You Wouldn't Want to Be a Slave in Ancient Greece! (Revised Edition)

You Wouldn't Want to Be ...

by Fiona Macdonald, David Antram (Illustrations)

You are about to experience the life of a slave at first hand in Ancient Greece! This interactive series will enthrall young and reluctant readers (Ages 8-12) by making them part of the story, inviting them to become the main character. Each book uses humorous illustrations to depict the sometimes dark and horrific side of life during important eras in history. It's the 5th century BC, and the Greek civilization is the most advanced in the world. But that civilization is based on slavery, and you, a member of a nomadic people from Asia Minor, are about to experience the life of a slave at first hand! This new extended edition includes a map and a timeline, and a selection of fascinating facts.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Childrens, Picture Books, Greece, Middle Grade, Ancient History

32 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2000

About the author

Fiona Macdonald studied history at Cambridge University and at the University of East Anglia. She has taught in schools, adult education and university, and is the author of numerous books for children on historical topics.

Reviews

[صان · Rating 4 out of 5]

لحن روایت کمیک چنین چیزهای تلخی، خیلی عجیب و کمدی-سیاه بود. زود نیست برای بچه‌ها که درباره برده‌داری بدونن؟

و از طرفی خیلی افسرده‌کننده بود برام. هروقت توی تاریخ با‌ این همه شقاوت و جان‌های از-بین-رفته بدون چشیدن خوشی فکر می‌کنم لعنت می‌فرستم به بشریت. کاش حیات از اول شکل نمی‌گرفت.

[Set · Rating 5 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed this book from the series "You wouldn't want to be". The life of an ancient Greek slave was brutal till the very end. It really makes you think about how the Greek democracy and Roman law that we follow today has changed over time. It also makes you think about all the slaves that live today in many parts of the world and how they are ignored and forgotten.

[Dale · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun way to get your essential bits of history

As a history teacher, I think just about all of history is fascinating - the cultural tidbits, the technology, the religious beliefs, the wars, the governments. It's all fascinating! But...convincing my students is another matter entirely.

This series does an excellent job of looking at history from an interesting point of view and showing why it was tough. The art is accessible and just cartoonish enough to not be one of those boring illustrations that fill history books and plenty realistic enough that to clearly see and understand what is going on (for example, the women who are weaving on pages 16 & 17 are cartoonish but their loom looks pretty realistic).

In You Wouldn't Want to Be a Slave in Ancient Greece , you learn a lot about slavery in general that can be applied to any time - the drudgery and humiliation, the loss of freedom and the uncertainty. There is also a lot of Ancient Greece-specific information such as their attitudes towards foreigners and women.

I'd recommend this book for students in grade 4 or higher. I'd even recommend it for adults that want a little pain-free learning!

http://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

"You Wouldn't Want to Be a Slave in Ancient Greece" reveals the darker side of both life in particular in the ancient world and of the famous Greek democracy we all here so much about.

This book uses a member of the Scythian tribe as an example of the slavery experience in ancient Greece. It helps to illustrate the lives of slaves using this one example, thus making it easier for students to relate to the slave existence. Also, the illustrations really help sell the story. Though using a school age child would have perhaps have made it more relateable to the students, this is still an excellent resource for them to use.

[... · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the only book I could find about ancient Greece in my elementary school library.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book talks about a slaves life in ancient Greece. It explained you would be capture and never see your family again. Also the tasks you have to do. It also explains you might get lucky and get a nice owner that treats you well.and that you must behave and do as your told or you will be punished

[Stephanie Carter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy-to-read picture book that teaches about the terrible life of slaves in ancient Greece. It was fun and humorous while also being educational. It definitely succeeded in making me not want to be a slave in ancient Greece! I think this would be good for upper-elementary students or even older students for research.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book approaches the Greek’s idiocentric attitudes in an accessible way, has a lot of key information, and contains enough time ordered or related pictures on each page to allow for some differentiation.

[Janelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was considering adding this book to our 6th grade study of ancient Greece, but decided again it. There is not much factual info given that one could not surmise by oneself. What bothered me is that I feel slavery of any people in any time period cannot be presented in a comical, cartoon format.

