A review by outernetbex
The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd

adventurous emotional mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

i really enjoyed this book. i knew almost nothing about it going in which i think made it really fun and surprising- especially the reveal. i had a few issues w the main character, but other than that found the characters believable. they felt like real people making decisions within the world they exist in. however, nell just felt a bit naive most of the time? it was stated throughout the book how smart she is, how good with maps she is, etc etc- yet we don’t really see that. everything going on with the maps she is either told or can’t figure out by herself.
AND WHY DO THEY NEVER TAKE PICTURES?.!,!, i understand that it wouldn’t like be a real copy of the maps, but it would allow them to study them longer? like the seaborn map of the library or whatever it’s called like she definitely could have taken a picture of it and found the hidden room. also i’m not sure about the reveal that her mom is still alive in agloe… like how is she not insane from isolation. idk i know it’s a magical realism story but it seems a bit far fetched even for the concept of this book. maybe it would make more sense if so much time had not passed?? idk
anyway i felt like i was connecting the dots despite nell’s narration, or clue gathering, not because of it. that being said i do like the reveals and think most of them are spot on with setting them up well enough that they make sense while also still feeling like a surprise. 
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