The Children of the Lost

The Agora Trilogy #2

by David Whitley

MARK AND LILY HAVE BEEN BANISHED from Agora, the ancient city-state where everything is for sale - memories, emotions - even children.
Lost and alone they discover Giseth, a seemingly perfect land where everyone is equal, possessions are unknown, and Lily believes they will find the secret of their entwined destiny.
But paradise comes at a price. Why are their new friends so scared? What hides deep in the forest? And who is the mysterious woman who appears in their dreams, urging them to find the Children of the Lost?

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Science Fiction Fantasy, Novels, Dystopia, High Fantasy

416 pages, Paperback

First published August 5, 2010

Reviews

[Nikki in Niagara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reason for Reading: next in the trilogy.

While The Midnight Charter was good I wasn't entirely thrilled with it but the ending left me eagerly anticipating what could possibly happen for our heroes in the next book. So I requested my library purchase "The Children of the Lost" and I'd almost forgotten about it when I received the call that they had the book in for me. It was with eager anticipation that I began to read and found myself immensely drawn into Lily and Mark's new world as they quest for exactly what they do not know except that they have been foretold for ages to be the ones to change the world (for the better most in the know seem to think, though there are adversaries to this line of thought). I really don't want to get any deeper into the plot as it will ruin the ending of The Midnight Charter and many of the reveals in this book. I think the publisher's summary gives way too much information on this one especially if you haven't read book 1.

A fantastic story. Mark and Lily both grow as characters, they are opposites in ideology and yet manage to remain friends and true to one another and these differences in each other help them to grow individually and together as friends. While book 1 centres on political type issues, book 2 is more fun (for me) as it moves away from politics and takes the two into quest mode, reveals secrets and starts to bring sense together from all that we've learned so far. A gripping tale, taking place in a fully realized world, which has not been entirely revealed yet. The majority of the book finds the two friends together but as happens frequently in such quest stories they do separate and this brings us to an ending which while not exactly cliffhanging does leave the reader in limbo anxious to find out the turn of events. I thoroughly enjoyed book 2 of the Agora Trilogy.

[Lore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is highly imaginative and tons of fun. I think if I were younger, I would have been absolutely in love with these books. The characters were adorable and the plot was actually pretty exciting. I don't think I'm exactly the target audience for this series, so maybe that's why I didn't co poetry love it, but I did enjoy it regardless.

It's been a while since I actually read any middle grade fiction and this reminded me of exactly what I've been missing! I'm excited about reading more books by this author in the future... I'd be interested in maybe a young adult book from a male perspective written by him. I think that would be something he could easily and creatively pull off.

Thanks so much to Goodreads and the publisher for providing a copy of this for me to read!

[Dolores · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the sequel to "The Midnight Charter" and of course, I'd forgotten a lot of the details of that one, but Whitley did a good job of recapping some of the pertinent details organically in the course of the story. This entry in the series unfolds gradually, but manages to keep the reader engaged because there is such an aura of menace in the air. The reader is just waiting for the other shoe to drop, so it isn't really a surprise when it does--more a relief. From there, Lily and Mark proceed from the frying pan to the fire, so to speak, and the book ends with a cliff hanger guaranteed to drive us all crazy waiting for the next entry. All in all, nicely done.

[Leigh Collazo · Rating 5 out of 5]

SOOOOO AMAZING! I was sucked into the story, right from the very first page. I didn't even read the first book in this trilogy (Children of the Lost is the second), so I didn't quite understand some of the political details. Still, OMG--sooooo amazing. Reminds me of the Chaos Walking Trilogy, which I absolutely loved. The third one does not come out until August 2011, and even that looks like it may be a non-U.S. release date. In the meantime, I'll definitely be reading the first one. WOW.

[Sadie Lewis · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little better than book one but still slow and not very exciting. Sorry.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have this theory about trilogies where no matter how good the story is, the second book is always the weakest link: it doesn't give you quite the same thrill as the first one and it doesn't provide the sense of whole and conclusion which comes with the third.
Hence, I never judge a trilogy on the second book as a rule because I feel it would be unfair, especially since the author imagined the story as an ensemble and that there needs to be a middle part. But let me tell you right now that The Children of the Lost isn't even close to this. I have loved this book even more than I loved The Midnight Charter and I feel that it has taken the entire story a step further. It is simply brilliant.