[Robert John]

Your husband used to train horses, but now he mends the roads. Your son used to play outdoors, but now works inside a potter's shop. Your daughter was quiet and shy, but now forced to dance and sing to entertain men. You were a respected member of your tribe, by now just a miserable slave.

[Kaelin Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very interesting when I read it. It teaches children that slavery in Ancient Greece was brutal. This says a lot about Greeks in the Ancient times.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Man, what a rough life!

[Emily]

tell me why this was one of my favorite books as a child

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I sure have missed reading these books. So much information in 32 pages. It has wonderful illustrations by David Antram. These should be read by any kid doing reports for school and even for fun.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best in the series. The extra information added at the end of the book is a bit unrelated to the actual book.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fourth book we've read in the You Wouldn't Want To... series. I like that they tackle serious historical events and show the not-so-nice side of human behavior, but in a somewhat humorous and tongue-in-cheek way. The book puts you as the reader into the center of the story, so you can imagine what life in those times was like.

Life for a slave in ancient Greece was a difficult and often dangerous existence. Torn from family and treated as less than human, a household slave in Greece was given a never-ending set of chores. The information provided in the book gives us a glimpse into life in Greece for both slaves and citizens and it's a good way to show the good and bad of life back then. I especially like that the person selected as the main character is a woman, so we could see life through her eyes.

We really enjoyed reading this book together and will look for more of the books in this series at our local library.

[Ravenne Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an eighth grader who dislikes reading giant, boring, history books, I just adore how short and to the point this series is.
This book is about a greek female who you play as. You were in a respected tribe until you and your family were captured. Throughout the book you learn how terrible a Greek slaves lived. It informs you on specific jobs slave did, ways you could be freed and what would lead to you being punished.
If you are studying a history topic, I would recommend this book series to you. They are short while also giving you a great deal of details to help you elongate your knowledge. These have helped me with my history class and I'm sure they will help you.

[ANNA POLYAKOVA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative and educational, this non-fiction book combines humour and accurate historic details and tells about slavery in Ancient Greek society. As all the books in “You Wouldn’t Want to Be...” series, it puts the reader into the centre of the story, so he/she can imagine what life for a slave in Ancient Greece was like.

Brilliantly illustrated by David Antram, this book makes history interesting and engaging, and is suitable for readers age 8+ (KS2). It can be used across the wide range of subjects, particularly when studying Ancient Greece (English, PSHE / P4C (slavery, the loss of freedom), history and geography).

[Nolan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book of great facts and captions.
One thing that I thought was funny is when people
from Ancient greece captured the little girl she was saying
a bad word to the solders who captured her brother,
family, and all of her relatives. The characters' expressions
showed what they were feeling which made it easier to see
what was going on.

Fiona MacDonald has written many books like this
great book. This book along with all of the other
books she writes are very true and funny.
You should check out all of the series it's great!

[Perla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a really interesting way to find out about slaves in Greece.
This story makes you the character and shows you all the hardships a slave went through in Greece. As the character, your family is split up and you are captured as a prisoner. You must go through the tedious tasks of pleasing your owner. It truly is a sad life to live in because you won't ever see your family ever again.
I would recommend to people who are studying Greece and the people who lived in it's lifestyle.

[Duane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful series of books that let beginner readers understand important people and times in our past. Wonderful illustrations and basic writing makes this book easy to follow. You follow a mother as she becomes a slave in Ancient Greece. You get to see her daily routine and life of misery. Nothing glamorous for her! A nice read.

[Timothy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the humor in history it gives

[Audrianna Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was funny and very enlightening!

[Darren · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's too bad that I died sadly in the book, but it is terrible how bad the Greeks treated the slaves. I liked the book.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great children's series, I just love them. This is a new edition with extra content.

[Junessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as exciting as others in this series but still enjoyable.

[Teri · Rating 3 out of 5]

SO LONG!!! This has been my experience with most of the books in this series. Good idea but it should be half the length.

[Timothy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A humorous book, ...but don't expect a happy ending.

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Giuliana: Very interesting. The title is true.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was just what I hoped and expected. Great summary of the subject.