The Forgotten Five Series in Order

About The Forgotten Five series

Series Premise

Fifteen years ago, eight supernaturally gifted criminals fled the oppressive city of Estero to a remote, isolated hideout, evading capture after their powers made normal life impossible and led them to crime for survival. They raised five children—now teenagers—who were left behind when most parents vanished or died, forcing the kids to venture into the unfamiliar city armed only with a magical, flame-protected map and their unique abilities to search for missing parents, uncover hidden stashes, and confront a corrupt regime that criminalizes and oppresses anyone with supernatural powers.

The series must be read in order, as it follows one continuous, escalating storyline with progressive revelations about the parents' fates, the children's growing powers, shifting alliances, betrayals, and the larger fight against Estero's tyrannical leadership—each book builds directly on the previous one's cliffhangers, character developments, and plot threads, making out-of-order reading spoil major twists and reduce the emotional impact of loyalties tested and destinies unfolding.

Main Characters

Birdie: A 13-year-old leader figure who can communicate with animals; compassionate, brave, and quick-thinking, she often takes charge, using her gift for reconnaissance and emotional support while grappling with family secrets and responsibility for her younger brother.

- Seven: A 13-year-old with camouflage skin that blends seamlessly with surroundings; introspective and strategic, he excels at stealth missions and invisibility-based tactics, wrestling with identity and trust issues as revelations about his mother unfold.

- Tenner: A 13-year-old aquatic marvel who swims like a fish, sees in the dark, and hears from great distances; adventurous and loyal, his water-based abilities make him invaluable for escapes and surveillance, while he navigates the group's emotional dynamics.

- Brix: Birdie's 10-year-old brother with superhuman athleticism and rapid healing; energetic, optimistic, and resilient, he brings youthful spirit and physical prowess to challenges, often lightening tense moments.

- Cabot: An 11-year-old who initially shows no obvious power (though hints emerge later); clever, cautious, and sometimes conflicted, her arc involves questioning loyalties and finding her place amid the group's unity and eventual fractures.

Setting

The world contrasts two stark environments: the remote, tropical wilderness hideout where the children grew up in seclusion—filled with natural beauty, survival challenges, and a tight-knit but isolated "family" dynamic—and the bustling, dystopian city of Estero, a modern urban center under authoritarian rule where supernaturals are feared, hunted, and outlawed. Estero features towering buildings, surveillance-heavy streets, presidential strongholds, hidden safe houses, underground networks of resistance, and public spaces ripe for espionage, creating a vivid backdrop of danger, wonder, and the clash between freedom in the wild and oppression in civilization.

Tone & Themes

Exciting, hopeful, and fast-paced with a youthful sense of wonder and urgency, the tone mixes pulse-racing adventure, clever heists, stealthy infiltrations, and moments of humor through sibling-like banter with heartfelt vulnerability and the thrill of self-discovery. It keeps peril exciting rather than overly dark, focusing on empowerment and teamwork. Themes center on prejudice and discrimination against those who are different (supernaturals as outcasts), the complexity of parents who were flawed yet protective, found family and loyalty amid betrayal, standing up to injustice and oppression, embracing one's unique abilities, questioning authority, and the power of young people to challenge corrupt systems and spark change.

The Forgotten Five series bursts with exhilarating superpowered escapades, heartfelt discoveries, and the electric thrill of kids rewriting their fates in a world that fears what they can do. Lisa McMann weaves an irresistible tale of courage, cunning, and unbreakable bonds that inspires young readers to embrace their differences, question injustice, and believe that even the overlooked can ignite revolution—leaving hearts racing and imaginations soaring long after the final page.