To tell you the truth, I was halfway through it when Mockingjay came out and I was so caught up in the story that I prefered finishing The Children of the Lost before starting the third book of The Hunger Games. Yup, you heard me right.

After a talk with the Director of Receipts in Agora, Lily takes the decision to turn her back on her life and her friends to fulfill her destiny as a Judge who will decide the fate of Agora. Unfortunately, she has to take the decision for Mark as well, who has been thrown into prison but has finally met his own father. As the Judges, the Protagonist and the Antagonist, they are sent out of Agora, beyond the wall of their beloved city.
They had always believed that there was nothing beyond those walls. And it feels as such when they spend days, weeks, in a frightening wood without any trace of any other human being. Lily is also outside because the Director told her she wasn't born in Agora, and she hopes to find her parents.

They are brought in a village, in the land of Giseth, where all the resources are shared and everyone is equal. The village is ruled by a Speaker which speaks the will of all villagers and a monk, Father Wolfram, of an Order. Everything looks idyllic and everyone seems genuinely happy, but are they really? What is this order that that exists in Giseth? Is it the perfect society that Lily has always in mind? The village lives also in autarky: complete auto-sufficiency and complete ban to cross the village's border for beyond it's border, in the forest, lies the Nightmare, a powerful magical entity which brings your worst emotions to the surface and make you act on them.

This new society created by David Whitley is honestly mind-blowing, especially when confronted to the one of Agora. You get a sort of M. Night Shyamalan's The Village (you know, the director of The 6th Sense?) vibe in there. It is truly spooky. The fantastic aspect behind the Nightmare is awesome.
The characters, old and new ones alike (even though most of the book follows Lily and Mark in Giseth, you do get glimpses of what happens in Agora as well) are very well developed and all very interesting, with their flaws and internal conflicts.

As I couldn't explain what was The Midnight Charter in the review of the first book, I cannot explain the title of the second one without giving away major spoilers. All will be explained in the book though, with enough of a cliffhanger at the end to make you long for the third book. I really like how the story developed, this is no simple fantasy story, it is clear that there has been deep thinking on the meaning of it all.

As Agora could remind of a pure (hence extremist) form of capitalism/materialism where everything has a value and everything can be traded even human beings and emotions, Giseth reminds of a pure form (again, hence extremist) of communism/socialism where the individual is annihilated to create a stable community where everyone's needs are provided for in an equal way. Very very interesting clash of ideas.
I don't feel there is any World War II reenactement at all over this clash of ideas though, just a very clever story entertwined with political concepts which are today predominant in our societies. Communism/Socialism may be a dirty word today, but some ideas behind the philosophy have stayed, changed name and are used today by governments. I can tell you that this is much better than any class on the subject. I am truly in awe.


I loved this book and I can't wait for the last book of the trilogy, I cannot begin to urge you to discover David Whitley's talent. He may be young, but I feel that he's here to stay! This book is suitable for younger readers (11+) as well as for older readers, boys and girls alike. I am pretty sure that fans of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials might be interested to read this trilogy.

[Nikki Bywater · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lily had made her decision to leave the city walls of Agora and after making an agreement with the Director of Receipts on the condition that she takes Mark with her. Lily had seen this as a chance for her to escape the dreadful streets of Agora and a chance for her to find out the truth behind the dark secrets that are in their lives and also an opportunity to find her vanished parents.

Lily and Mark now find themselves outside the walls of the city. Lily had grown up to believe that there was nothing beyond the city walls and at first finds it difficult to accept where she is. Mark who was not in on the decision to leave Agora is angry with Lily for taking him with her screams and shouts to be let back in Agora. Mark does not believe in the destiny that is foreseen in The Midnight Charter he thinks it is just a plot to get rid of Lily from the city. Eventually Lily and Mark decide to venture away from Agora to look for food, but they hope to find more people.

