The Goose Guards

In short chapters with plentiful illustrations Gaul’s assault on Rome in 387BC is told through the eyes of Brutus, a young priest. Brutus wishes Fabia, a fellow student, dead and decides that her geese are her Achilles heel as it were. He witnesses the brutal slaughter of the old Senators by the Gauls, and the giving of permission to Lord Furius, who had left Rome in disgrace, to come home. In the end however Fabia’s geese save Rome.

Based on historical fact and some legend this is typical Terry Deary with the ‘jokey’ approach to historical stories. It would be good to see some serious historical stories for this age, a reprinting of some of the Antelope series for example to save children only being able to read about history as a comedy. Wishing someone dead is perhaps not the best message to be sending children as young as eight. The illustrations are crude black and tone drawings.