Common Sense Media Review
By Mary Eisenhart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Gripping adventure of intrepid siblings in steampunk world.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Ever since their explorer father was declared dead on his last adventure, the West kids -- Zander, the oldest; Christopher (Kit), who shares his dad's passion for maps; and M.K., who's rarely seen without either a wrench or a knife in her hand -- have been trying to eke out an existence in what's left of the family home. When a mysterious stranger with a clockwork hand slips Kit a book that proves to contain part of a map from their late father, the kids are determined to explore the territory and find what their dad was trying to tell them. Unfortunately, hordes of sinister government agents also want the map and don't care what they have to do to get it. Fortunately, the kids make some excellent friends along the way.
Is It Any Good?
Between Taylor's fast-moving, appealing tale and Katherine Roy's plentiful illustrations that bring the characters to life, this book has a lot to offer readers young and old. As the kids try to outrun and outwit their pursuers, all while dealing with dark caves, day-glo slugs, giant vultures, and other hazards, there's plenty of age-appropriate excitement.
There's also plenty of opportunity for readers to consider ethical issues -- the destruction of cultures and the theft of their resources by "explorers," cruel exploitation of animals, and the value of loyal friends. Plus the intriguing notion that maps are always wrong because they depict only what we already know about. The book's ending leaves readers wanting more, resolving some issues and setting up further adventures.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why there's such a fascination in contemporary literature with alternate worlds in which technology is based on steam and clockwork, and why such a world might exist.
Do you agree with Zander that it was evil to turn the parrot Pucci into a war machine by removing assorted body parts and substituting mechanical ones? How does Pucci repay Zander's kindness?
What do you think of The Expeditioners' notion that maps are never really accurate because they assume we've explored everything there is to explore?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Katherine Roy
- Genre : Adventure
- Topics : STEM , Adventures , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , History
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : McSweeney's McMullens
- Publication date : December 11, 2012
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 10 - 17
- Number of pages : 384
- Available on : Hardback
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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