When Mark and Lily are attacked and Lily is hurt by a beast in the forest, they are rescued by a man called Father Wolfram and a young lad called Owain. They take them back to Father Wolfram’s sanctuary to heal Lily. In a village called Aecer in the land of Giseth. Lily and Mark are surprised when they are asked for nothing in return for the help and food they are given. They are told they are helped because it was the right thing to do. Lily and Mark are introduced to The Speaker of the village who tells them that she is the mother of the village and that she devotes her time to its well-being, heart and soul. She tells Lily that she hopes she will come to love the village as much as she does. Lily does settle into the village and compared to Agora, Aecer is paradise to her. The people are kind and gentle and the adult age is sixteen so Lily and Mark are treated like children. While Lily settles, Mark is restless and he still wants to return to Agora.

When the village sheep begin to act strangely and Mark finds himself sleep walking and causing himself harm. Lily and Mark learn this is what is known as the Nightmare. The Nightmare prays on people’s weaknesses and on their selfish desires. It starts as a bad dream, and then it takes over unlike a normal nightmare it can not be contained in the dreamers head. The nightmare does not end just because the dreamer wakes up. Mark and Lily are told that the Nightmare is stronger in the forest and they perform rituals to keep it out of the village so they are safer if they stay in the village.

But when a mysterious women dressed in green, appears to both Lily and Mark in their dreams, urging them to find The Children of the Lost will Lily and Mark be prepared to leave the village and go back into the forest and face the Nightmare?

Who are The Children of the Lost?

Will this lead Lily to find her parents?

Will Mark find his way back into Agora?

[Crazyjamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a big fan of Whitley's first book, the Midnight Charter, set in a city where anything can be traded, including emotions, memories, and even children. The book showed remarkably potential for a debut fantasy novel, and as such I was looking forward to this book a great deal. Fortunately there is no doubt that the potential shown in the first book has come to fruition in the second.

In Children of the Lost Mark and Liley, the two main characters from the first book, are faced with a land outside of the one that they grew up in. In stark contrast to Agora, the village of Aecer is one in which no trading takes place, and all residents work selflessly towards the good of the village. It is a society that has strong socialist undertones in stark contrast the capitalist nature of Agora, and by comparison it seems to be a perfect and peaceful place.

However, things are obviously never that straightforward in fantasy novels, and this is no exception. The village is plagued by a strange Nightmare that influences people even when they are awake, and Mark and Lily are faced with the realisation that the village that seems so idyllic may in fact be hiding its own share of dark secrets.

Of course the plot is far from restrained to new areas, and all of the major characters from the past book return in the second offering, which regularly switches back to Agora to deal with the characters still within the city boundaries. In fact, the way that the plot spreads to incorporate the new characters and venues is one of its many triumphs. Whitley spent a lot of time padding out background in the first book, which means that in the second the plot twists and developments are integrated seamlessly and at an attractive pace that keeps the pages turning.

In fact, Whitley's new found freedom in writing about a world that he has already introduced results in a novel that is meticulously paced, with set pieces and twists popping regularly to keep the reader gripped and on the edge of their seat. By a third of the way into the book I found that I was hopelessly hung up on the characters and developing plot, with the easy flowing writing style pulling me through a book that become more intriguing with every passing paragraph.

It is easy to get carried away with a single book in a trilogy before the series has been completed, but this book really is work of the highest calibre. The Midnight Charter has just become a series that all fantasy readers, both children and adults, should consider picking up. In only Whitley's second book he has shown remarkable ability as a writer that will leave more experienced authors green with envy. Children of the Lost will leave you waiting impatiently for the finale to the trilogy, and on this form it is going to be worth the wait.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads First Reads Giveaway! So thank you Goodreads for the opportunity to read a new series! It took awhile to finally receive the right book, but finally got this one about a month ago. It was SO much better than the first in the series. It still took me awhile to read because something more interesting kept coming up, but once I got into it more I kinda wanted to finish :)

It was weird! In a mostly good way. I spent most of the book trying to figure out what is going on right along with the characters. I thought the characters were better developed from The Midnight Charter. I liked that they were older. I thought it was neat that Mark and Lilly seemed to keep each other grounded. They have a strong friendship and are always there to pull the other one back and to help them see what the other doesn't.

