MIRA'S DIARY: HOME SWEET ROME by Marissa Moss is book in a fun middle grade series about a girl who learns she can time travel and must help her mother who is stuck in the past trying to make right the future. I quite liked the first book, Lost in Paris, and fully enjoyed this one as well.

Mira receives another note from her lost-in-time mother and she, her father and brother Malcolm are off to Rome. Mira’s not long in Rome before she time travels to the 16th century, meeting painters, cardinals and more (including the Watcher from the last book who is set to stop both Mira and her mother, and Morton, who helps Mira be where she needs to go). Despite the relatively short time between her first experiences with time travel in Paris and now, Mira seems more confident in herself to figure out what her mother wants her to do and try to succeed in that task. It’s a bit different this time, and will take the reader on an interesting ride.

Mira’s father and Malcolm offer support (emotional and research) in her present when she travels back to them, and are very helpful and understanding. Mira is still a fun character, full of determination and strength that makes her suitable for the task of time traveling. She’s getting quicker at thinking on her feet, and isn’t getting too attached to the people she meets in the past. Like in the first book, the secondary characters are there more to highlight historical figures and provide Mira information and a mission to complete. In HOME SWEET ROME she spends much of her time with a cardinal Del Monte, the painter Caravaggio and his servant Giovanni, and the man she’s meant to help, Giordano Bruno.

The sketches scattered throughout the book are a wonderful addition to the story, and I continue to be inordinately pleased with the author’s note and bibliography Marissa Moss includes at the back of the book. MIRA'S DIARY: HOME SWEET ROME is a quiet historical mystery that has the reader diving right in to old Rome and the Inquisition. I’m definitely still seeing this as a must-have series for the classroom, and could happily put it into the hands of young readers. Time travel, mystery and history? All three awesome things right there. ( )

The Good Stuff

Fascinating information about a lesser known part about history
As I mentioned in my review for the first book in the series, I would love to have the gift of time travel - to be able to see the world before over development - not that would be a true gift
Good messages about doing the right thing, faith and family
Realistic thoughts and emotions for a young girl in regards to her heritage. This was a saving grace for me for this book

The Not So Good Stuff

Still feel no emotional attachment to Mira - she just doesn't feel real. Her words and her actions don't jive with me. Her words are those of a mature adult, not a teen
Jumps around too much and often makes no sense
More of a history lesson than a story with flesh and blood characters

Favorite Quotes/Passages

"I stood there frozen with doubt, while unshaven, unwashed people jostled around me. I'd had no idea what great inventions soap and shampoo were."

"It's easy to defend people you like. The hard thing is supporting those you don't."

"That's in Florence where they charge you to enter any church. But we have to go through a security screening."

"You're kidding!" Malcolm rolled his eyes. "What's the Pope afraid of? Doesn't he have God on his side?"

Who Should/Shouldn't Read

For those more mature Middle grade girls interested in art and history, especially Jewish history

3 Dewey's

I received this from Sourcebooks in exchange for an honest review ( )