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Publisher's Note:

X-Men meets Spy Kids in this instant New York Times bestseller! Here’s the first book in a new middle-grade fantasy/adventure series from the author of The Unwanteds. Fifteen years ago, eight supernatural criminals fled Estero City to make a new life in an isolated tropical hideout. Over time, seven of them disappeared without a trace, presumed captured or killed. And now, the remaining one has died. Left behind to fend for themselves are the criminals’ five children, each with superpowers of their own: Birdie can communicate with animals. Brix has athletic abilities and can heal quickly. Tenner can swim like a fish and can see in the dark and hear from a distance. Seven’s skin camouflages to match whatever is around him. Cabot hasn’t shown signs of any unusual power—yet. Then one day Birdie finds a map among her father’s things that leads to a secret stash. There is also a note: Go to Estero, find your mother, and give her the map. The five have lived their entire lives in isolation. What would it mean to follow the map to a strange world full of things they’ve only heard about, like cell phones, cars, and electricity? A world where, thanks to their parents, being supernatural is a crime?…

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Map of Flames (The Forgotten Five, Book 1) 

by Lisa McMann

Reviewer: Cindy M
Genre: Fantasy
Recommended Age: 9+

Overall Book Review:

Map of Flames is book 1 in what is scheduled to be a three book series. Because of the transparent writing style and the fast pacing, this book is an excellent choice for readers who are ready to move beyond chapter books. It has an ensemble cast of girls and boys with unusual abilities who are each going through a unique emotional experience; there is sure to be at least one character the reader will identify with. There is plentiful action and the book clips right along. An interesting twist is the experience the characters have as they come into contact with civilization after growing up in a remote wilderness and being isolated from things readers take for granted (traffic lights, tall buildings, technology, money, and so forth). Although the genre is technically fantasy because of the supernatural elements, this is very much an action/adventure book. The second book in this series is scheduled to drop November 8, 2022–so there is still time to read this one and be ready. A fun and enjoyable read!

Review of a Digital Advance Reading Copy provided by G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language: 1 religious exclamation.

Violence/Gore: Report of the death of a parent, this is referred to many times throughout the book; encounter with a wild animal resulting in minor injuries (mention of blood) to the people involved as they fight off the animal (hitting, yelling); report/remembrance of when a parent slapped their child in the mouth; another encounter with wildlife resulting in minor injury as a result of fighting off the animal (hitting, punching); on two separate occasions human bones are found by main characters and they assume they belonged to one of their parents; character injured in a fall; scuffle between individuals (kick to ribs, shoving, pushing, etc.); scene in which property is damaged, individuals scuffle (punching, hitting) and knock character unconscious and restrain the individual.

Sex/Nudity: None

Mature Subject Matter:

Death of a parent, crime/theft, incarceration of a family member.

Alcohol/Drug Use:

None

Overall Book Rating
Profanity/Language
Rating:
1
10
Violence/Gore
Rating:
2
10
Sex/Nudity
Rating:
0
10

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About the Reviewer

Cindy M
An accountant and CPA by profession, I found myself a book reviewer for Squeaky Clean Reads by happenstance. When the opportunity came to transform that website into Compass Book Ratings, I was excited to seize it and meld my business background with my love of books. As the mother of three teenage sons, I have read a large number of children and young adult books and I believe that there is great value in a content review service. As much as we would love to read everything our children read, there just isn’t enough time. I also appreciate being able to select books for myself that are really worth my precious and limited reading time. I believe there is a book out there for everyone–they just have to find it!

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