Mapmaker by Lisa Moore Ramée

Abstract

Reviewed by: Mapmaker by Lisa Moore Ramée April Spisak Ramée, Lisa Moore Mapmaker. Balzer + Bray, 2022 [320p] Trade ed. ISBN 9780063039421 $17.99 E-book ed. ISBN 9780063039445 $10.99 Reviewed from digital galleys R Gr. 4-7 Struggling with the expectations of his football-loving dad and a recent move from LA, middle grader Walt finds solace in drawing a map of Djaruba, an imaginary [End Page 97] world he created. Walt has no idea, however, that he actually has magical powers to create (or destroy) what he draws on maps until a strange encounter at a 7-Eleven reveals he is a Mapmaker. Before Walt even understands why he has these abilities or the full scope of what his powers can do, he is called upon to defeat another Mapmaker, who is grimly bent on destruction of not just Walt’s world but of others as well. As Walt and his friends visit his longstanding mapped out creation, an intriguing parallel emerges between Walt’s real- and fantasy world experiences: he is judged immediately and unfairly for his magical ability just as he has always been instantly judged as a Black boy in America. While he is hindered—through no fault of his own—by both identities, the experiences make him more determined to find his own strong core rather than hoping others will define him. The world building is inventive and cleverly constructed, but the heart of this novel is Walt’s slow and painfully earned evolution into a boy who knows his potential is boundless, regardless of where he is or who he encounters. Copyright © 2022 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois