A review by yapha
The Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat

adventurous medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

Sai is determined to escape the slums and her father's life of petty crimes. She lucked into a position as an assistant to Paiyoon, a Mapmaker, and is diligently saving her wages to start a fresh life. When the queen announces a competition to map the fabled Sunderland continent known for both dragons and riches, Paiyoon brings Sai along to help. Once aboard the ship, however, Sai starts to find that what she thought she knew about the country and the people in it may not be the whole truth. She is suspicious of the motives of both Paiyoon and the captain, and finds herself questioning her own life choices. This was an action packed Thai-inspired fantasy adventure. Highly recommended for grades 4 & up.