Map of Flames

Map of Flames
Lisa McMann
Putnum, 2022
373 pages
Grades 4-7
Science Fiction/Adventure

The Forgotten Five series #1

Birdie's father, Lewis, passes away, leaving five children with extraordinary powers without adult protection or supervision. The young people have lived their entire lives in a secluded and inaccessible tropical hideout. Their parents all possessed supernatural abilities in a society where this is a crime. They resorted to performing elaborate heists in order to survive and then fled to the hideout, where they peeled off under mysterious circumstances. Lewis left Birdie a map of flames, (utilizing his fire wielding ability) directing her to his former home city of Estero, where he thinks Birdie's mom might be held a prisoner and directing her to a treasure lay hidden from the other parents. At first Birdie keeps this information to herself and then, eventually, shares it with the other kids who possess varied abilities. Birdie, who can speak with animals, takes Tenner, who possesses super-heightened senses, and they ride a whale to the city. Eventually, the others follow. The children must make their way around a confusing society without giving away their supernatural status. Who can they trust? And how will they survive when even their money will no longer work and nothing is like their rural jungle home? Most of all, can they locate Birdie's mom?

Popular middle-grade fantasy series author, McMann offers a series opener that is creating a lot of buzz and already gaining a following. Since it feels a bit dystopian and is more supernatural than magical, I put the series in the science fiction category, but it teeters on the edge of fantasy. Readers will enjoy seeing contemporaries with supernatural abilities and dream about which power they would go for if given the chance. Of course, these young people were not given the chance, their powers simply evolved, sometimes in unwelcome ways. These young people must learn to accept themselves, despite the abilities that they can often not control. In most cases they also have less-than-stellar parents, demonstrating to young readers that you do not need to be defined by your lineage; you can rise above it to be a better person. Percy Jackson fans will be a natural audience, but the approachable plot and never-ending action is sure to draw in even reluctant readers. The supernatural abilities will serve as a hook, attracting DC and Marvel fans. I can definitely see this series opener being made into a feature film. Though most plot lines are sewn up, a plot twist at the end, as well as a few lose threads, will have readers clamoring for the next series installment, set for a November release.