Shannon Messenger facts for kids
Shannon Messenger is an American author. She is famous for writing the Keeper of the Lost Cities series, which is a New York Times bestseller. This popular series is for middle-grade readers, usually aged 8-12, but enjoyed by many older kids too. Her book Unlocked, which is book 8.5 in the series, even reached number 8 on USA Today's list in 2020. Shannon Messenger also wrote the Sky Fall series, which is for young adults. Her books are published by Simon & Schuster.
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About Shannon Messenger
Shannon Messenger was born in Southern California. When she was young, she moved to San Diego and went to elementary school there. She later graduated from the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts. Shannon Messenger has a son, born in May 2021, and a daughter, born in June 2023.
The Keeper of the Lost Cities Series
The Keeper of the Lost Cities series is a fantasy adventure for middle-grade readers. It has appeared on The New York Times Best Seller list. The first book in the series was recommended by the Association for Library Service to Children in 2013. The seventh book, Flashback, had 150,000 copies printed first. Shannon Messenger's book tours for Flashback brought in large crowds of 200 to 700 people at each event.
What is Keeper of the Lost Cities About?
The story follows Sophie Foster, a twelve-year-old girl who can read minds. She lives in San Diego until an elf boy named Fitz Vacker finds her. He tells her she is an elf and must move to the "Lost Cities." These are hidden cities where elves and other fantasy creatures live. Sophie has to leave her human family, who are moved to a safe place. She starts school at an elven academy called Foxfire. She lives with an elf couple who later adopt her.
Sophie soon finds out she has dangerous secrets hidden in her mind. These secrets were put there by the Black Swan, a rebel group. It is later revealed that the Black Swan hid Sophie in the human world to keep her safe. The main bad guys in the series are the Neverseen, a dangerous criminal group. Sophie and her friends must work to stop them.
Books in the Series
The Keeper of the Lost Cities story has continued over many books. A new book is usually released each year. There are also some short stories in special editions. The ninth book, Stellarlune, came out in November 2022. The series will end with a tenth book, planned for late 2025.
- Keeper of the Lost Cities (October 2, 2012)
- Exile (October 1, 2013)
- Everblaze (November 4, 2014)
- Neverseen (November 3, 2015)
- Lodestar (November 1, 2016)
- Nightfall (November 7, 2017)
- Flashback (November 6, 2018)
- Legacy (November 5, 2019)
- Unlocked (September 18, 2020)
- Stellarlune (November 8, 2022)
- Unraveled (December 3, 2024)
Unlocked is book 8.5 in the series. It is different because chapters switch between Sophie's and Keefe's points of view. Unlocked also includes a series guide and extra content. This includes recipes and official art of the characters by Laura Hollingsworth.
Unraveled is book 9.5 in the series. For the first time, it is told from a point of view other than Sophie's.
Special editions of Nightfall, Flashback, and Legacy from Barnes & Noble include short stories. These stories are told from the perspectives of other characters like Keefe Sencen, Fitz Vacker, and Tam Song. The paperback edition of Flashback also has another short story from Keefe's point of view.
Keeper of the Lost Cities on Screen
On January 11, 2021, it was announced that Ben Affleck would direct a movie based on Keeper of the Lost Cities for Disney. Later, on April 18, 2024, it was shared that Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. had gained the rights to the movie adaptation. Emma Watts is a producer, and Shannon Messenger herself is an executive producer for the film.
The Sky Fall Series
The Sky Fall series is a young adult fantasy series. It is about a seventeen-year-old boy named Vane Weston. Vane learns he is a sylph, which is a wind spirit. He is supposed to marry Solana, who is next in line for the throne. However, he falls in love with Audra, who was assigned to protect him.
Vane is the last sylph who can talk to the Westerly winds. He must use his powers to defeat the evil Raiden. Vane faces many challenges. While trying to defeat Raiden, he also has to protect Audra and their relationship. Many others are against their love, making his journey even harder.
Books in the Sky Fall Series
The Sky Fall series is a trilogy, meaning it has three books.
- Let the Sky Fall (2013)
- Let the Storm Break (2014)
- Let the Wind Rise (2016)
Awards and Recognition
The book Keeper of the Lost Cities won the 2017 Middle School/Junior High California Young Reader Medal. This award shows how much young readers loved the book.