Unraveled (Keeper of the Lost Cities 9.5) by Shannon Messenger

What worked:

Keefe travels to the Humanland as he tries to figure out his new abilities. He’s always been an empath which means he can detect the emotions of others and he can understand any language he hears. He’s overwhelmed by the multitude of mixed feelings generated in streets crowded by humans and he struggles to find a place of solace. Keefe has also developed new powers although he doesn’t yet know what they can do. The great effort required to handle his empath ability in a strange world, and fears of his untapped powers, allow readers to connect with his plight. The uncertainty of his future creates mystery and speculation about what’s to come. He eventually lands in London where he tries to uncover the truth about his role in a past tragedy.

Keefe’s mom is the main antagonist although she’s not a physical part of the story. She’s experimented on her son in the past and she’s convinced that he’ll someday join her Neverseen. Their relationship complicates Keefe’s interactions with his father who surprisingly offers help navigating Humanland. The second half of the book is more interesting when Keefe encounters a character who he thought was dead. This boy was a Neverseen and took orders from Keefe’s mother so it will be very difficult for Keefe to trust him. However, the boy may offer a path to Keefe’s contentment as he has useful ideas to help Keefe master his new powers. The boy also his inside information about the tragedy haunting Keefe’s memories.

Keefe’s lack of experience with humans will amuse readers since he knows nothing about how Humanland works. He has no idea about cell phones and the idea of money is new to him. He’s confused that different cities in the world have different languages, clothes, and customs. And how can humans be so infatuated by an amusement park featuring a giant talking mouse? Keefe’s pleasantly surprised to discover bags of Cheetos although the flaming hots are a bit spicy. He grudgingly admits that his father is right about the deliciousness of churros and room service is a wonderful human invention. The double-decker London busses can be intimidating and librarians are treasures when doing research. However, Keefe must figure out ways to answer simple questions like where he’s from or why he’s never heard of the internet.

What didn’t work as well:

As with earlier books, this one has an overabundance of description, making the plot move slowly. Keefe is the only character loyal readers will recognize in the first fourth of the book as he tries to adapt to life among humans. It’s unclear where the story is headed while Keefe jumps from city to city around the world. In the end, this book doesn’t add much to the overall series plot as it’s a side story of what was happening during the ninth book.

The final verdict:

This book will interest loyal readers of the series with a special interest in Keefe. The plot moves slowly as it highlights Keefe’s journey toward mastering his new powers and discovering memories that were shattered from his mind. Don’t read this book if you haven’t previously read any other books in the series.