Map of Flames (The Forgotten Five, Book 1)

X-Men meets Spy Kids in this instant New York Times bestseller! Here’s the first book in a new middle-grade fantasy/adventure series from the authorofThe Unwanteds.
Fifteen years ago, eight supernatural criminals fled Estero City to make a new life in an isolated tropical hideout. Over time, seven of them disappeared without a trace, presumed captured or killed. And now, the remaining one has died.
Left behind to fend for themselves are the criminals’ five children, each with superpowers of their own: Birdie can communicate with animals. Brix has athletic abilities and can heal quickly. Tenner can swim like a fish and can see in the dark and hear from a distance. Seven’s skin camouflages to match whatever is around him. Cabot hasn’t shown signs of any unusual power—yet.
Then one day Birdie finds a map among her father’s things that leads to a secret stash. There is also a note:
Go to Estero, find your mother, and give her the map.
The five have lived their entire lives in isolation. What would it mean to follow the map to a strange world full of things they’ve only heard about, like cell phones, cars, and electricity? A world where, thanks to their parents, being supernatural is a crime?
From School Library Journal
Gr 3-7-Birdie and Brix, along with Tenner, Cabot, and Seven, once lived with their parents in the city of Estero. They all are supernaturals, like their parents, with powers plucked from the animal kingdom, such as camouflage and night vision. When the city condemned the use of superpowers and labeled them criminals, the families fled for safety to an island far away from civilization. While the children were still very young, all but Birdie and Brix's dad left to confront their mislabeled reputations. That was 15 years ago, and no one has heard from them since. As far as the kids know, their parents are dead. While still grappling with this abandonment, the five kids face a new dilemma-the death of the remaining parental figure in their lives, Birdie and Brix's dad, and a note that directs Birdie to find a secret map and deliver it to her mother in Estero. Though told to keep this mission a secret, Birdie is forced to share this new information with the other supernaturals so they can join forces and help uncover the surprising truth behind their parents' disappearance in the unfamiliar, modern city of Estero. This new series blends science fiction with the animal kingdom, highlighting incredible feats of nature alongside a compelling quest to survive. VERDICT Middle graders seeking a new twist on science fiction and superpower heroism will find this fast-paced first installment the answer to their search.-Sabrina Carnesi α(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.