SOLVED. 1980s? YA Boy kidnapped by pirates, ends up slave in Pompeii / Roman times. 5 pink pearls. [s]

[Jen]

I believe this book is from the 1980's. The main character is the son of a ship captain. The ship is attacked by pirates and to save the boy's life his father claims he was the cabin boy. Everyone is killed but the boy is sold off in the slave markets in Pompeii and purchased by a rich family as tutor for their young son. Scenes I remember include him sketching on wax tablets the shapes of animals that the young child wrecked. The boy had saved five valuable pink pearls and hid them in a large clay water jug (the one that had a crack so not in danger of being used). He also befriended another slave and convinced him to escape. They were caught and the main character is horrified to learn the penalty is death. He was saved by the kind wife who had purchased him, and "gently flogged" as punishment. There was an overseer who hated the boy, confiscated the pearls and made them into a pin on his clothing to taunt the main character. When the volcano erupted the pin helped doom the overseer when his clothing became caught in something.

Does this book sound familiar?

[``Laurie]

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/8...

I hope this list will help you find your book - good luck Jen :D

[Jen]

Not a part of that list but thank you.

[Natasha]

The Shadow Of Vesuvius by Eilís Dillon

Fire in the Sky: Story of a Boy of Pompeii by Lois Hamilton Fuller

Fire Night: A Story of Pompeii, August 24, 79 A.D by Howard N. Tuttle

[Adele]

I can't find this on goodreads, but Beloved of the Gods seems like a possibility: https://www.amazon.com/Beloved-Gods-B...

[Jen]

Thank you Natasha and adele. It is none of those. This was juvenile fiction less based in history than an adverture story. I appreciate your suggestions.

[Lisa]

Greek Slave Boy

[Jen]

Lisa! That's it. How on earth did you make the connection? THANK YOU!

Also - internet safety note to all: DO. NOT. GOOGLE. THE. TITLE. The sites that came up.... uh yeah.... no.

[Elizabeth ♛Smart Girls Love Trashy Books♛]

Jen wrote: "Lisa! That's it. How on earth did you make the connection? THANK YOU!

Also - internet safety note to all: DO. NOT. GOOGLE. THE. TITLE. The sites that came up.... uh yeah.... no."

Lol that comment made my day.

[Lisa]

Jen wrote: "Lisa! That's it. How on earth did you make the connection? THANK YOU!

Also - internet safety note to all: DO. NOT. GOOGLE. THE. TITLE. The sites that came up.... uh yeah.... no."
You're welcome. I just used keywords boy slave and concentrated on books in the 70's and 80's. But not on google!