Product Description
New reprint of 1924 novel by Caroline Dale Snedeker, including all original text. Grades 5+.
Young Theras, born an Athenian, is taken to Sparta by a relative when his father is lost at war. He is forced to live like a Spartan, a brutal life with no pity for those who are not physically perfect and totally obedient to Spartan control. After enduring rigorous training and repeated cruel incidents, he escapes with a Perioikoi boy and heads for his beloved Athens. Here … More >>
Tags: Theras, Town
#1 by Tiffany Johnson on May 11, 2010 - 6:10 pm
Will young Theras ever get back to his heavenly home of Athens, alive?
This book is about an Athenian boy named Theras. His daily life is the life most children could only dream of. Then one day his father went to battle, while Theras was unfairly taken to Sparta by a family member after his father was assumed dead. It was in Sparta where Theras did the bravest and most daring task ever! To find out what it was, read the exceptional book, Theras and His Town. Do you think he made it home in one piece?
Rating: 5 / 5
#2 by L. R. Runnels on May 11, 2010 - 8:17 pm
Young readers will enjoy this story of an Athenian boy named Theras who is forced to relocate to Sparta. Theras faces unexpected and difficult challenges while living in Sparta. He longs to escape from the harsh conditions that the boys of Sparta must endure and return to the more refined lifestyle and education that exist in Athens. I highly recommend this book for older elementary age through middle school as a compliment to a study of ancient Greece. Caroline Snedeker brings the era alive with historical facts about Athens and Sparta in a way that makes the story fun and engaging! For older, more advanced readers I recommend “The Spartan” by the same author(See my review for that title).
Rating: 5 / 5
#3 by P. Seidle on May 11, 2010 - 9:23 pm
I read this book with my 11 year old son. Some of the names are very hard to pronounce at times. This makes it kind of hard to read out loud and hard to keep track of who is who. Other then this, you really get to know the character and his world. It has lots of historical facts. This makes it very interesting. All and all, a good book. At the end I was sory it was over and will miss reading about Theras’ adventures.
Rating: 4 / 5
#4 by Anonymous on May 11, 2010 - 9:49 pm
Theras is a young boy from Athens who is as happy as any young Athenian boy could be. He has friends, an awsome dad, two fun little sisters and a chance to be in the Olympics.
One day, Thereas’s father is called to war. Later on, news that Phiedon, Theras’ father, has lost a trading ship and that the family may lose every thing reaches Theras and his family. Later on that very same week, cries could be heard from Theras’s house; Phiedon had been killed at war. Not only was the family sad about their loss but even more sad when word got to them that their broken family, would gat broken some more. Theras was told he was to go to Sparta and live with his relatives. Sparta is a vicous place to live. Instead of giving toys to sacrifice, boys give blood. Instead of playing on holidays, they fight, to the death.
When Theras hears about this he longs, more than ever to be back in Athens. One day, Theras runs away from it all and meets a Perioikoi boy named Abas and they instantly becaome freinds. After another one of Theras’s few Spartan friends is killed Theras meets with Abas and they head back to Athens. It is a hard jouney back, but they finaly make it back.
I really enjoyed this story by Caroline Dale Snedeker and I hope you do to. There is never a dull momentin this book; enjoy!
Rating: 4 / 5
#5 by Mother of 9 on May 11, 2010 - 11:13 pm
This book is set in ancient Greece, in two towns, Athens and Sparta. Athens is a beautiful city, with fine art, architecture, and music. Sparta is a small town with unadorned buildings, little art, and no music. In the beginning of the book, Theras, a young Athenian boy, lives a happy childhood with his family in Athens. He goes to school, where he learns to write and sing, and does athletics every day. One day Theras’ father, Pheidon, is called to war far away from Athens, and he departs, leaving his family behind. Everything is fine for a few weeks, until they receive a distressing message from cousin Metion that Pheidon is lost at war. Theras’ mother is forced to sell the house, and Theras is sent to Sparta to live with a distant relative.
In Sparta, Theras is made to live as a Spartan boy, separated from his parents, and trained as a soldier. After a year of this life, Theras wishes urgently to go home and live his old Athenian life. Eventually, Theras flees from Sparta with another boy, Abas, who also wishes to go. Theras and Abas must then endure many perils in the wilderness road to Athens, just to be free.
Theras and His Town is excellent. This book has suspense and excitement aplenty, with difficulties for Theras, who is brave and loyal. The book also has plenty of historic information about Greece, Athens, and Sparta. (This book review was written by a 6th grade, 11 year old Calvert School student, and published by his Mom.)
Rating: 5 / 5