Books in The life, times series

In this departure from our first person diaries, we leap into ancient times in a third person novel filled with action, adventure, and glory -- all the drama of life in ancient Greece.Ancient Greece is brought brilliantly to life by renowned author Barry Denenberg.Pandora is trapped in the roles laid out for Greek women by her narrow-minded father. Much to her despair,she is engaged to marry a man more than twice her age, so that Pandora waits with dread for her fourteenth birthday, when she'll be old enough to marry. But one day, when Pandora goes to fetch water, she meets the Wise One, who is also called Socrates, and what he tells her changes her life. During his famed trial, Pandora finds herself caught up in the intrigue and turbulent politics of ancient Athens.

In this departure from our first person diaries, we leap into ancient times in a third person novel filled with action, adventure, and glory -- all the drama of life in ancient Rome.Acclaimed author Barry Denenberg brings to life the intrigue of Roman politics and the bloody violence of the gladiator games in this story about ancient Rome.Atticus, a young boy who has been torn from his family and home and sold as a slave to a Roman aristocrat, quickly learns that not all is as it seems in the republic of Rome. Politicians and greedy merchants plot against each other, and Atticus must do his best to protect his kindly master...and, in turn, the Emperor of Rome. Murder and lies fill his new life as a spy for Lucius Opimius.

This book looks at how people from the Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Jewish, Christian and Muslim faiths welcome a new-born baby into the world, including naming ceremonies, casting horoscopes, giving gifts, and saying special prayers and blessings. You can find out about some very special birthdays; how a Sikh baby’s name is chosen from the sacred text; why a Muslim baby’s hair is shaven off; why a Jewish father buys his son back from the synagogue, and much more.