Double Trouble

The second in Judi Curtin’s Friends Forever series, Double Trouble features a second trip back through time for Lauren and her cat Saturn. This time, however, her friend Tilly joins her for an adventure in ancient Rome. The girls become separated from Saturn, without whom they cannot return home, and they are sold as slaves who don’t speak the local language. In spite of this, they befriend local girl Prima. Through her they learn a lot more about everyday life in Roman times. Faced with an imminent natural disaster, they decide to go home.

The eruption of Vesuvius is presented from a fresh perspective, adding a human element to the historical facts of which a reader may already be aware. Curtin’s attention to modern words with roots in Latin is thought provoking. The discovery towards the end of the book of how Saturn can time travel leaves the door open for further time travel adventures for the girls.

Double Trouble will appeal to any and all Judi Curtin fans as much as new girl readers with an interest in historical fiction.