Review: The Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat
Quick Info:
Book type: Chapter Book
Target age: 8-12 years old
Recommended age: 10+ years old
Plot: Sai Mudawan is an assistant mapmaker; however, unlike the other assistants in the city she’s poor and lives with her criminal father. When the moment arises for her to join the crew of an exploration ship she jumps on her her mentor in hopes of rewriting her own destiny. However, things change when she realizes the true reason of the expedition.
Review:
This book was fast-paced, exciting and adventurous. The world building was fantastic and I would have loved to read a series following Sai and learning more about the society she lives in. She isn’t the average “goody two shoes” protagonist who wants to help people but she can’t seem to say no when someone asks for help which leads to her being put in equally funny and stressful situations. Her relationship with people and perception of them change throughout the book and teaches both her and the reader to not always trust everyone who seems nice. There was a surprising amount of themes and lessons jam packed in this book in a way that felt very natural. My favorite ones were regarding destiny, parental figures, colonialism, redemption and the intentions of people.
Opinion:
I love the lessons learned and the themes of this book and I highly suggest it; however, I would have conversations which your child on shrines, idols and bowing to others as there are a lot of East Asian spiritual elements. Although this book is targeted to middle grade kids I would recommend this to a highschooler looking for a light and fluffy read. I raised the age a bit only because of the concept of having a child out of wedlock.
Content:
Sai doesn’t speak highly of her dad, referring to him by his nickname “Mud”, but everyone calls him Mud so there’s that. Her last name is Mudawan so it’s possible to have stemmed from it. Later, Sai begins to understand her father’s actions and has a bit more mercy for him. She doesn’t completely antagonize him as she knows he would never force her to do anything she didn’t want nor hurt her. It is definitely a complex and interesting relationship and you can see why both characters feel the way they do.
Sai begrudgingly helps her father commit forgery and other crimes
East Asian spiritual elements: being blessed/cursed by spirits, selling souls to demons, stories of a monster eating misbehaving kids.
People constantly bow (not in prostration) to elders in a sign of respect
Sai bows (not prostration) to a shrine; others refer to praying to shrines.
Sai makes an altar to give offerings to and to thank the spirits
Magic dragons
Mentions of gambling, card playing and pubs
Name calling and unsavory language come in made up languages as well as English. (tripe, idiot, stupid, dog dung etc etc)
Two mentions of children out of wedlock. One was unfaithful to his wife. (no graphic information was given for either instances. Both are plot devices)
Sai says “I could kiss you!” to a boy in excitement (it was a joke and he thought it was gross)
Excerpts:
Excerpts from books are a glimpse of the content that is found and are not every instance of un-Islamic and/or “iffy” content.
Context:
This is the main character’s emotions of her criminal father at the beginning of the story. She doesn’t speak highly of him referring to him by his nickname “Mud” (but everyone calls him Mud ). Her last name is Mudawan so it’s possible to have stemmed from it. Later, Sai begins to understand her father’s actions and has a bit more mercy for him. She doesn’t completely antagonize him as she knows he would never force her to do anything she didn’t want nor hurt her.
Context:
At the end of the story the main character’s feelings to her father changes. “Catfish” is her father’s friend. When the main character ran away to the ship she shoves her money tin in her father’s arms in hopes of distracting him. Telling him he can keep her money as long as he lets her go. That same tin was left untouched by her father.
Context:
The main character is almost late to work and “thanks the heavens” her order is ready. She also bows from the waist (not in prostration) to the chef.
Context:
The main character reaches the ship she will sail on and greets her elderly teacher, Paiyoon, with a bow at the waist (not in prostration). She also pays her respects to a shrine before continuing her journey.
Context:
When the main character and her friend, Bo, end up at a wonderful island after being shipwrecked they create in altar to thank the spirits. They offer the shrine and spirits things like water, fruit and flowers.
Context:
The captain of the ship explains her reasoning for taking this trip by saying it was an excuse to find her long lost son whom she had out of wedlock. Her description of having a child and pregnancy is practical and does not speak in detail.
Context:
The character, Rian, speaks about her relationship to the “Sangra family” and how she is have sisters with the captain of the ship. Her father commits adulatory but the character is not explicit in the description of her conception.
Context:
The main character exclaims that she could kiss her friend, Bo, after gives her the missing part of a map she’s been looking for. Later in the story Bo sends the main character a plethora of letters and someone hints that he may have a crush on her.
