3 Reasons Why You Should Read The Keeper of the Lost Cities: The Graphic Novel Volume 2 by Shannon Messenger, Adapted by Celina Frenn, Illustrated by Gabriella Chianello

What’s the book about?

The epic first book in the internationally bestselling Keeper of the Lost Cities series is being reimagined into stunning graphic novels, and the story continues now with Volume Two!

After learning she’s actually an elf, twelve-year-old Sophie Foster made the impossible decision to leave her human life—and family—behind and start over in the Lost Cities. And life with the elves has been unlike anything Sophie has ever known, filled with new friends, amazing creatures, and incredible powers. But it’s also had its share of challenges. Sophie had been an advanced student in the human world—but thanks to her struggles with alchemy, she’s not even sure if she will pass her Foxfire Academy midterms!

And then there are the bigger worries. Guardians who may or may not adopt her. Whispers of conspiracies. Mysterious fires. Memories in her brain that don’t feel like hers.

Could someone have hidden those secrets in Sophie’s head? Why would they do that? Is Sophie part of something much bigger than she imagined?

Something…deadly?

This stunning graphic novel retelling of the second half of the thrilling first novel comes to life with all the adventure and epic worldbuilding the Keeper of the Lost Cities series is known for, told in gorgeous full colour—plus special bonus features at the end!

Recommended for:

Ages 8+

Three reasons to read it:

1. The Keeper of the Lost Cities: The Graphic Novel Volume 2 turns up the stakes. Sophie has already stepped into an entirely new life as an elf in the Lost Cities, but things aren’t just magical and fun anymore. Now she’s facing real dangers, like mysterious fires and whispers of conspiracies that suggest something bigger is happening behind the scenes. On top of that, she’s unsure about who she can trust, even among the adults who might become her guardians. This kind of mystery-meets-danger makes the adventure more thrilling and keeps readers hooked, because every page feels like Sophie is uncovering another piece of a puzzle that could change everything.
2. One of the best things about this graphic novel is how it transforms the world of the Lost Cities from text into vivid, colourful art. Instead of just imagining the elves, buildings, creatures, magical powers and school hallways, you actually watch Sophie interact with her world in bright, beautifully drawn panels. This makes the magic feel more real and helps readers, especially visual learners, understand the action and emotion in every scene.
3. Keeper of the Lost Cities: The Graphic Novel Volume 2 builds suspense by leaving important questions unanswered intentionally! Sophie starts noticing memories in her head that don’t feel like her own, which hints that someone may have hidden something deep inside her mind. That’s pretty eerie and mysterious! Then there are secretive adults who might become her guardians and strange fires that don’t seem random. All these little clues and unanswered questions make the story feel like a thriller set in a fun fantasy world.

Buy a copy of The Keeper of the Lost Cities: The Graphic Novel Volume 2 here.

About the author:

Shannon Messenger graduated from the USC School of Cinematic Arts, where she learned—among other things—that she liked watching movies much better than making them. She studied art, screenwriting, and television production but realized her real passion was writing for kids and teens. She’s the internationally, New York Times, and USA TODAY bestselling author of the award-winning middle grade series Keeper of the Lost Cities, as well as the Sky Fall young adult series. Her books have been featured on multiple state reading lists, published in numerous countries, and translated into many languages.

Celina Frenn grew up in Latin America, where she explored the rainforest, entertained her sisters with made-up superheroes, and hid her thick bottle-cap glasses from her mother’s camera. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in English, Celina was determined to use what most people considered to be a useless degree and then shocked herself by succeeding. As a freelance writer and showrunner, she has worked with brands like My Little Pony, LEGO Star Wars, Thomas the Tank Engine, and more. She is also the author of forthcoming graphic novel Spy Grandma. Celina lives in California with her animator husband and growing family. She loves screaming at video games, devouring books, and collecting swords in large quantities—much like a dragon collecting treasure.

Gabriella Chianello is an Italian illustrator and comic artist. She illustrated the Keeper of the Lost Cities Book 1: Graphic Novel. She is represented by the publishing company Simon & Schuster.