
Age rating and parents' guide:Keeper of the Lost Cities
by Shannon Messenger
Ages 9–14
Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger is best for children aged 9–14. It has mild violence, a few mildly scary moments, a little romance and no bad language.
Twelve-year-old Sophie has never fit in with humans, largely because she can read minds. Everything changes when she meets a mysterious boy and discovers she is an elf from a magical, hidden civilization. Invites older readers to reflect on compassion, courage, and resilience.
Content ratings
How much of each a parent can expect, from none to strong.
- Violence
- Mild
- Scary moments
- Mild
- Romance
- Mild
- Bad language
- None
Content checked by Dhiraj Bodade, co-founder of Bookstaken, on .
At a glance
- Novel
- Part of the KotLC series
- A steady start that picks up quickly
- Mostly text
- Emotionally light
Great for kids who like
- Action & Adventure
Reading mood
- Adventurous
- Suspenseful
Good to talk about
- Family
- Action & Adventure
Books like Keeper of the Lost Cities
Similar stories for the same ages, none more intense than this one should be for its youngest readers.

Ages 9–14
Pax
by Sara Pennypacker
Peter and his pet fox, Pax, have been inseparable ever since Peter rescued him as a kit. But when war breaks out, Peter's father enlists and forces him to return Pax to the wild. Offers space for thoughtful conversations about empathy and difficult choices.

Ages 9–14
The Explorer
by Katherine Rundell
When a small plane crashes into the Amazon rainforest, four children survive alone with no adults to guide them. Fred, Con, Lila, and young Max must quickly figure out how to forage, build shelter, and navigate the jungle's dangers together. A lovely starting point for noticing and appreciating nature together.

Ages 9–14
Nevermoor
by Jessica Townsend
Morrigan Crow is cursed and blamed for every local misfortune, doomed to die on Eventide. Instead, a mysterious man named Jupiter North whisks her away to the secret, magical city of Nevermoor. Encourages children to feel proud of who they are and value others.

Ages 9–14
Warriors
by Erin Hunter
This fantasy adventure introduces readers to Rusty, a curious house cat who leaves his comfortable domestic life to join ThunderClan, one of four rival groups of wild cats living in the forest. Invites older readers to reflect on compassion, courage, and resilience.

Ages 9–11
The Land of Stories
by Chris Colfer
After losing their father, twins Alex and Conner receive a cherished fairy-tale book from their grandmother that unexpectedly acts as a portal into a magical realm. Encourages gentle, guided conversations about challenging feelings and experiences.

Ages 12–14
Hatchet
by Gary Paulsen
After surviving a fatal plane crash, thirteen-year-old Brian finds himself stranded alone in the remote Canadian wilderness. With only the clothes on his back and a hatchet gifted by his mother, he must figure out how to find food, build shelter, and protect himself from wild animals and harsh weather. Encourages gentle, guided conversations about challenging feelings and experiences.
On these book lists
A good book is the start. A mentor makes it stick.
In a free 1:1 session, a trained Bookstaken mentor reads with your child, asks what they think and helps the reading habit last.