Time Jumpers: Five Kingdoms, Book 5 Brandon Mull – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Time Jumpers: Five Kingdoms, Book 5 Brandon Mull

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

book

81%

WISE Score

4.8

Amazon

Cole's reality-bending quest wraps up in this time-twisting finale—less intense than Fablehaven, more fun than homework.

Time Jumpers: Five Kingdoms, Book 5 Brandon Mull

book

81%

WISE Score

4.8

Amazon

Cole's reality-bending quest wraps up in this time-twisting finale—less intense than Fablehaven, more fun than homework.

4.8

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4.8

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Screenwise Verdict

If your kid has made it through books 1-4 of the Five Kingdoms series, they're finishing this one no matter what you say. The good news: it's a solid finale with creative time-manipulation concepts and age-appropriate stakes.

Brandon Mull is reliable for middle-grade fantasy that keeps pages turning without the intensity of his Fablehaven series. This isn't going to change anyone's life or teach deep lessons, but it's entertaining, wholesome adventure with positive themes about loyalty and doing the right thing.

The caveat: some kid reviewers felt let down by the ending after investing in five books. That's the risk with series finales—they don't always stick the landing. But with a 4.8 Amazon rating, most readers seem satisfied enough. It's quality middle-grade fantasy that'll keep kids reading instead of scrolling, and that's worth something.

Age Fit

Best for ages 9-13 who enjoy fantasy adventure and have the stamina for a five-book series. Common Sense Media pegs it at 9+, and that feels right—younger kids might struggle with the length and complexity, while older middle schoolers will appreciate the less intense violence compared to YA fantasy.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Brandon Mull delivers emotionally healthy adventure with positive themes of friendship, loyalty, and determination. Cole's quest to get home while setting things right shows strong moral character. Common Sense Media notes this series is less violent than Mull's other work (like Fablehaven), making it more age-appropriate for middle-grade readers. The pacing is adventure-driven but not chaotic, and relationships model cooperation and sacrifice.

Imaginative

Time manipulation, reality-bending magic, and five distinct kingdoms create a rich fantasy world that invites curiosity. The concept of a world where 'magic is powerful and dreams are real' is genuinely creative. As the finale to a five-book series, it builds on established world-building while introducing new time-based mechanics in Creon. Mull is known for inventive fantasy systems, and this delivers on originality.

Safe

Books are inherently safe from a platform perspective. Content-wise, Common Sense Media and Plugged In reviews confirm age-appropriate fantasy violence without graphic descriptions. Some peril and danger (it's described as 'death-defying'), but nothing shocking or traumatic for the target middle-grade audience. No inappropriate content, though the stakes are high as befits a series finale. Some kid reviewers noted disappointment with the ending, but nothing safety-related.

Enriching

Solid middle-grade fantasy that builds reading stamina and explores themes of heroism, problem-solving, and moral choices. Cole must 'use everything he has learned' to face the final villain, rewarding readers who've followed the series. The time-manipulation concept invites thinking about cause and effect. However, as pure entertainment adventure, it's not deeply philosophical or skill-building beyond reading comprehension. Strong 4.8 Amazon rating suggests kids find it engaging and worth finishing.

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

Brandon Mull knows how to craft page-turning middle-grade fantasy, and this series finale delivers satisfying closure to Cole's journey home
Time manipulation and reality-bending magic in Creon offer genuinely creative concepts that get kids thinking about cause and effect
Less violent and intense than Mull's Fablehaven series, making it more accessible for younger or sensitive readers
Strong themes of loyalty, determination, and doing the right thing even when it's hard—Cole keeps his promise to set things right before leaving
High Amazon rating (4.8) and NYT bestseller status suggest kids actually want to read it, not just parents wanting them to

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What to Watch For

This is book 5 of 5—kids really need to read the previous books or they'll be lost on characters, world-building, and stakes
Some 'death-defying' peril and fantasy violence, though Common Sense Media confirms it's age-appropriate and not graphic
Several kid reviewers mentioned the ending was disappointing after investing in the whole series—manage expectations that finales don't always nail the landing

Conversation Starters

"If you could manipulate time like they do in Creon, what would you change about your past or future?"
"Cole is determined to set things right before going home, even though it's dangerous. When have you had to do something hard because it was the right thing?"
"How did you feel about the ending? What would you have done differently if you were writing it?"
"Which of the five kingdoms would you most want to visit, and why?"

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