Common Sense Media Review
By Mary Eisenhart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Lively graphic-novel reboot of magical elf-girl series.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES THE GRAPHIC NOVEL: VOlUME 1, PART 1 finds 12-year-old child prodigy Sophie Foster in her hometown of San Diego, on another miserable field trip with her high school classmates, who hate and insult her (extra special because she can hear their thoughts). So it's a surprise when Fitz, a cute teenage guy shows up and says he's been looking all over for her. Even more surprising when he reveals that she's not actually human -- she's an elf who's been hidden away in the human world since before she was born, so no wonder she never felt like she fit in. Soon Fitz whisks her off to the Lost Cities, magical home of the elves -- and, the adult elves inform her, her home from now on. As she tries to settle in and do the right thing, there are lots more questions than answers -- especially as she seems to have unusual powers, even by elf standards. And not everyone is as welcoming as Fitz.
Is It Any Good?
Shannon Messenger's convoluted, imaginative tale of DNA, superpowers, cosmic conflict, magical academies -- and a lot of unanswered questions -- gets a lively reboot in a new graphic novel series. Over the last decade, the glittery elf-girl saga Keeper of the Lost Cities has evolved from fascinating premise to colossal franchise and passionate fandom. Gabriella Chianello's colorful illustrations do a lot of the heavy lifting in defining the story's worlds and those who live there, and adapter Celina Frenn weaves a lot of back story and plot threads into a narrative that will appeal to first-time Lost Cities readers -- and offer a new perspective to returning fans.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about stories like the Keeper of the Lost Cities series, that find magical forces at work (for good or ill) in the human world. What other stories do you know about superhuman forces getting involved in regular people's lives? What happened?
If a cute guy you'd never seen before announced that he'd been looking all over for you, you weren't actually human, and you needed to come with him to another world right now -- would you believe him and go along, or run fast in the other direction?
In the elf world, characters stop visibly aging when they hit adulthood and pretty much look the same for thousands of years. Do you think this is cool or do you find it weird that everyone's so young-looking?
What are some examples of when Sophie tries to do the right thing? She tries to do what's right even when she's not sure what that is. Why do you think having integrity is so important to her?
Book Details
- Authors :
- Illustrator : Gabriella Chianello
- Genre : Graphic Novel
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Friendship , School ( Middle School )
- Character Strengths : Courage , Empathy , Gratitude , Integrity , Perseverance
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Aladdin
- Publication date : November 7, 2023
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 352
- Available on : Paperback, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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