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4.18 AVERAGE
4.18 AVERAGE
4 stars.
This was so cute! There were parts where I was extremely annoyed with adults telling Sophie that "everything will be okay" and "it's not something for you to worry about" but I recognize that those moments were a true representation of what life is like for a 12 year old. You do t have that much agency.
Aside from those little annoyances, I loved this! Sophie was a wonderful character and a lot of the tropes I thought were going to happen got flipped on their head. It's definitely a world I'm looking forward to diving back into in the future.
This was so cute! There were parts where I was extremely annoyed with adults telling Sophie that "everything will be okay" and "it's not something for you to worry about" but I recognize that those moments were a true representation of what life is like for a 12 year old. You do t have that much agency.
Aside from those little annoyances, I loved this! Sophie was a wonderful character and a lot of the tropes I thought were going to happen got flipped on their head. It's definitely a world I'm looking forward to diving back into in the future.
STRONG Harry Potter vibes but it won me over in the end - will keep reading to see where the series goes.
Fine and cute! But also really pushed the hetero agenda? Read it for my students lol
poor Sophie! she is such an amazing character. love all the secrets.
LITERALLY SO GOOOOOODDDD. The first scene of Keefe and Sophie and tell me why they have chemistry and they don’t even know each other. Now i have to read so much more books to finally see them together
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger
A middle grade masterpiece that made me SOB like someone I loved had died, and I mean that in the best way possible.
Let me be clear: middle grade is not my usual go-to genre. But I picked this up to read with my three kids at bedtime, hoping to spark their love of stories without boring myself to sleep. What I got instead? One of the most compelling, emotional, high-stakes, world-rich books I’ve read in years.
If Keeper of the Lost Cities were adapted into a movie or show with the right vision, it would absolutely be the next Harry Potter. There’s magic, mystery, humor, danger, heartache, and a main character you can’t help but root for. Sophie is brave, lonely, brilliant, and kind. The world she enters is built with so much care. It’s 60% magical academy, 40% political suspense, and 100% unforgettable. Think you’re an elf, Sophie instead of you’re a wizard, Harry and honestly? I think this world is even more intricate.
This book covers serious themes in the gentlest, most accessible way: belonging, grief, corruption, friendship, identity. I was amazed at how thoughtful and layered it was without ever losing its spark. And the characters? Let me tell you about Dex. Sweet, awkward, underestimated Dex. His quiet longing to be chosen, to be liked, hit me harder than I expected. That’s the kind of ache that lives in a lot of us, and Shannon Messenger gave it such a soft, true voice through him.
And can I just say: the last few chapters took me an eternity to get through because I couldn’t see through my TEARS. I was full-on sobbing, holding the book, my voice shaking, trying to keep reading aloud to my kids like I wasn’t dying inside. I was wrecked in the best way. And my kids? Completely hooked. Begging for the next book. Asking questions. Making theories. And that is the magic.
This book wasn’t just for my kids. It was for me too. It reminded me how powerful storytelling can be, no matter the age it’s written for.
Would I recommend it? To everyone. Absolutely everyone. If you need spice to enjoy a story, this isn’t your thing. But if you want beauty, tension, humor, found family, high fantasy, and emotional gut punches that sneak up on you, this book will take you there.
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book is my all time favorite comfort book I love it so much!!!
Ignoring the cringe of Sophie being not like other girls I LOVE this series