Everything seemed very strange at the beginning and very slowly throughout the book Mark and Lilly seem to make a little progress to reaching their goals. It started to come together and make sense, but we still don’t know what is going on and how it will all end in the next book.

I liked that the viewpoints switched from chapter to chapter and we were able to follow what was happening in Agora as well as along with Mark and Lilly and their search for truth. It has crazy villages, the Nightmare, witches, The Brotherhood, and the corrupt controlling societies all over the land. The show of Power and control in the villages was disturbing. It was creepy but intriguing. I thought a couple scenes seemed especially violent and wouldn’t call this a middle grade novel (not that I thought the first was either), but since the characters are older it seems more young adult. The one thing that bothers me is I don’t especially like how it is written. It is not easy to read for a ya book (for me anyway). I’m very glad I liked it as much as I did. I’m interested now and will read the next one to see how this trilogy ends!

[Phillip · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew going into this second volume of David Whitley's Agora Trilogy (having gotten it hot off the press) that I was going to regret coming to the the last page without being able to hop right into volume three. Mr. Whitley did not disappoint. The rich characterizations and compelling action that he created in part one, "The Midnight Charter," continue to intrigue throughout the second volume, and now I have to find the patience to wait genteelly for part three to come into print. (Storming the publishing house seldom has effective results.)

The City State of Agora which was the stage for the first book is mostly set aside as the main characters, Lily and Mark, are exiled into a forested wilderness harboring as many secrets as Agora held. In opposition to the highly competitive society they left behind, Lily and Mark discover those villagers who take them in abiding in a communal lifestyle. Here all choices are made for the benefit of the group and are unanimously upheld. While Lily easily adapts to this strifeless existence, Mark fights against the expectation for him to surrender his will.

Some of the dark fantasy features that flitted about in the first book burst into full fledged nightmares in this agrarian society. As the conflict develops, each of the protagonists have to come to grips with bad choices they have made, preparing them for the conflict of book three (perhaps a naive assumption, but certainly a hopeful expectation).

The new dimensions Mr. Whitley adds to his world provide an interesting exploration of societal structures, religious experiments and even psychological disciplines. But mostly he tells a good story; not quite as satisfying as in the first volume, but he ends it strongly enough that I thought it merited a 4 star rating.

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Children of the Lost, book two in David Whitley's The Agora Trilogy, is even better than book one. Mark and Lily have left Agora - Lily willingly, Mark not - unsure of thier friendship, their role, and their mission. They find that there really is life outside of Agora. On the surface it might seem better but it seems the dark plans of those unknown reach far beyond. Just when you think you have it figured out, roles change. Lily starts out as the strong one, the one wanting to find others beyond the walls of Agora; Mark just wants to get back home, back to the father he just found and a life that, at least, he is familiar. As they begin their journey they seem to be headed in two different direction, but Lily is attacked and suddenly Mark is ashamed of the way he's acted and wants to help her out. They come to a village and think they can heal here before setting out again. It seems perfect and staying even seems to cross Lily's mind. Mark isn't as sure of the surface smoothness; there seems to be an underlying darkness that he can't quite put his finger on. Here, they learn of a mysterious Nightmare that seems to prey upon the fears and desires of those in the village. They learn that they didn't leave thier calling of the Antagonist and Protagonist behind - yet they still don't know what that means. And they learn that the Midnight Charter and the Libran Council exists even out in the woods - at least the symbols linger there. They also learn that those who seem to be good might not be. And once again they are seperated with their destiny unfulfilled.

[Debbie Holbrook · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book from a good reads contest. It took three times before the company sent the right book. They sent Midnight Charter by the same author twice.

