Life as a Gladiator is yet another installment in the “Interactive History Adventure” series, an attempt to combine the excitement of the old “Choose your own Adventure” books with social studies topics.  Told in breathless second person point of view, the book allows readers to take on the role of a gladiator in ancient Rome.  Depending on one’s choice, the reader might join Spartacus in a rebellion, outrun the eruption of Vesuvius, or take on an opponent in the amphitheater.  Each book in the series does provide quite a bit of good information and gives the reader a chance to walk in another’s historical shoes (or sandals, in this case.).  These books may work better in 4th and 5th grade, but they do not move very well in my middle school library.  With some more energetic promotion, however, they might launch a few kids into reading for pleasure in the 900 DDC.