myth, memory, and dream, and speaks to the importance of ancestral connections and of finding courage and purpose during moments of crisis. Set against the sea, the sky, and the majesty of the Seven Wonders, Five Hieroglyphs evokes the archaeological adventures of the Amelia Peabody Series; the mythology fiction of The Alexander Cipher, The Red Pyramid, and The Seven Wonders Book Series; and the themes of ancestral truths and justice in Elatsoe. Illustrated with 26 original woodcut-style drawings.

That's the magic of traveling. To just drop into a new location and let it hit you--its sights and sounds, its people. And maybe discover something unexpected about yourself, too . . .

Five Hieroglyphs will make a reader and a history buff out of even the most reluctant young readers. --Jason Cummings, PhD, director of student programs, Global Online Academy

When push comes to shove, Katniss Everdeen has nothing on Inas, daughter of Daidalos.--Betsy Bird

Inas leaps at adventure. She dives to the bottom of the Aegean Sea to harvest sponges and somersaults over charging bulls in front of thousands of people. Best of all, she soars from cliffs wearing the glider-wings her father builds in secret, safe from the prying eyes of their neighbors, who think flying is sorcery.

When Princess Ariadne seeks Inas's help to hatch a plan with Theseus, a young Greek who's held prisoner in the palace's Labyrinth, Inas doesn't realize how much adventure she is taking on. In fact, Inas suddenly finds that she may be about to lose everything she holds dear on the island of Crete.

A fun, fast-paced retelling of the Greek myths of Icarus and Theseus, this 1934 Newbery Honor book was ahead of its time and is sure to find lots of fans among today's readers.

Erick Berry was the pen name of Allena Champlin (1892-1974), an award-winning author and illustrator. She was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, studied art in Paris, and spent time in Africa. She wrote nonfiction about life in Africa as well as historical fiction. She was married to author Herbert Best and illustrated many of his books in addition to her own.

Betsy Bird is Evanston Public Library's Collection Development Manager. She has served on the Newbery Award committee and written for The Horn Book. Currently, she runs the blog A Fuse 8 Production on the School Library Journal website.

After surviving the Crossing, Zahru has sworn off adventures. While Crown Prince Jet navigates the looming threat of war, she's content to simply figure out what the future holds for them. But they're dealt a devastating blow when prince Kasta returns with a shocking claim: he's the true winner of the Crossing and the rightful heir, and he bears the gods' mark as proof. Even more surprising--he's not the only one.

Somehow, Zahru possesses the very same mark, giving her equal right to the throne. The last thing she wants is to rule beside her would-be executioner, but she can't let Orkena fall into his merciless hands. So Zahru, Jet, and their allies must race against the clock to find a way to stop Kasta, because once he's crowned, there's no telling what horrors he'll unleash to win the war.

Zahru will do whatever it takes to keep Kasta from taking the throne...but to stop a villain, is she willing to become one herself?

In the year 62 AD, a voice is heard in Jerusalem, crying out the ominous message: Woe... woe unto Jerusalem... A voice against this entire people. It's an echo of the prophecy spoken by Jesus when He wept over Jerusalem on His way to the cross.

As the Romans prepare to besiege Jerusalem, those Jews who have acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah respond by fleeing the city, leaving everything behind. However, there are many who remain for a variety of reasons: idealism, a longing for freedom, beliefs, love and faithfulness. But also adventure, hatred and greed...

When Silla decides to stay in Jerusalem to care for her sick father, several other Christians choose to stay as well. The increasingly desperate circumstances stimulate discussions on the question whether Jesus of Nazareth was an imposter, or indeed the true Messiah of His people.

Navigating his way through all these events is Kish, a remarkable Jew, and his donkey...

Growing up in the caverns underneath the colosseum is anything but ordinary for a Roman teenager like Noemi. Helping her father train wild beasts for the emperor's extravagant shows and being feted with romantic gifts from her noble fiancé, hers is a life few girls could imagine. But despite her good fortune, Noemi is beginning to doubt her upcoming wedding, which could threaten what she desires most-to train as a gladiator.

While Noemi loves the lions beneath the colosseum and the bloody shows above, her sister, Livia, is a contrast in extremes. If Livia can't be an enviable Vestal Virgin in a garden temple, she'll do the next best thing and use her charms to climb the social ladder, as high as the emperor's palace on Palatine Hill. While Livia will stop at nothing to improve her social life, Noemi can't stop her secret desires, nor her stealth training with swords.

And then there's Cato, a top-ranked gladiator who is keeping a risky secret of his own. Against Noemi's better judgement, she finds herself drawn to this mysterious fighter, who has both a temper and an imperious reputation. Soon, Noemi, Livia and Cato find that keeping secrets is not just child's play, but dangerous games with deadly consequences. Can they all fool the emperor long enough to avoid a date with the executioner?