Keeper of the Lost Cities was published back in 2012, was a New York Times Bestseller, and spawned a nine-book series. How is it that it never hit my radar? It is easy to see why this book was so successful. It hits all the sweet spots of middle grade fantasy. With strong and extensive world-building, it dives deep into a fantasy world with a cast of characters. With flavors of Harry Potter (think school, friends, learning new abilities, adult mentors, a well-developed magical system) and a dash of Fablehaven, it is no wonder that this series was popular. The 12-year-old protagonist, Sophie, learns about the race of elves living apart from humans when she is brought to live among them. There is plenty of action to keep the plot-line moving and overall, this is a fun, middle grade fantasy read.
Review of an unabridged audiobook
Content Analysis:
Profanity/Language: None
Violence/Gore: Verbal threats; a few separate reports of deaths in accidents; reports of fire (arson suspected); characters knocked unconscious during a school activity/game; explosions in classroom during class activities resulting in destruction of property; character gets burns on their hands from accident; burns from a fire; report of a procedure that made someone insane; extended scene of kidnapping where young characters are drugged, bound, gagged, interrogated while burns are inflicted on arms; character is shocked with a device repeatedly that causes them to have seizures, intent to kill; character uses mental powers to inflict pain onto others resulting in incapacitating them; brief discussion about “inflictors”; life-threatening allergic reaction; character almost dies.
Sex/Nudity: Character(s) often think about another being cute or good-looking, are accused of having crushes or liking a member of the opposite sex; it is clear that one character has a crush/’likes” another; brief comment that a couple had trouble getting pregnant and went for infertility treatment.
Mature Subject Matter:
Loss of family, conspiracies, kidnapping, arson.
Alcohol / Drug Use:
Sleeping drug is used on characters; character takes a potion that is supposed to help with schoolwork and has a severe reaction; characters are drugged during a kidnapping to keep them unconscious.
