Charlie Thorne and the Lost City: Charlie Thorne, Book 2
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Charlie Thorne and the Lost City, by Stuart Gibbs, takes readers on a nonstop adventure that wonderfully combines a dark mystery, tons of history, a deep appreciation of the Amazon region, and a fearless 12-year-old genius. While it's inconceivable that a preteen would be living by herself on a remote island, Charlie's mental and physical capabilities help readers move past that disbelief and dive straight into her adventures. There's a lot of physical danger and many threats here -- people are shot at, burned, held hostage, and more -- but nothing too detailed. Charlie's compassion for others, both human and not, is a nice contrast to her fearless approach to solving mysteries. At the end of the book is an author's note that discusses what's fact and what's fiction when it comes to Charles Darwin and the Amazon.
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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
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