The Owl Keeper

April 12, 2010
Eleven-year-old Max lives in a post-apocalyptic future ruled by a faceless totalitarian government called the High Echelon. His beloved, deceased grandmother used to tell him stories about the Owl Keeper, who would appear in times of desperate need to unite owls and sages to defeat evil. Told he’s allergic to sunlight, Max sits alone under the “owl tree” each night, awaiting the Keeper, with no one to talk to except an injured silver owl—until a mysterious girl named Rose appears. A hidden message convinces them to venture into the derelict Frozen Zone to seek the Keeper before the government’s terrifying plan for Max’s future takes effect. Brodien-Jones (The Dreamkeepers
) has created an uneasy splicing of science fiction and fantasy, where all science is evil and all magic is good. Her characters are likewise black and white, but also frustratingly limp. Max is timid and allows himself to be driven by circumstances and events, giving up time and time again. There are too many unanswered questions about the setting and too many coincidences in the story. Ages 10–up.

May 1, 2010
Gr 5-8-Allergic to sun particles, Max Unger is forced to stay inside during the day with his caregiver, Mrs. Crumlin. He loves the night, since it has pleasant memories of his beloved grandmother, so he sneaks out and visits a silver owl and his new friend, a spirited girl named Rose. He knows that if he is caught he will be in trouble, for silver owls are evil in the eyes of the High Echelon. When Max discovers that Mrs. Crumlin and the High Echelon are preparing him for a sinister job, he makes a daring escape, taking Rose with him. The two follow the words of "the Silver Prophesy" to find the Owl Keeper and hopefully destroy the evil High Echelon for good. While Brodien-Jones fills her dystopic fantasy with many striking images and ideas, she leaves more questions than answers about her world. The prophecy at the beginning of the book echoes the one found in Susan Cooper's "The Dark Is Rising" (S & S, 1986), but Brodien-Jones overuses it to push the plot along rather than letting events happen organically. The characters aren't fully fleshed out, especially Rose, who seems more annoying than lovable. By book's end, this appears to be the first in a series. Jeanne DuPrau's "Books of Ember" series (Random) offers a much better dystopic vision for this age group."Necia Blundy, Marlborough Public Library, MA"

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