Common Sense Media Review
By Mary Eisenhart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Short tale, long reference volume best for super fans.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 5 parent reviews
Based on 35 kid reviews
Kids say the novella and guide offer valuable insights, particularly highlighting Keefe's character and his commentary, though many found the story to be short and somewhat dull, relying on previously established plot elements. While some reviews appreciated the art and additional details about the world and characters, others felt it could have been better structured, making it more like a series guide than a compelling standalone story.
- art appreciation
- character insights
- plot continuation
- mixed reviews
- short novella
- unnecessary guide
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
The first 500 pages or so of UNLOCKED are a compendium of spectacular art, fan activities, archival records, character bios, and other supplementary materials that, one way or another, add depth to the previous Keeper of the Lost Cities installments. They also sum up what's happened so far -- so longtime readers will be right there, memories refreshed, with the young elvin heroes as the brief narrative portion opens. Told from the alternating perspective of series protagonist Sophie and Keefe, the elvin bad boy who's devoted to her and tends to make bad choices for noble reasons, it finds Keefe emerging from horrific magic inflicted by his villainous mom -- with nobody knowing what the lasting effects might be. Sophie and her friends, meanwhile, decide they need to change their strategy for dealing with the Neverseen.
Is It Any Good?
If you're a hardcore Keeper of the Lost Cities fan who loves to spend quality time with characters' detention records and make your own elvin treats, this installment is for you. You'll be in heaven with Unlocked, a very mixed bag of information, activities, "archival records" on the various characters, what they've been up to, and, sometimes, why, for the previous eight volumes. Considering the rate at which the series comes up with characters, animals, magical beings, and cosmological features, it's a rare reader who doesn't, at some point, have a "Wait, what?" moment, or need a refresher on the difference between a gulon and a gorgodon. It's also good prep for the "novella" portion at book's end -- which, as readers have come to expect, involves inner turmoil, new powers and conflicts, a cliffhanger ending, and an author who chortles about it in the afterword while urging readers to buy the next book. The stellar artwork, especially Laura Hollingsworth's gorgeous, full- color story scenes and character portraits, adds a welcome dimension.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about books like Unlocked, which are basically supplements to an existing series. Do you think things like art, activities and background information help you enjoy the series more, or do you just want them to get on with the story?
As Sophie's discovered, a lot of things in the elf world are wonderful, and others not so much, magic or no magic. What parts of life in the Lost Cities would you like in your own life -- and which would you like to keep far away?
The elvin world respects many abilities -- while hating and fearing others. Do you see this happening in our world too?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrators : Shannon Messenger , Laura Hollingsworth , Felia Hanakata , Francesca Baerald
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Aladdin
- Publication date : November 17, 2020
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 768
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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