Common Sense Media Review
By Mary Eisenhart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Elf girl channels power, meets danger in lively sequel.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES THE GRAPHIC NOVEL's continuation finds lead character Sophie Foster turning 13 and dealing with a lot. Familiar middle school issues galore, like crushes, mean girls, worrying about flunking, more worrying about fitting in. And that would be plenty, but she's also dealing with the discovery that she's an elf with powers yet to be determined as she settles into her new life among the elves after leaving her human family behind forever. Her elvin guardians, Grady and Edaline, are kind, interesting, and doing their best. Three cute, very different elvin guys all seem to like her and she can't decide how to feel. Some adult elves are helpful and supportive, while others are hostile, but it soon becomes clear they're holding a lot of secrets about Sophie, her origins, and a brewing cosmic clash.
Is It Any Good?
Relatable middle school issues meet hidden agendas and a brewing cosmic battle as young Sophie Foster copes with elvin life, her newfound powers, huge homesickness, and lurking danger. As Keeper of the Lost Cities The Graphic Novel: Volume 1, Part 2 unfolds, she's trying hard to do the right thing and fit into a new world. There's never a dull moment between the pranks and humor, the deadly peril, the near-deadly injuries, and a lot of reveals and magical devices, and it's a lot to take in as "Everblaze," "Elementine," "The Black Swan," and other important entities pop up unannounced, setting up tales to come in future installments. There's a lot going on, no dull moments, and artist Valeria Tenaga Romanazzi's emotional, dynamic, colorful illustrations do a stellar job of bringing it to life.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about stories like the Keeper of the Lost Cities series, based on characters taken from their world of origin, raised somewhere else entirely, and going back, as happens to Sophie here. What other stories do you know where characters find themselves in this situation—are they surprised by the discovery? How did they cope?
If you were suddenly taken from your home, your loved ones, and everything you knew to a place you were told is your real home, how would you feel? What would you do? What would you need?
Crushes are a huge (and sometimes embarrassing) part of life at Foxfire Academy, and there's a lot of teasing. Are things that way at your school? What do you think of it all?
Book Details
- Authors :
- Illustrator : Valeria Tenaga Romanazzi
- Genre : Graphic Novel
- Topics : Adventures , Fantasy ( Magic ) , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Courage , Empathy , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Aladdin
- Publication date : December 2, 2025
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 336
- Available on : Paperback, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : December 11, 2025
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