Shannon Messenger

My feelings about this book are kind of a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. Usually when books are billed as being "the next Harry Potter" I end up hating them because they are nothing like Harry Potter and I get mad that someone made me think it was. But this book is very much like Harry Potter, and for some reason that kind of annoyed me at times. Yet that was just a fleeting feeling every now and then, because otherwise I loved this book! There is action, adventure, impressive show more world building, suspense, and there are some pretty amazing characters. Quite frankly, I loved having a main character who was considered fascinating because she had brown eyes. That has definitely never happened to me. But who to trust?! I kind of wished that there was one authority figure that I completely trusted (like Dumbledore, of course), but I didn't have complete trust in any of them. There are many, many secrets being held onto by all the adults in this book, but in a way that added to the intrigue. I know there are at least 4 books planned in this series, but if the author does one book for every year of the character's school life, then there should be even more coming. I can't wait to get my hands on the next one. This isn't checked out very much in my library so I need to start talking it up because the kids will love it! If you or your student loved Harry Potter, I think you will both love Sophie, Fitz, Dex and Keene. I know I did. show less

Sophie has spent the last 7 years struggling to ignore other's thoughts. And failing. But when she meets someone else who can hear thoughts, too, her life gets completely reworked. Dinosaurs are nothing like she was taught (plus they still exist in carefully guarded sanctuaries), boys like her, and she's an "anomaly."

Aside from her getting kidnapped and frightened--well, and constantly getting sent to the school doctor after accidents--this is really a very light-hearted and non-violent show more book. Practically perfect in every way!

This book was delightful! I kept waiting for it to turn sour, but it was well-written all the way through. I will admit that I didn't really buy the "no such thing as magic," mostly because the characters manifest abilities and there didn't seem to be any real explanation of how telepathy works for only some people. I absolutely loved, though, the fact that the author managed to claim no magic and still have tons of fun, completely impossible things casually worked into the story.

I think I saw a little foreshadowing as to who the worst bad guy is, and I seriously hope I'm wrong. Time to read the next book and find out! show less

I can see why my daughter enjoyed this book so much. Sophie doesn't really fit in among the humans and stands out even amongst the elves. She is insecure and smart. That makes her a very relatable character. Although, she does feel a bit more at home in the elven world ultimately--developing strong friendships and attending a school that focuses on helping her better understand and hone her special abilities. There are life endangering moments, not so well kept secrets as well as some that show more are tightly kept, interesting creatures, and the typical tween drama (bullying, crushes, and angst).

Keeper of the Lost Cities was cute and kept me entertained. There is something to be said about elves with varying abilities--what I might call magic, but they think of more as science. There are gnomes and goblins too. Shannon Messenger put a lot of thought into her world--and it was fun to step into the world she's created. I admit I did laugh when I first came across a dinosaur, and the novel suffers from all the significant characters being exceptionally good-looking, which always makes me cringe. While I might not be as enamored with this book as my daughter is, I did like it and am interested in seeing where this series will take me next. show less

Not my kind of book. I read this to support a young person's love of reading and her attempt to start a book club. We started with both adults and young teens...the idea is that the teens will carry on now that we've helped them launch.

So, I read a fantasy novel. I'm no expert on the genre. I did enjoy the writing and was amazed at the highly imaginative world that the author created. I especially liked the manifestation of various abilities. There were universal elements to the story that show more I could identify with; for example, being the "new girl" trying to find her way in a different environment. And the book even brought a tear to my eye at one point.

I began this knowing it was the first book in a series. So, unsurprisingly, the book ends with several unanswered questions. However, it brought just enough closure to stand alone as an interesting read. show less