The Eternal City

Gr 6 Up—On the last day of Laura Martin's class trip to Rome, all she wants to do is grab her BFF Morgan and soak up the sights in the city that's always enthralled her. Instead, when most of her group members, including Morgan, fall ill, she's stuck with some classmates she barely knows. As they walk around, strange things begin happening: Laura sees a Cupid statue shoot a pigeon, crows are always flying near her, and a sewer cover tries to eat her hand. Then the god Mercury appears, telling Laura that she wields two powerful stones called the Eyes of Minerva and that the gods are going to war over them. As Laura and her classmates traverse an increasingly dangerous city, they have to figure out what to do with the Eyes before Rome—and everyone who lives there—is destroyed. While fans of Rome and Roman mythology will find an enjoyable story, those looking for more may be disappointed. Some disruptions in an otherwise exciting plot stall momentum, though there are still plenty of periods of tension and intensity. Characters come off as two-dimensional and underdeveloped, and while some are intentionally enigmatic, most feel bland. Protagonist Laura ultimately has little agency and seems to rely on others to make decisions and plans for her. Still, readers interested in mythology and looking for action and romance without excessive violence and gore will find something to appreciate.