Unfortunately, i did DNF this at the time, since then I have bought the book for my personal collection and will updated my Goodreads after I have read it. I do have high hopes for this, the only reason for a past DNF was due to personal issues and a lack of time. However, I am excited for when I finally do get a chance to sit down and read this!

I didn’t have time for this book when I was approved. I plan to read it in the future though. Looks fun!

Mapmakers and the Lost Magic was an insanely cute and interesting story! The illustrations were beautiful and the story was great for kids and adults, alike!

Mapmakers and the Lost Magic is a middle grade graphic novel for readers who like fantasy and adventure. It may even appeal to realistic fiction fans looking to branch out! When Alidade is trying to outrun the authoritarian officials who overtook her home, she discovers a tree with a door and runs inside. Alidade meets Blue, a magical creature who is near death, and learns the only way to save her town, environment and magic itself is to remake the maps of their land. This story explores themes of colonization, protecting the environment and cultural tradition in a nuanced way.

In regard to worldbuilding, Mapmakers strikes a great balance between world building through art, context and explanation without being heavy on exposition-dumps.

The story needed more fleshing out. Most of the characters felt very two dimensional and childish. The plot was a bit predictable.

2.5 out of 5 stars.

This was so much fun! We follow two kids, Alidade and Lewis, who live with their families in the village of Alden. Alidade wants to explore and have adventures, but no one is allowed to leave the village according to the Night Coats. One day while running from them Lewis and Alidade stumble upon a door carved into a tree. They go through the door and find themselves inside some kind of lodge. They find out that it belongs to the Mapmakers. While they are there they find an old map of their village and awaken Blue, a memri who is supposed to help protect the village. Blue enlists Alidade's help in remaking the map and saving the village.

This was a really cute graphic novel. I really enjoyed the artwork as well. I loved the colors that were used. If you're a fan of a fun adventure then you should definitely check this out!

I really enjoyed this! I thought it was a great story about a girl wanting to do what she could, not only for the land around her, but also for herself. I really loved the story and can’t wait for the sequel!

I would have been all over this book if it had come out when I was younger. While younger readers may not pick up on it, Alidade and Lewis’s home of Alden is under martial law. The Night Coats are an outside military controlling Alden and are the reason the town people live in fear. To have this as the setting while Alidade is learning to be a Mapmaker is what makes this little book pack a punch. With Blue as her teacher, Alidade is reclaiming the magic and history that should belong to her town. The magic system is easy enough to understand that any young reader who picks up this book can be a Mapmaker with Alidade. I hope the kids who read this will understand how important it is to fight back against people like the Night Coats and I hope they can figure out who the real life Night Coats are after reading.

Older readers who like this book might also like An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir for similar themes of resisting oppressors and strong female characters.

This is a fun, interesting story, filled with lots of metaphors involving colonialism, authoritarian militaristic government, resistance, and touches on themes of friendship and community.
Alidade longs to escape her small, close-knit community and see the world, but the military unit the oversees Alden, the Nights Coats, punish anyone who goes outside the town's limits. While evading the Night Coats in the forest outside of town, she finds a door hidden in a tree that leads to the magical Mapmakers' Lodge, where she meets Blue, a memri creature that had been trapped in a map of the Valley where Alden is. Blue is distraught at the changes that have happened while he was trapped, and Alidade vows to help restore the Valley the only way she can - by becoming the new Mapmaker.
The story is good, with a dystopian vibe, menacing without being overwhelming (this is middle grade lit, after all). The theme of community is strong, with the townspeople coming together in the end to defeat the authoritarian Night Coats (we know they'll be back, though). Being good stewards of nature and the importance of being authentic are covered also, as well as the power of friendship and family. There are lots of magical elements, but they're a little quieter than I was expecting; this isn't a bad thing, just saying the magic isn't flashy. The art is cute, cartoony in a good way, and really suits and adds to the story nicely. As the start of a trilogy (or series, not sure), the ending is very open, but not cliffhangery. I'll be looking out for the next volume!

#MapmakersandtheLostMagic #NetGalley

This was pitched as Avatar-esque, and I didn't really see that influence. It's really a conservation story, but they didn't do a good job of explaining why the bad guys are bad.

How can Alidade Rose save her town from the tyrannous Night Coats, explore the world in a quest to liberate it, and maintain her connection to her family and friends?
Alidade is spunky and a go-getter, itching to break out of her small town to see the wider world. Her sidekick and best friend Lewis is happy hanging out with the quilter's club and is a responsible dude. Alidade accidentally discovers a magical doorknob in the forest that leads to the old Mapmakers Lodge.
I love middle grade graphic novels and this was cute! But not as much adventure as I was hoping.

I couldn't stop reading after I started on the first page. Alidade and Lewis are a perfect pair of friends, where Alidade is always asking questions, and Lewis is trying to protect her from the Night Coats' wrath. While the Night Coats aren't full villains, they keep casting a metaphorical shadow over the villagers. It's a reminder to know when to challenge a status quo and fight back with either some knowledge, or art.

I really enjoyed this story. I love the art! It's beautiful. I'm really excited to see where the series goes. I think this was a good first book to help get people into the world and magic. My kids are totally going to love it too.

Thanks to NetGalley & Random House Graphic for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.

A very sweet adventure story about discovering yourself and the rest of the world.

The art style is very soft and expressive--this will surely be a hit with the middle-grade audiences who have been clamoring for less intense art styles!

I loved the uniqueness of this story focusing on mapmaking and geography! Following similar MG story beats about friendship strain (and growth) and self-discovery, this book felt fresh with its character dynamics and world-building. I'm excited to see where this series will go, especially as these kids leave their home behind and face new challenges.

MAPMAKERS AND THE LOST MAGIC is a little book about some big topics. Through loveable characters, expert worldbuilding, and inventive plotting, Chittock and Castillo explore friendship, colonialism and resistance, and the seemingly opposing desires to leave home and explore the unknown on the one hand, and to establish roots and settle among those who know you. In the end, you will perhaps question whether those two desires are mutually exclusive. How can Alidade Rose save her town from the tyrannous Night Coats, explore the world in a quest to liberate it, and maintain her connection to her family and friends? Readers of all ages will enjoy finding out.

2.5 stars! Thank you Netgalley for the arc. This graphic novel follows 2 kids and they make an uprising against a town government that has been oppressing them. It has been done before, and better. It was fine. Nothing remarkable. The magic left a lot to be desired.

Beautifully illustrated, this book was a joy to read.
Wanting to escape her oppressed village Alidade finds the tools she needs to save it. With guidance from friends new and old she learns the value of respecting nature, her community, and history. In turn Alidade teaches her fellow villagers how to stand up for themselves and together they can overcome adversity.
I'm excited to see where Alidade's journey takes her.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Children’s for this advanced reading copy.

This was a cute, fun, middle grade adventure. In terms of the art, it's pretty standard Tumblr-esque cutesy characters. My issue was that, especially on a screen, the grey text was hard to read and make out, especially since the font is like handwriting. Where I think this book shines is its characters. Each character had their own unique personality and I loved seeing them all play off of each other, especially Alidade and Lewis. I think a kid would really like this book.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Children’s for the ARC of this!

This was cute and fun, but overall lacked depth and plot to keep me fully engaged. I wish we’d gotten more of the world explained and more of the relationships. The art was cute and interesting and I really liked the field guide type pages at the end. An intro to fantasy/dystopian vibes for young readers, this just felt like it could be more than it was.