The Door to the Lost

May 1, 2018

Gr 4-7-Rook has no memories of her homeworld, but she desperately wants to get back to it. Two years ago, an explosion destroyed the portal to the realm of Vora, leaving the world of Talhaven with decaying, dangerous magic and a skyship full of magically gifted Voran children with no memories. Now Rook, who has the ability to create doors to anywhere, and Drift, another exiled child, are on the run. When a magical job attracts the attention of Talhaven's authorities and a Voran wizard named Dozana, the two are forced on an adventure to save their new world and discover the true meaning of home. While the book begins slowly with some repetitive world-building, once the action starts, it doesn't stop. The narrative takes time to balance copious action scenes with heartfelt explorations of the meanings of friendship and family. Rook is a strong character, going through a clear arc-initially scared of her powers and then confident in her own ability-who learns that she had already found what she was searching for years ago. The adult characters, while often sliding into caricature, do provide enlightening foils and, ultimately, give Rook and Drift a positive model for how to use their burgeoning abilities. VERDICT Fans of portal fantasies, steampunk, and action-driven books will find this an entertaining read and will be left wanting more from Talhaven. Purchase where fantasy and action are popular with middle grade readers.-Bridgid Gallagher-Sauter, The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from May 1, 2018
The fate of amnesiac magical exiles and their adopted xenophobic hometown depends on a girl, some chalk, and her singular power. Rook makes doors, but she's not a carpenter. She uses chalk and the magic that courses through her to open portals. She and a boatload of magical kids were shipped parentless from the world of Vora into the harbor of Regara minutes before an explosion closed the portal between worlds, erased the memories of the Voran children, and made Regarans instantly distrust magic. Voran orphans have been corralled and a wall built (sound familiar?) to dam up magic residue from the Great Catastrophe. In the aftermath, Rook has joined forces with Drift (who can "fly" by manipulating air) to make a home, sell black-market doors, and avoid authorities. Regara's inability to endure the strain of leftover magic makes Rook desperate to get Drift and herself to Vora (not the mysterious forest that keeps appearing when she draws doors). This need accelerates when their income is compromised and the twosome adds another: a shape-shifting boy aptly named Fox. The exquisite worldbuilding will please steadfast fans of Johnson's other Solace books. The Voran magic isn't a gimmick, as it causes complications, unpredictability, and danger. Rook, Drift, and Fox are white, and there are some supporting olive and brown characters. Apropos themes of refugees and found families are addressed in a way that retains fantasy flavor while realistically presenting the brutality of ignorance and beauty of humanity.Your new favorite fantasy. (maps) (Fantasy. 10-14)

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May 1, 2018
Grades 5-8 The people of Talhaven have always lived in harmony with the wizards from Vora, who brought magic in exchange for goods. That is, until the day a ship full of child refugees with amnesia entered the portal, and a catastrophic explosion marked the end of all Talhaven's magic. In retaliation, the people of Talhaven exile the children, who all have magical powers, and they've been running ever since. Johnson throws readers right into the thick of the story, wasting very little time on exposition and instead focusing on the plight of two exiles, Rook and Drift, who do small jobs with their powers while avoiding the authorities. When Rook finds a magical door just as threats of another explosion loom on the horizon, she must choose between saving a world that would rather see her dead or letting it burn. Johnson's immersive world building is vivid enough that readers should have no trouble learning the rules and history of the imaginative setting, and the fast-paced action, compelling characters, and one cute magical fox will keep fantasy-loving kids hooked.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)