What's the Name of That Book??? discussion

I read this book in elementary school (around 1996-1999), but I think it was published earlier than that, maybe even in the '80s or earlier. I remember that we read it in school alongside The Whipping Boy, so it was probably about that reading level. It was about a boy (maybe 10 or 12) who was a slave in ancient Rome (or maybe Greece? But I think Rome). He may have ended up doing some sort of gladiator thing, and I feel like there was some danger they all had to escape from at the end (maybe even Pompeii?). Clearly, my memory is rusty. The scene I remember best was when the boy was going to be whipped, and the lady of the house offered to do it instead of the boy's master, and then she did it really lightly so it didn't hurt as much. I think in the end the lady ran away with him and another slave--possibly they hid in a cave in the mountains?

This sounds maybe like some of the books of Caroline Lawrence. The Pirates of Pompeii and so on. Take a look.

A bit too recent, I think, but thank you!

I remember this book too. I think I got it from Weekly Reader, and the title had Pearl in the title. Or maybe the author's name was Pearl.
I don't know if that helps, but I hope so!

I think I know this! Greek Slave Boy by Lillian Carroll? Both the slave boy and the mistress of the house were from Athens, and the boy - I think is name was Glaukos - and another slave tried to run away, but were caught. The mistress whipped him very lightly, when a fellow slave, a Spartan, would have beaten him to death.

Greek Slave Boy sounds right! I'll see if I can get my hands on a copy and confirm.

Be sure to let us know!

Greek Slave Boy was it!

Yay! So happy I could help. :)