April 2020- Keeper of the Lost Cities written by Shannon Messenger was published in the Fall of 2012. Shannon Messenger was working on another project in 2008 when she came up with the unique idea. Or as she calls it on her website: “The scary, much-more-complicated-than-I’d-ever-planned-to-write story that told me I AM THE ONE!” She spent about three years working on the story before it was published. In the series, new books have been coming out every year since. And more are coming in the years ahead. So far, eight books have been published in the series.

Keeper of the Lost Cities (book one in the series) is about a 12 year old girl named Sophie Foster. Sophie Foster has a huge secret; she’s a telepath (someone who can read minds). The day she meets Fitz everything changes. He’s a mysterious boy who can also read minds like her and appears out of nowhere. She discovers that she’s an elf (elves are nothing like what humans believe they are) and that the lost cities like Atlantis are real. In the blink of an eye, she’s forced to move to the lost cities and start a new life there. Throughout the year, she discovers her past and uncovers evil conspiracies.

The best characters in the book are Keefe Sencen, Fitz Vacker, Sophie Foster, and Alden. Keefe is one of the best because he’s funny. Fitz is one of the best because he’s charming. Sophie is one of the best because she’s unique and brave. And Alden is one of the best because he’s always there for Sophie. The worst character is Keefe’s father because he’s cruel and calloused. The best part is when Sophie is in detention with Keefe because you get to know Keefe a bit more. The worst part was when Sophie bottled the everblaze, an event that demonstrates that there’s a fine line between being brave and being stupid. In my opinion, what she did was on the side of stupidity. One thing I wish was different about the book is that Sophie didn’t have a crush on Fitz because  he doesn’t really understand her that well and she’s too oblivious to see that he doesn’t like her. Also I felt like the beginning was a bit slow or at least that it had some information that was unnecessary.

Common Sense Media rates the book 5 out of 5 stars. Goodreads rates it 4.5 out of 5 stars and DOGObooks rates it 4.9 out of 5 stars. The book is definitely worth the price. Overall, I rate this book 4.7 out of 5 stars because it has a really interesting plot and lots of unique ideas, but there are some things I wish were different. I really hope people will read this book series. It’s one of my favorite book series.  I definitely recommend reading Keeper of the Lost Cities.