MMGM (11/7/2016) (plus giveaway): Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger (plus a giveaway of a signed copy of Lodestar!)

This is an interesting MMGM for 2 reasons. The first is that I am recommending Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger, the author who collects links to the MMGM posts and posts them on her blog, which is how I started getting comments in the first place. The second reason is that I am also giving away a copy of Lodestar, the 5th book in the series, signed by Shannon Messenger!

So, anyway, today I am recommending Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger.

Here's the publisher's description:

In this riveting debut, a telepathic girl must figure out why she is the key to her brand-new world—before the wrong person finds the answer first.

Twelve-year-old Sophie has never quite fit into her life. She’s skipped multiple grades and doesn’t really connect with the older kids at school, but she’s not comfortable with her family, either. The reason? Sophie’s a Telepath, someone who can read minds. No one knows her secret—at least, that’s what she thinks…
But the day Sophie meets Fitz, a mysterious (and adorable) boy, she learns she’s not alone. He’s a Telepath too, and it turns out the reason she has never felt at home is that, well…she isn’t. Fitz opens Sophie’s eyes to a shocking truth, and she is forced to leave behind her family for a new life in a place that is vastly different from what she has ever known.
But Sophie still has secrets, and they’re buried deep in her memory for good reason: The answers are dangerous and in high-demand. What is her true identity, and why was she hidden among humans? The truth could mean life or death—and time is running out.

Firstly, the fact that I have read this book (488 pages in paperback) and its sequels (Lodestar is 676 pages in hardcover) should tell you that this is one of the most fabulous book series I have ever read. That would be correct! The best part of this series is its complexity (which does not mean that it's confusing; it isn't). The world the characters live in is complex, seeming both awesome and incredibly realistic, with every part of life thought about and made as cool as possible. The characters themselves are complex, always seeming like a real person you could meet, having different personalities and staying true to them. Sophie is brave and still trying to figure out her new life, and Fitz (who is not on the cover) may seem perfect, but you will learn that he isn't in the later books. Not to mention that there are tons of characters not in the book description. Finally, the storyline is complex, full of twists and turns that make you think, "Duh!" while still being shocked. Oh, and, also, the book has just the right balance of hilarity, melancholy, and tension.

The 5th book in the series, Lodestar, was released on Tuesday, November 1, and to celebrate, I am giving away a free copy of Lodestar, signed by Shannon Messenger! One random winner will receive the signed copy of Lodestar. The giveaway will end at 12:00 A.M. (midnight) on Monday, November 14, 2016 (a week from now) Tuesday, November 15, 2016. To enter, fill out the Google Form below. Your nickname will be published on Completely Full Bookshelf if you win, so make sure that it can be publicized. Your email address will not be publicized, and it will only be used to ask you for a shipping address to mail the book to you.

Update (11/7/2016): Just to clarify, your email addresses will never be shared with anyone, and I will delete them as soon as the contest is over.

Update (11/8/2016): The giveaway has been extended one day (to Tuesday, November 15, 2016) to allow for more people to enter!

Update (11/20/2016): The giveaway winners have been posted here!