The Mapmaker's Sons

September 1, 2012
Thirteen-year-old Tom Hawkins must find the most powerful weapon ever created and save the world. When a pirate with a wooden peg leg arrives at Thomas' school one stormy night, he delivers a mysterious map, a guide to the "Beyond" and the way to find the Sword of Five Kingdoms, which has been missing for 1,000 years. When its hilt has been reunited with five special stones, the rightful bearer of the sword can put an end to the reign of the evil ruler Keegan. Umbrey the pirate leads Tom through a window to a new world, where Tom meets up with a twin brother he never knew he had and with Mudge and Willa. Together they form a band of travelers on a quest to find the sword, with many a sword fight, swamp dog and dragon along the way. Freely borrowing from Treasure Island, Arthurian tales, The Lord of the Rings and other classic adventure and fantasy tales, Burgess reworks common themes of old maps, powerful wizards, evil rulers, dragons, a hidden sword and a boy king to fashion the first offering from a publisher out to create works that will appeal especially to boys. Fantasy-loving boys (and girls) will be enthralled by this slim, action-packed tale--and the sequels likely to follow. (Fantasy. 9-13)

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February 1, 2013

Gr 5-7-Tom Hawkins is not happy. Then again, few of the students at The Lost Preparatory Academy for Boys are what anyone would call happy. Tom, however, is restless as well, drawn many nights to prowl the dark roofs of the academy searching for something even he can't identify. And then one night two dark-caped figures ambush him and a peg-legged stranger pulls him to safety and into another world. Here in the Five Kingdoms, Tom meets his destiny: a twin brother he never knew of and the map their late father left them that holds the key to ensure peace in both worlds. Joined by Mudge, a street urchin, and Willa, a young healer, they set off over treacherous terrain in the hopes of outpacing Keegan, the ruthless ruler of the Five Kingdoms. The action is fast paced and the story engrossing. The characters are well drawn, and readers will be hard put not to root for Tom, his brother, Mudge, and Willa. As in any good adventure, the characters face betrayal and redemption. The language may be a bit elevated for the intended audience, but the story is so engrossing that readers will want to push through to find out how it all ends. Pair this novel with Laurisa White Reyes's The Rock of Ivanore (Tanglewood, 2012) and let the quests begin.-Mary Beth Rassulo, Ridgefield Library, CT

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