Changes

For children who like this sort of plot-driven, historically accurate adventure, ''Gladiator'' will be just the ticket. Number one son has already stolen my copy and is reluctant to let me have it back even to check details for this review, which tells you something about the likely eagerness of the target market. Scarrow has written as efficiently for younger readers as he does for his grown up fans. If it doesn't sound ungracious though, I would like to add a slight caveat - ''Gladiator'' doesn't really offer anything we haven't seen before.

My thanks to the nice people at Puffin for sending the book.