Legacy
Legacy is the eighth installment in Shannon Messenger's popular 'Keeper of the Lost Cities' series, a middle-grade and young adult fantasy adventure. The story follows Sophie Foster, a telepathic elf, as she navigates complex challenges within her hidden world, including a looming war, uncovering deep-seated secrets about her origins, and grappling with her own identity and relationships. The book is characterized by its intricate plot, magical abilities, and themes of friendship, loyalty, and self-discovery. It continues the overarching conflict against a criminal extremist group while delving into personal dilemmas for the protagonist and her friends. The series, including 'Legacy', is generally considered appropriate for upper-middle-grade readers, offering a fantastical escape with elements of intrigue and emotional development without venturing into overtly mature content.
Concerns
Violence
MediumThe book features a medium level of violence, including dangerous encounters, kidnappings, and discussions of war. There are specific instances of characters being harmed or killed, though descriptions typically avoid graphic detail. The overarching narrative involves conflict with an extremist group.
Lady Gisela is mentioned to have killed Ethan Benedict Wright and his daughter. Sophie, Keefe, and Fitz are ambushed in London by Lady Gisela and Tam, where Sophie uses her inflicting ability to incapacitate Lady Gisela. Tam is also held by 'ethertine bonds' by the Neverseen. Mr. Forkle warns of an impending 'global conflict involving every living being'.
Romance and Sexual Content
MediumRomance is a significant, ongoing subplot, primarily focusing on crushes, relationships, and relationship drama among the teenage characters. While there are implied romantic gestures, explicit sexual content is absent, aligning with the middle-grade/young adult target audience. A major plot point revolves around matchmaking and social expectations.
Sophie's 'unmatchable' status is a central problem in the book, deeply impacting her relationship with Fitz, her current boyfriend. The conflict surrounding Sophie's unmatchability ultimately leads to a breakup between Sophie and Fitz. There are moments of implied intimacy, such as Sophie leaning closer to Fitz and smoothing his eyebrows with her finger.
Witchcraft & Occult
MediumThe world of 'Legacy' is a fantasy setting where magic (referred to as 'abilities' or powers) is central to the plot and character identities. Characters are elves with inherent fantastical powers, such as telepathy, hydrokinesis, and shadow manipulation. This content is presented as a fictional magical system integral to the fantasy genre, not as real-world occult practices.
Sophie Foster possesses telepathy and other special 'abilities' she was genetically engineered with. Other characters exhibit powers like Linh's hydrokinesis (control over water) and Tam's ability to manipulate shadows. Sophie uses her 'inflicting ability' to incapacitate Lady Gisela during an ambush in London.
Scary & Intense Content
MediumThe book features several intense and suspenseful moments, including dangerous situations, kidnappings, and the threat of large-scale conflict. Emotional distress among characters due to these perils is also present, leading to nightmares and anxieties. The narrative's cliffhanger endings contribute to ongoing suspense.
Characters face 'dangerous encounters with bad guys who kidnap and hold the kids hostage'. Sophie experiences vivid nightmares and increasing fear for her friend Tam's safety after he is captured by the Neverseen. Mr. Forkle issues a grave warning about 'spiraling toward war' and a 'global conflict involving every living being'.
Disrespect & Rebellion
MediumInstances of disrespect and rebellious behavior are present, particularly concerning the protagonist's actions and interpersonal conflicts. Sophie demonstrates immaturity and defiance against warnings, and there are noted instances of disrespect within romantic relationships.
Sophie acts immaturely by prioritizing her romantic life and 'unmatchable' status over more critical threats, despite warnings about the consequences of seeking her biological parents. Upon discovering her biological mother, Sophie reportedly 'throws a fit about it, guilting her mother'. Fitz's behavior towards Sophie regarding her unmatchable status is described by some readers as 'manipulative, abusive,' leading to their breakup.
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
LowComprehensive searches for LGBTQ+ and gender identity themes within 'Legacy (Keeper of the Lost Cities)' and author statements yielded no explicit mentions of LGBTQ+ characters or storylines. The series primarily focuses on heterosexual relationships and friendships.
No specific examples of LGBTQ+ or gender identity content were identified in the book's plot, character descriptions, or related parental reviews, indicating an absence of these themes. Explicit searches for terms like 'lgbtq', 'gay', 'lesbian', 'transgender', and 'queer representation' in conjunction with 'Legacy (Keeper of the Lost Cities)' and author Shannon Messenger did not return relevant results.
Profanity
LowThe book contains minimal to no explicit profanity. Reviews consistently note the absence of adult language, making it suitable for a younger audience in terms of vocabulary. Any strong language is generally a character's internal frustration rather than explicit curse words.
A general review of the 'Keeper of the Lost Cities' series from Redeemed Reader notes 'minimal real violence or swearing'. Bark.us, in its review for parents, explicitly states, 'This book does not have any adult language.'
Substance Use
LowNo instances of substance use, including alcohol, drugs, or smoking, were identified in the content analysis for 'Legacy' or the broader 'Keeper of the Lost Cities' series. This concern appears to be absent from the narrative.
No specific examples of characters using alcohol, drugs, or smoking were found in the available summaries, reviews, or detailed plot analyses of 'Legacy'.
Anti-Christian Themes
LowThe 'Keeper of the Lost Cities' series, including 'Legacy', does not contain explicit anti-Christian themes. It is a secular fantasy series that introduces a unique magical world and creatures without directly referencing or critiquing real-world religions, including Christianity.
According to a review from Focus on the Family's Plugged In, the broader 'Keeper of the Lost Cities' series has 'no Christian Beliefs' discussed and no other real-world religions are mentioned; it is purely a fantasy setting. Searches for 'Legacy anti-Christian' or similar terms did not yield any results indicating such content.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
The book is suitable for readers aged 11 and up, aligning with an upper-middle-grade to young adult audience. While publishers suggest ages 8-12, the increasing complexity of the plot, the emotional depth of character relationships, and instances of peril and conflict warrant a slightly older recommendation to ensure full comprehension and emotional readiness for the themes presented.
Additional Notes
Parents should be aware that 'Legacy' is the eighth book in a lengthy series. The emotional stakes, complexity of character relationships, and the intensity of conflicts tend to increase throughout the series. Therefore, new readers might find it challenging to start with 'Legacy' without the context of previous books. The book also ends on a cliffhanger, which is typical for the series, potentially leaving readers eager for the next installment.
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