I won this book on Library Thing and I loved it. It’s a very quick read and the main character is Lucas who is in Rome on vacation with his family for six months. Along the way, he meets a mysterious woman who gives him a rare coin that will help him in more ways than one. I love characters who grow and learn how to be better versions of themselves. I adore the blooming relationship with Vivi and it leaves you totally rooting for them.

I like this book because it was fun. It was an adventure story with magic. It also had a good message about the importance of spending time with your family. The characters were normal people from our world but magical things happen to them which makes it a lot of fun to read. I recommend this book for tweens and up. I look forward to reading the rest of the series! (written by my 13 yo daughter who stole the book from me before I could read it.) ( )

Lucas is not happy that he's been traveling around Europe for months with his parents who are doing research for a book they are writing. Even worse, he's supposed to be reporting back to his teachers at home in Austin, Texas and his lack of enthusiasm has shown in his reports. Now Lucas and his family are in Rome with just a few days left before they return home to Texas when his teachers warn him that his last project has to be exceptional or he'll fail 8th grade. Thankfully Lucas gets some help from a palm reader, a new friend, and even some famous figures from Roman history.

I mostly enjoyed this story about history, friendship, and adventure. Lucas grows a lot during this story and his family and his friend Vivi are charming and joyful characters. I did find it to be a bit juvenile at times for Lucas being in 8th grade but I do think it would appeal to kids on the younger end of the recommended reading age. ( )

Lucan Duran is on an extraordinary trip with his parents and two little brothers, Robby and Trevor. His parents are professors and are writing a book about European history. The sights, the architecture, and the knowledge they gain is truly awesome...awesome for someone else besides Lucas, that is. All he wants is to be home in Austin, Texas with his friends playing soccer.

The problem, for Lucas, though is that he must turn in reports, poems, photographs, and journal entries to pass 8th grade. So far, his teachers have not been pleased with his work. They've told him that he has to up his game (homework, that is) or else he will fail and not move onto high school (and the soccer team) with his friends!

During the last week of their stay, Lucas is standing near the Trevi Fountain (bored as usual) when a old palm reader approaches him and gives him an odd coin. Implying that the coin will grant his wish (yeah, right), Lucas has no clue what is really in store for him. In the days to come, he will tour and sightsee with his new friend (and crush), Vivi to magical (no pun intended) places in Rome. Yet, he is in for an even a bigger surprise when Rome's magic comes to life with the help of a special golden coin.

Rome Reframed is a delightful story with historical facts, places, and lore thrown in, that will surely appeal to kids. There's also quite a bit of nudging young people to follow their dreams even when that dream isn't appealing to peers. A budding romance is 'just right' for those tweens looking for 'romance' books. More to come in this Wish and Wander series.

Thank you to LibraryThing Early Reviewers, Jolly Fish Press, and Amy Bearce for this ARC. ( )