The Vanished Kingdom: The War of the Maps

Gr 5 Up–Auxier’s latest is jam-packed with figurative language and creative wordplay, poetry, philosophy, Latin quotes, vintage sayings, and important reminders to have a critical eye. Fourteen-year-old Peter, armed with magical eyes and a sword for a hand, attempts to save the town of Haselport from being cursed to disappear on maps. Peter and his band of friends, family, and mythological creatures become pawns in the epic war between magic and reason. Characters from Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes (2011) and Sophie Quire and the Last Story Guard (2016) play roles. Although the backstory is gradually relayed, it is better to read the series sequentially. Characters like Justice Trousers are not fully explained unless readers learn about him in the second book. Comparable to other fantasies, Auxier embeds subtle repeated messages about the dangers of colonialism, whom to trust, and that characters (and readers) always have a choice, whether in riddle-solving or in life. There are many influences reflected in this book, from classic literature to Sid Meier’s 1991 Civilization game. Literature teachers and librarians could use this novel in a scavenger hunt to trace all the references.