Twelve-year-old Paulina is delivering bread to her new friend Fabia's home when Mount Vesuvius begins erupting. When Fabia's father leaves to help fellow Pompeii residents evacuate, the girls make their way through the city, helping others where they can. Includes facts about the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.

Barbara Perez Marquez was born and raised in the Dominican Republic. Now she lives in Baltimore, Maryland. She holds an MFA in creative writing from Manhattanville College and writes short stories and fiction, usually using coming of age and LGBTQ themes in her work. During her career, she has also served as editor for several publications and projects. She's part of the team behind the acclaimed graphic novel series, The Cardboard Kingdom, and is hard at work on her next projects.