This book is centered on the two main characters Lily and Mark who have been banished from the city, Agora Mark had been imprisoned and Lily was working on bettering Agora, a city full of greed and selfishness, by working at the Almshouse she helped create. With the encouragement of the Director, ruler of Agora, Lily sets off with Mark on a quest. It is revealed that one of the reasons Lily decides to leave is so she can search for her parents. Both of them are stuck in the forest outside of Agora in the beginning. The forest is dangerous to navigate but Mark and Lily eventually find themselves in a town known as Aecer. Neither of them has known anything outside of their city of Agora. Aecer is the exact opposite than the two are familiar with. Aecer is full of a town that works with each other for a common goal and for the good of the people. The town accepts Mark and Lily but it’s questionable what the townspeople’s motives are. Aecer also appears to be tied with Agora. How are the two villages connected? What are the motives for the Director’s insistence that Lily leave Agora? What is the Nightmare that plagues the forest? Find out in The Children of the Lost.

Overall, it was a good book, but there were times where I found myself struggling to keep reading. However, people that enjoy fantasy books will not be disappointed.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 2 of a trilogy that began with The Midnight Charter, which I read several years back. There was no good reason for me to take so long on this sequel, as the Midnight Charter is a good book with a very interesting polemic. I think I described the first book as a young adult antidote to Atlas Shrugged!. Book 2 continues where the first left off, but becomes doubly interesting, because now as the two young people, Mark and Lily, escape the city of Agora (where everything can be bought or sold, even your memories), they find people beyond the city in a place called Aecer, where there is no money or trade and everything is held in common. At first this appears to be an idyllic perfect place, but all is not as it seems.

Just as book one picked apart a dystopia of rampant capitalism, book two shows that the author is no socialist trying to sell his dreams either. No, the books are much more intelligent than this, and there is some pretty deep metaphor and philosophy in these books.

Despite their depth, these are not dull stories, and the adventure continues apace. We are kept abreast of developments in Agora even though Mark and Lily are outside the city, and it all comes together with a suitably good climax that leads inexorably to the last book of the trilogy.

This is a good read. One of the most intelligent young adult reads I have read in a long while, and a good story despite perhaps not being quite as action packed and suspenseful as

[Rhys · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on ThirstforFiction.com

Outcast from Agora, Mark and Lily must find their own way through the troubled forest that is haunted by the Nightmare. But when they are adopted by an odd village that teaches them to suppress their selfish desires, they realise that it isn't all it's made out to be...

Children of the Lost is in some respects very different from the Midnight Charter. But it is also achingly similar; a beautiful tale that culminates in a fantastic and awe inspiring way, something that David Whitley seems incredibly apt at.

Children of the Lost starts off much like a standard fantasy, but what it becomes is something very different. Just like the Midnight Charter, it continues the underlying theme of the search for truth. And while the first three quarters are standard fantasy as it were, it is very well written, thought out and envisioned: a very impressive second novel. read more...

[R.A. Danger · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the book Lily and Mark travel through the forest until Lily gets hurt and taken to a village called Aecer were Lily thinks is a great place, but Mark doesn’t like the place at all. After spending all winter there they find out something called a Nightmare is attacking livestock and people in the form of dreams and making them act differently.
In the book there is the mysterious stranger that saves Lily’s life, but lives in the forest, a speaker that passes what she believes the village should know and live by, a sort of monk that is close mouthed, two couples secretly in love, and a woman that appears in their dreams (Lily and Mark).
Throughout the rest of the book they search for Lily’s parents, find out who the children of the lost are, and try to find out the truth. Also throughout the book we go back to Agora were things are getting a little chaotic. People getting rallied up and sneaky things going on.
The book was ok but it does have a small drop off before getting back up again.

[Beth Grenfell · Rating 1 out of 5]

I won this book a while back, but have dragged my feet in writting the review simply because I feel terrible giving a bad review to a book that was given to me. Not to mention that I truly commend and applaud David for having the guts to write a book and go through with the publication process at such a young age. Unfortunately, I think he should have spent a bit more time on it. The book is written for children, when honestly it's a bit too creepy and unentertaining to capture the audience of children, well...really anyone for that matter. The plot is extremely weak and the scenes are either run-ons or too breif with seemingly little significance to the plot of the story itself. I do not recommend this book to anyone as I believe that it as well as the others in its trilogy are terribly written and painfully boring. So boring that I couldn't even finish it.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this through goodreads. Luckily, I was given the first book of the series instead of this actual book because I have not yet read the first one. You will find my review for it there.

