When We Were Romans chronicles the downward spiral of a mother and her two children as they try to elude her estranged husband. Told from young Lawrence's point of view, the narrative is compellingly funny and tragic. As the reader picks up on clues that Lawrence unknowningly communicates, the tragedy builds to a realistic conclusion that is hard to witness after falling so in love with the young protaganist. A sweet, sad, and ultimately hopeful book.