Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. The protagonist of this story is twelve-year-old Sophie Foster, a telepathic elf who being raised by a human family. She is an outcast in the human world, but finds belonging in the elven world when she is finally located by an elven family that is seeking her whereabouts. This novel combines fantasy and adventure, reminiscent of the Harry Potter and Percy Jackson novels. I found myself crying (of course!) at some moments as well as cheering on the heroine as she makes discoveries about who she really is.
Although this novel is being marketed toward 8-12 year olds, I think that it has an appeal for the teen reader. In fact, I often found myself thinking that Sophie Foster, although only twelve, had characteristics that were atypically mature for a tween.
I would definitely recommend it to my middle school readers looking
for an engaging story with themes of loyalty, bravery, and friendship. Oh, and another plus? It is the first book in a series! I love that!