Common Sense Media Review
By Andrea Beach
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Exciting seafaring fantasy adventure for brave tween.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In THE LAST MAPMAKER, 12-year-old Sai has been working hard and saving every penny she can as an assistant to the kingdom's most illustrious mapmaker, Paiyoon. But if Paiyoon, or anyone else, ever found out the truth about Sai and her father, her chance of escaping poverty would disappear forever. When she hears that the Queen is offering a prize to the ship that discovers a fabled southern continent, Sai signs on to the voyage with Master Paiyoon, certain that it's her best chance to get away from her old life once and for all. But Sai isn't the only one keeping secrets, and she quickly learns that navigating relationships with others can be as treacherous as the stormiest of seas.
Is It Any Good?
Acclaimed Newbery Honor recipient Christine Soontornvat has created an exciting and unique seafaring adventure featuring a smart, brave tween girl protagonist. The fantasy kingdom inspired by Thai history and culture is vivid and fully believable, and it's populated with colorful, intriguing characters. Dashes of humor help keep things from getting too dark as the excitement builds and the pages keep turning.
Tweens will relate to Sai as she learns that people aren't always what they seem, and longs for a better life than the one she has. They'll also get plenty of food for thought about big issues like colonization, environmental destruction, animal welfare, friendship, trust, and more. The ending brings everything to a safe, satisfying, and optimistic close.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence and scariness in The Last Mapmaker. Does it make the story more exciting, or is it too much?
Is Sai a positive role model? How does she show empathy and perseverance?
Why are fantasy stories so popular? What do we love about them? What are some of your favorites?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Friendship , Animals ( Ocean Creatures )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Candlewick Press
- Publication date : April 12, 2022
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 368
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Awards : Common Sense Selection , Newbery Medal and Honors
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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