Charlie Thorne and the Lost City: Charlie Thorne, Book 2
By Carrie Kingsley,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Fast, fun tale of young genius chasing Darwin's dark secret.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this book.
Where to Read
Community Reviews
There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
In CHARLIE THORNE AND THE LOST CITY, 12-year-old Charlie is living by herself in the Galapagos Islands, trying to stay under the radar after her last CIA-related work made her an international target. But when a mysterious sea plane arrives and the pilot helps her escape an unwanted visitor, she knows her cover is blown. She also knows there's more to the story, and her digging takes her deep into the Amazon basin and a dark mystery that dates back to Charles Darwin. When her half-brother in the CIA shows up, the stakes get even higher, and soon everyone just hopes to make it out alive.
Is It Any Good?
This complex, fast-paced adventure increases its intensity by combining tons of detail about the Amazon's history and biodiversity with the decisions of a stubborn, fearless preteen genius. Charlie Thorne and the Lost City is a riveting mystery wrapped in the dangerous antics of 12-year old Charlie, whose cheerful defiance is a delight to read. The details about the Amazon basin are seamlessly woven throughout the story and never seem unnecessary, and the fictional interpretation of Darwin's travels can set readers' imaginations in motion.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the careful but quick ways Charlie decides to take risks in Charlie Thorne and the Lost City. How do you decide when to take a risk? What do you think about beforehand?
Why do you think Charlie reacted to her South American discovery the way she did? What would you do?
What other adventure books have you enjoyed?
Book Details
- Author: Stuart Gibbs
- Genre: Adventure
- Topics: Adventures, Brothers and Sisters, Great Girl Role Models, History, Science and Nature
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
- Publication date: March 2, 2021
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 10 - 18
- Number of pages: 384
- Available on: Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: March 8, 2021
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Read
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate