AUDIO BOOK: REALISTIC FICTION (ages 8-12)
Brief Description: Ben's feeling a bit out of sorts; his parents are separated and he's worried. When the janitor at his school dies after giving him a mysterious coin, and entrusts the care of the school to him, he teams up with Jill to ward off developers intent on destroying the school to build an amusement park in its place.
Awards: None
Personal Opinion: I had thought after reading No Talking by Clements, that reading one of his books was as good as reading another. Keepers of the School was different. I enjoyed the audio book for the narrator's wonderful expression as well as the compelling story. Clements creates atmosphere in this seaside town and Ben's interest in sailing adds to the overall setting. While the story was reminiscent of books like Scat and Hoot (kids against big business) and reminded me of the film "The Goonies," it had enough mystery and suspense to keep me engaged. Of course, this is a first in the series, so the ending was rather frustrating. I'll probably listen to the next installment if the same reader is used.
Curriculum/Programming: Paired with Scat and Hoot, this would make a nice addition to a literature unit on kids vs. adults in the real world.
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