Scholastic Inc.

Scholastic Inc.

557 Broadway, New York NY 10012

1-800-242-7737 www.scholastic.com

Three expanding historical fiction sets for middle school to high school readers are recommended picks. Barry Denenberg's 'Life and Times' set adds Pandora Of Athens (043964982X, $10.95) and Atticus Of Rome (0439524539, $10.95). Pandora is set in 399 BC and tells of a Greek girl set to be trapped in marriage to a man more than twice her age at the age of fourteen. Pandora's meeting with Socrates will change her life. Atticus is set in 30 BC Rome and tells of a young boy torn from family and sold into slavery to a Roman aristocrat. Operating as a spy, he learns about political undercurrents which will change the face of Rome itself. New to the 'Royal Diaries' set is Kathryn Lasky's Kazunomiya Prisoner Of Heaven (0439164-850, $10.95): set in 1858 Japan, it presents the 'diary' of one Kazunomiya, set to marry the prince of the country, and of her trails and concerns. New adds to the early America historical novel series 'Dear America' ($10.95 each) include Hear My Sorrow (0439221617), providing the diary of one shirtwaist worker Angela Denoto who endures harsh factory work in New York in 1909, and I Walk In Dread (043-9249732), telling of Deliverance Trembley, witness to the Salem Witch Trails in 1691 Massachusetts. The diary format provides an intimacy and revealing tone to historical fact underlying each presentation, bringing era and experiences to life.