Update- I just received this book in the mail today! Super excited to be able to read both books of this series!

Finally finished this book. I am really enjoying this series. This booked picked right up unlike the first one and had you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end (and I'm still there!). Can't wait to see what finally happens in the last book!

[tiph · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a surprising break away from normal, the sequel to The Midnight Charter is actually several times better than the first one. I loved how Whitley never let on what was real in this world and what was not. How much fantasy is true? Are witches and elves and superstition real? Or is it the clouded hive-mind mentality of the villages? We get pure capitalism in the first book, and now we're introduced to pure communism, and I'm not sure if I like it.

The ending is excellent (endings make or break books), and now I can't wait for the third in the series.

[Elvi · Rating 3 out of 5]

How does one go about rating the second book of a trilogy without reading the first one? Apparently, it is not such an impossible task, since I have done it twice now.
Alright, I admit I missed some crucial knowledge to understand parts of it, but what I did understand, I enjoyed greatly and this book reads in one sitting (given that you have enough time and are not trying to multitask).

Moreover, it is also an eye-candy. The letters are in just the right size set on just the right yellowish shade of paper to give it antique feeling, plus each new chapter is beautifully framed.

[Ananya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lily and Mark are two teenagers who are lost in the forest and some circumstances find them in a village of Gisethi where all the people are very different from what people were in their village. They expect nothing in return for their help. After staying there for a while, they discover that when the nightmare is around, a nightmare that doesn't leave you even when you wake, even the best can become the worst. So, they stay together and try to stay alive with everybody around impassive and they don't know whom to trust. A really good book with great writing and wonderful storyline.

[Andrew · Rating 1 out of 5]

Mostly I just found this book boring. I didn't crave reading any of the parts about what was still going on in Agora. The only interesting parts took place in the forest with Lily and Mark. The magic seems to be just a way to move the story forward rather than a creative world of magic as in Harry Potter. Also, there is too much of a reliance on dreams. I realize there is one more book to go, but the ending was disappointing in that it did not reveal as much I had hoped.

[Michael Kemp]

Mark and Lily just escaped the city of Agora, and they venture out into a dark forest. They get help while in the woods and move to a village for a about a year. They learn dark secrets about the village and escape back into the woods were witches help them and Lily starts a adventure to find her dad while Mark is brought back to Agora. This is an exciting book that seems to be about an secret group that is trying to control Mark and Lily's lives but are in vane.

[Mary · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have just won Children of the Lost from First Reads. I look forward to its arrival. Now I will have to hurry and get the first book The Midnight Charter read.

This is very odd. I received The Midnight Charter instead of Children of the Lost.

Update 3/1/11: I just received Children of the Lost.

[Diogo · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 1st one was interesting but this was amazing! It hooked me from the first chapters until the end. Mistery, deception, thriller and amazing new concepts and places. Absolutely loved the ending (so well crafted). Just can't wait for the last book!

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This book had me absorbed from page 1! I could barely put it down! It was very imaginative, true, it had a few predictable happenings, but overall it was a breath of fresh air. I can hardly wait for the next book, which I intend to order from Amazon tonight. :)

[Jekloneo · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the rare second books which do not pale in comparison to the first, a precious commodity in this age, I should think.

[Silly]

I won this book from First Reads. Good story. Good series. I read both the first book and this one. Waiting for the last book to read. Thank you.

[Chrissy]

I've been dying to find a new trilogy to read! I know this is the second, but I've grabbed the first and hope to get started ASAP! :)

[BCPL Youth Services Librarian]

Click to see book in BCPL's online catalog

[April · Rating 2 out of 5]

While some of the characters were good, others were very cardboard and I had to force myself to finish as I didn't truly care enough to wonder how it all ends.