A parent might reach for this book when their thoughtful, imaginative child is craving an escape into a world bigger than their own and is ready for a longer, more complex story. Explore is an epic adventure that follows a group of young friends who stumble upon a hidden world, challenging them to rely on their wits, courage, and each other to navigate unknown dangers and unravel an ancient mystery. It masterfully weaves together themes of bravery in the face of fear, the power of loyal friendship, and the quiet journey of discovering one's own strength and identity. For tweens and young teens ready for a richly detailed world and a story with real emotional depth, this book is a captivating and rewarding journey.
A significant, friendly supporting character is killed, leading to scenes of grief.
Sensitive Topics
The book deals with themes of loss and peril directly. A mentor-like creature the children befriend is killed midway through the story, forcing the protagonists to rely on themselves. The death is not graphic but is emotionally impactful. The approach is secular, focusing on grief, resilience, and honoring memory through action. The resolution is hopeful, as the children grow from their experiences, but also realistic, acknowledging the scars and changes they've undergone.
Ideal Reader
The ideal reader is a 11-13 year old who has graduated from faster-paced series like Percy Jackson and is ready for a slower, more immersive world-building experience akin to The Lord of the Rings or His Dark Materials. This child is a daydreamer, loves puzzles and maps, and is beginning to grapple with questions of their own courage and capabilities.
Parent Prep
Parents should be aware of the book's length (656 pages) and deliberate pacing. The middle section, particularly the chapters surrounding the mentor's death (approx. pages 320-350), can be intense and sad. No specific context is needed to start, but parents can support their child by acknowledging that it's okay to feel scared or sad for the characters. A parent has noticed their child feels a bit bored with their daily routine, expressing a desire for grand adventure. The child might be re-reading familiar fantasy books and is ready for a more challenging and emotionally mature story that validates their feelings of wanting to explore and prove themselves.
Age Experience
A 10 or 11-year-old will primarily be captivated by the action, the strange creatures, and the survival plot. They will see the story as a thrilling adventure. A 13 or 14-year-old will engage more deeply with the internal struggles of the characters: the weight of leadership, the strains on friendship under pressure, and the philosophical questions about exploration and its consequences.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many portal fantasies that rely heavily on magic, Explore grounds its world in speculative biology and geology. This blend of science fiction and fantasy, where the 'magic' of the world has internal, consistent rules, sets it apart. The book's strength is its deep psychological realism; the characters' fears and triumphs feel earned and authentic, making the fantasy setting a backdrop for a very human story of growth.
Read plot summary
Four middle schoolers, led by the curious and cautious Finn, discover an old celestial map in a dusty attic that leads them to a dimensional portal. They are transported to a lush, alien world filled with strange ecosystems, sentient flora, and remnants of a long-lost civilization. Separated from home, they must decipher the rules of this new world, navigate treacherous landscapes, and outsmart dangerous predators. The core conflict revolves around finding a way back while also uncovering the truth about the world's original inhabitants and the reason the portal was created.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
When Elara decides to use the last of the healing sap on the injured creature instead of saving it for their group, do you think she made the right choice? What does this moment tell us about her character?
2
The group often disagrees on whether to follow the ancient map or trust their own instincts. Which character's approach do you agree with more, and why? Was there a time when one method was clearly better than the other?
3
Finn struggles with feeling responsible for leading his friends into danger. How does his idea of what it means to be a leader change from the beginning of the book to the end?
4
The ruins of the previous civilization show that they were very advanced but disappeared suddenly. What do you think happened to them? What lessons did the friends learn from their story?
