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“Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.”
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Summary: Freeing the magic of Wellmet cost Connwaer (Conn) his locus magicalicus. His experiments to recontact the magic totally destroyed Heartsease, the home of Nevery Flinglas, his mentor. His hopes for returning to the academy have been dashed, and he has been exiled. Still, he can sense the magic is trying to tell him something. Wellmet is again in danger, and the presence of quicksilver from Desh is a clue. Through his friendship with Princess Rowan, Conn is able to join her diplomatic caravan as a servant. Conn isn't happy ... can he swallow his pride long enough to find out what's happening, or will it become personal? This is the second title in this fantasy adventure series for preteens.
Type of Reading: bedtime story, family reading, anytime reading, independent reading, read aloud book, middle grade reader, reluctant reader
Recommended Age: read together: 8 to 12; read yourself: 9 and up
Little Kid Reaction: Lost is a fantasy adventure for advanced elementary school and junior high students. All aspects of this book are well-rounded and contribute wonderfully to the whole of the story. Each character has a relatable personality; their relationships are friendly and remindful of real life. This book is a relatively simple read, but enjoyable at all times. Despite the abundant number of books with magic out now, the plot of Lost contains twists that make it original. All the details fall in place, forming a solid background that supported the rest of the story. I definitely wish I could have read the prequel before. The Magic Thief series is one I would suggest to my peers at the library.
Big Kid Reaction: Lost is as engaging and fast-paced as the first book in this series. There is an excellent ensemble cast, and the author does an excellent job giving each one a chance to take center stage. The setting may be fantasy, but the relationships, perceptions, personal history, and how they affect choices and consequences are very realistic. This is a superb story that will engage reluctant and remedial readers alike. With an upper elementary reading level, it has great potential as a high/low book.
Pros: Strong, vivid characters (male and female, youth and adult) and fast-paced adventure take readers into a world that is far from their own, but one they can relate to.
Cons: None.
Borrow or Buy: Buy. This is a fast-paced book that kids will enjoy reading again, just to see if the clues stick out better the second time. These are engaging characters to whom all audiences can relate.
Educational Themes: This is largely a novel meant to be enjoyed as leisure reading. The story unfolds in a way that would allow you to stop to talk about characters and predictions. This is a story that is interesting enough to engage older remedial readers.
Notes: The Reading Tub received an Advance Reader copy for review.
Literary Categories: Fiction - fantasy, adventure, series book
Date(s) Reviewed: February 2009
Other Reviews: See Critics' Reviews at amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com. No reader feedback found.
