Timeline -- A Story about Drawing Inspiration from Self-Directed Learning

by Glen Downey, Comics in Education, www.comicsineducation.com

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When people ask me how I started writing graphic novels, my answer is usually one word: 

"Timeline."

When they ask me how I was inspired to write for the Rubicon / Scholastic series, my answer is always two words: 

"My son."

When my son was very young he was fascinated by Ancient Pompeii...not just the fateful events of August 24-25, 79 CE, but the vibrant city bustling with life that preceded  it. He was similarly fascinated by gladiators and fullers and senators and emperors, and he was so interested in the people, places, sights, and sounds of the ancient city that we had to do something about it.

So, we decided to take a trip to the Canadian Museum of History in Ottawa/Hull, where the plaster casts were being exhibited. These were the same plaster casts that were created by archaeologists who injected plaster into the air pockets of the volcanic debris that had hardened over the course of more than 1600 years. By doing so, the archaeologists were able to bring to life the forms of those who perished in one of the worst pyroclastic surges in the history of Volcanic eruptions.

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THE PLASTER CASTS OF VICTIMS FROM THE ERUPTION OF MT. VESUVIUS, AUGUST 24-25, 79 CE

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When we got back home from our trip, we watched videos and read books and talked about what we had seen. When I asked my son what more we should do about it, he said, "You should write a graphic novel about Pompeii."

So that's what I did.

What follows, then, are the books I wrote for the Timeline series, entirely inspired by my son's self-directed learning. Writing them was tremendous fun and I could always count on a certain someone to provide me with an endless assortment of ideas about how these stories should be told.

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TIMELINE

With adventures that take place throughout history—and into the future, Timeline is packed with heroes and villains that will capture the imaginations of both boys and girls. Students love them because they are cool and teachers love them because they are motivational and packed with non-fiction learning. Each title blends a fictional protagonist with real historical characters in a unique story that teaches children about an important moment, time period, or event from the past. The series is also available in the United Kingdom under Oxford's Treetops Graphic Novels brand. For a review of the series have a look at Jared Robinson's review, "Rubicon's Timeline Series...Timeless!" 

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Fire Mountain

by Glen Downey

Illustrated by Liam Thurston

Cato is a young slave boy in the bustling Roman city of Pompeii. When Mount Vesuvius erupts without warning, Cato is separated from his mother. Will they wurvive the terrifying day and be reunited?

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Gladiator

by Glen Downey

Ilustrated by Andrew Barr

Young Marcus is a slave whose only chance for freedom is to compete as a gladiator in Rome. Will he survive to see his mother again or suffer the fate of his father?

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Rebel Prince

by Glen Downey

Illustrated by David Okum

In 15th-century London, young Will works at a tavern where Prince Hal and his companions hang out. When royal duties call, will Prince Hal rise to the challenge?

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Ice Journey

by Glen Downey

Illustrated by Glenn Brucker

It is the Ice Age in North America -- the land is covered in ice and snow. Bruno, a little bear, is being hunted down by a sabre-toothed cat. While his sister Ursula looks for him, she meets some interesting creatures of the Ice Age.

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The Great Siege

by Glen Downey

Illustrated by Mike Rooth

The young scribe Joshua leads a quiet, scholarly life in the libraries of the Byzantine Empire. However, as the Ottoman Turks lay siege to the city of Constantinople, many lives are changed forever. What will happen to Joshua?

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Escape from East Berlin

by Glen Downey

Illustrated by Leo Lingas

Young Hans Kappel and his sister Marta live in communist East Berlin but yearn for the freedom of the West. When they hear the American President speak about freedom, they devise a plan to escape...

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Miracle Men

by Glen Downey

Illustrated by Anthony Brennan

It is 1920. Virginia's life is turned upside down when she finds out she has diabetes. Scientists have been working around the clock to find a treatment -- but will they make a discovery in time to save Virginia's life?

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Freedom Train

by Glen Downey

Illustrated by Leigh Dragoon

A young slave girl named Lizzie escapes from her owner with the help of her friend Elijah. When Elijah is killed, Lizzie has to trust others to guide her on that secret path to freedom, the Underground Railroad. Will she get to the Promised Land before she's caught?

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Master Leonardo

by Glen Downey and Jayn Arnold

Illustrated by Mike Rooth

The year is 1513. The great Leonardo da Vinci is old and bitter, and has many enemies. Can the young apprentice Matteo help Leonardo believe in himself again? Will Leonardo be able to stop his enemies' evil plans?

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