The Kingdom Keepers

Pearson, Ridley. (2005). The Kingdom Keepers. Disney Editions. 325 pages. ISBN 0786853338

Primary genre: fantasy

Other elements: science fiction, mystery, adventure, friendship, family

Intended reader age: 10 and up

Synopsis:

The fantasy of having the run of a Disney park after everyone else has left for the day has filtered through many a young (and not so young) person’s mind. But, for 5 middle school kids in in the heart of Orlando, FL this dream is quickly becoming a reality and it is not at all what every thinks it would be. Finn Whitman and four others were lucky enough to be selected for an all-new experience being placed in the Walt Disney World; they were chosen to become DHI’s, Disney Host Interactive also known as Digital Hologram Imaging. But now when they go to sleep at night they wake up back in the park as their holographic counter-part. The fight between good and evil is just as real as the stories make it out to be and now that fight is reaching into the real world. It is up to Finn and the others to tip the scales back to the side of good and save the park from being overrun by evil. 

Review:

I first read this book when it was originally released in 2005 (When it was just called The Kingdom Keepers) and then I had to wait 3 years for the next one to finally come out. I am not certain if they had just planned to leave it as a standalone or if other factors waylaid the continuation of the series. I think it was the change in cover when they went to paperback that also saw the change in title; adding the subtitle Disney After Dark and this change allowed them to turn the original title into the series title. I was lucky enough to hear Pearson talk about the series at the D23 Expo back in 2011. It was interesting to hear him talk about the research that goes into the books (how he has pretty much unlimited access to the parks) but also the ways in which his hands are tied. Disney is very strict in how their brand is displayed and I am sure their rules often keep the series from going in certain directions. Makes me wonder how free Pearson is to really take the story line where he wants it.

As many a review before has stated this is a great concept but it could have been done better. The biggest complaint for me is the portrayal of the adults. Once again we have adults who will use fall for any excuse and appear to be more than okay with sending these young characters off to dangerous situations that the adults are unable to handle. I know, I know, this is done to give those young characters the chance to save the day, but, again, it could be done better. I can see why they do this with the parents (tweens already view them as slightly clueless right?) but I had the most trouble when Wayne would do this. He is supposed to be the ‘mastermind’ behind getting the kids in there and the leader of this fight to save the parks. But the scenes with him always involved him talking in riddles; half the time he demanded quick resolutions but would end the conversation by saying, “You figure it out” when the kids asked for clarification. Plus he had been involved in this since Walt Disney was still alive and had not been able to figure out a riddle it took the kids a few days to solve? Then there was no explanation on how that information would help tip the scales, the book just ended with them stealing the information from their adversaries.

The main characters are all supposed to be around thirteen I think Finn is closer to the fourteen mark. But, their interactions did not easily come off as real-life tweens at those ages; the part that really made this point for me was when Willa showed up in a long nightgown and told the others her mom had put her to bed. I cannot think of many 13-year-olds that allow their mothers to put them to bed let alone pick out their clothes. The characters felt younger to me, and I think that along with the premise of the story does leave this open to those younger readers more so than older readers. Of course these aspects do give those slighter older readers the chance to relive similar moments they may have experienced and like any series, readers can grow with the characters.

There are now 5 books in the series, and from what I have read and heard it will stop at 7. Then for readers who like that inclusion of Disney-style fables Pearson co-wrote the Peter and the Star Catcher series. 

I definitely prefer the original cover to these new ones. The one on the right is the new cover art they are using for all the books.