Twelve-year-old Sophie Foster has lived a normal life, but never felt like she fit in. On top of that, she can hear the thoughts of everyone around her. Then she meets Fitz, a boy who can also read minds. He takes her to a new place where she does belong, but Sophie is forced to leave everything behind and start a completely new life. Some welcome Sophie, but others actually threaten her and try to force her to leave. There are secrets hidden in Sophie’s mind and many people will do anything to find out what they are.
With hints of Harry Potter and other fantasy greats, Keeper of the Lost Cities is the beginning of a fantasy series perfect for tweens and older middle grade readers. I first picked this up when my 12-year-old son devoured three of the the series in less than two weeks. He is proof that Messenger has reached her target audience with great accuracy. The stories are fast-moving and filled with adventure and magic. However, they hold a connection with the real world that keeps readers connecting to the characters.
Recommended ages--10 and up