James really didn’t want to move to Oregan, leaving his home of Texas far behind. The worst part was leaving his baseball team, his best
friends, and their plans for the year ahead.
The house they move into is huge, and the neighbours incredibly welcoming and helpful, but it is little comfort. Losing their much loved grandmother recently hasn’t made things any easier, but at least he has recordings of her on his phone.
Something else that came from home is the prank war between James and his little sister Ava. She may be younger but she’s super smart, and despite their parents telling them to stop their war, they continue practically as soon as they arrive in Oregon. It’s not long before their pranks on each other are far from their minds. Creepy letters begin arriving with James’ name on them – inside his room!
At first James thinks it’s another Eva prank, and he acknowledges she’s getting good at it. But then another arrives and he knows she didn’t send this one. They are both signed by The Keeper.
More bizarre things scare them further, and they finally tell their parents. Something is not right about their ‘friendly’ neighbourhood, or the woods surrounding their town. Mum and Dad just laugh and shake their heads. There is no way James and Eva are going to prank them instead of each other!
After years of setting up surprises, gags, and jokes on each other, they must join forces. They do know from the notes that someone is watching them and time is running out. Everything seems to revolve around an impending blood moon. Can they discover who is threatening them?
These sibling pranksters aren’t laughing any longer as they face one danger after another, with only each other to rely on. They have dropped right in the middle of something ancient and evil in their new town…
An eerie novel that begins with funny pranks between siblings and friendly neighbours, and spirals down quickly into terror and menace. James is expected in town and now he has a job to do.
The clashes between the siblings and their bigger, stronger foes, are believable as they fail again and again. Digging into their past praise from their treasured Mexican grandmother, they fight back again and again. There is laughter, action, danger and courage in this story, as well as tons of creep factor, a supernatural force and sibling love.
The Keeper is inspired by a terrifying true story.
Great middle grade read.
Author – Guadalupe Garcia McCall
Age – 10+
(2022, Harper Collins, Scary, Spooky, Eerie, New town, Oregon, Baseball, Sibling Rivalry, Brother and Sister, Prank Wars, Practical Jokes, Being watched, Coven, Blood Moon, Ritual, Mystery, Intrigue, Freaky, Forest, Great Danes, Action, Betrayal, Nice Neighbours, Courage, Kidnap, Family, Horror, Secret)