Make Me a Map

The Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat

Fast-paced adventure that is jam-packed with secrets, intrigue, and narrow escapes.

Twelve-year-old Sodsai leads a double life. Each morning this impoverished girl sneaks away from her home in the slums and furtively exchanges her rags for the professional attire of an assistant to Paiyoon, the Kingdom of Mangkon’s Mapmaker. She can make exact copies of complex documents,
a talent that makes her invaluable to her employer.

Recently the Queen of Mangkon commissioned several sailing expeditions to search for a legendary southern continent that may be the home of dragons. Sai joins the Mapmaker on this voyage, helping him create maps to chart the ship's course. If the expedition is successful, she hopes to be awarded an honor that will remove the stigma of her low social class and grant her legitimacy as a respected member of society.

The voyage is fraught with peril. It’s not just motion sickness and fear of dragon-infested waters. An illegal stowaway, a mutinous plan, and a crew member who recognizes her might jeopardize Sai's future. Who can she trust? She must determine who are her allies and who are her enemies. 

Woven throughout the narrative are scenes depicting the dehumanizing effects of colonization, class differentiation, and poverty. Empowerment of woman is a dominant feature in this society, to wit: a queen rules the land and the ship’s captain and most of the high-ranking ship officers are women. If you are looking for fantasy with bold and daring women, this book for middle-grade readers delivers.

There's a lot at stake including the mapmaker’s reputation and the safety of the ship's captain and crew. Soontornvat's tale contains major plot twists, daring escapades, and surprising revelations. It has a WOW factor to the max.

Story Map

This review is based on an uncorrected copy of The Last Mapmaker.  I attempted to visualize the journey by creating a drawing of the voyage. How close will my rendition match the official map that accompanies the published work?  
Random Question: Will Paiyoon approve of this mapmaking effort?

Creating a story map is another way to visualize a book.
Here's one reader's view of the ship’s voyage.

Award-winning Books from Soontornvat

Soontornvat is a prolific author who writes a variety genre. A Wish in the Dark, middle grade fantasy, received a 2021 Newbery Honor. A gripping account of a headline-making news event, All Thirteen, was awarded YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction, Newbery, Orbis Pictus, and Sibert Honors. She has also written several picture books, middle grade novels, and a chapter book series for young readers.

​Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: April 12, 2022  Publisher: Candlewick Press  ISBN: 978-1536204957