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Keepers of the Pact
A thrilling middle-grade adventure set in Newfoundland, featuring mermaids, intrepid explorers, and ancient secrets. Every town has a secret. And Brigus in Newfoundland and Labrador is no different. For hundreds of years the Pact of Protection has held, and the seaside fishing town has guarded an ancient and dangerous knowledge. But when business tycoon Mr. Grey begins blasting rock for a tunnel, it's more than rock that is blown the pact itself is weakened and bits of the secret begin to slip out. In their search for hidden pirate treasure, twelve-year-old Alistair and his friends Ben and Sadie stumble into the middle of this mystery. The more they learn about the pact, the more the shrieking song, the unexplained leaks in fishing vessels, and the mystery ship in the harbour begin to make sense. Partnering with the pact keepers, Alistair, Ben, and Sadie must re-instate the agreement for the benefit of all. If they don't, a lot more than a few ships will be harmed. Everything the good people of Brigus understand about the sea could be in danger. A magical middle grade novel full of intrigue and adventure, Keepers of the Pact will inspire bravery in intrepid explorers and mystery seekers everywhere.
- GenresFantasy
208 pages, Paperback
Published July 21, 2023
About the author
Karen Kelloway
1 book3 followersKaren Kelloway is an author of both fiction and non-fiction books that take readers on an exciting, rewarding and universally relevant hero’s journey.
Karen is also the Founder/CEO of the Career Story Project. She works with organizations, executives, and entrepreneurs to create a rewarding career path and believes in the power of storytelling to learn life lessons. Karen lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia, with her husband, two teenagers, and their fluffy black-and-white Havanese, Chewie. Find her at karenkelloway.com.
Karen is also the Founder/CEO of the Career Story Project. She works with organizations, executives, and entrepreneurs to create a rewarding career path and believes in the power of storytelling to learn life lessons. Karen lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia, with her husband, two teenagers, and their fluffy black-and-white Havanese, Chewie. Find her at karenkelloway.com.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
August 19, 2023
KEEPERS OF THE PACT by Karen Kelloway published by Nimbus Publishing and Vagrant Press.
“If you talk to the animals they will talk with you and you will know each other. If you do not talk to them, you will not know them and what you do not know you will fear. What one fears one destroys. “ - Chief Dan George
A sensitively told story of traditional legends and age old beliefs of interactions between humans and merpeople.
Three young friends discover more than they bargain for when they set out to find rumoured treasure in a nearby cave.
There are secrets in this small Newfoundland town. Alistair, Ben and Sadie are soon deeply involved in helping and becoming members of The Keepers of the Pact. A pact readers will discover was made long ago among humans to protect precious merpeople.
Fast paced, with equal parts mystery and intrigue, this middle grade novel will keep readers up past their bedtimes in their race to finish it and uncover the secrets that are skillfully revealed by the book’s ending.
The author has given readers lots to think about in their interactions with animals, the sea and each other. She has underlined the value of protecting our oceans and all those who live in and out of it while clearly entertaining at the same time.
I particularly loved how the author re-enforced the necessity of taking the time to listen to elders without being preachy. I also loved that she gave young people the opportunity to prove that they too can play a role in helping on very big situations.
An engaging, well-plotted book. I feel certain young readers will enjoy from start to finish.
* Book # 2 of the Kindred Spirits Across the Miles Book Club with Sue Slade
“If you talk to the animals they will talk with you and you will know each other. If you do not talk to them, you will not know them and what you do not know you will fear. What one fears one destroys. “ - Chief Dan George
A sensitively told story of traditional legends and age old beliefs of interactions between humans and merpeople.
Three young friends discover more than they bargain for when they set out to find rumoured treasure in a nearby cave.
There are secrets in this small Newfoundland town. Alistair, Ben and Sadie are soon deeply involved in helping and becoming members of The Keepers of the Pact. A pact readers will discover was made long ago among humans to protect precious merpeople.
Fast paced, with equal parts mystery and intrigue, this middle grade novel will keep readers up past their bedtimes in their race to finish it and uncover the secrets that are skillfully revealed by the book’s ending.
The author has given readers lots to think about in their interactions with animals, the sea and each other. She has underlined the value of protecting our oceans and all those who live in and out of it while clearly entertaining at the same time.
I particularly loved how the author re-enforced the necessity of taking the time to listen to elders without being preachy. I also loved that she gave young people the opportunity to prove that they too can play a role in helping on very big situations.
An engaging, well-plotted book. I feel certain young readers will enjoy from start to finish.
* Book # 2 of the Kindred Spirits Across the Miles Book Club with Sue Slade
April 16, 2024
Read to my kiddos (6 and 8) and they really liked it.
December 10, 2025
“Keepers of the Pact” by Karen Kelloway is a Boys and girls adventure story which has engaging characters, caves, sea creatures, kids taking a sailboat through foggy ocean, and a lighthouse.
It does not transport me back to childhood in NFLD but I think it does transport young readers in a good adventure.
It does not transport me back to childhood in NFLD but I think it does transport young readers in a good adventure.
April 2, 2026
A fun middle grade story with a touch of fantasy that kept me turning the pages. The mystery at the center was interesting, though I found myself wishing for a stronger, more developed storyline around the “secret.”
One of the highlights was the lighthearted adventure—especially the cow-chasing moments—which added a playful charm to the story. I also enjoyed how different adults contributed small clues along the way, helping the characters slowly uncover what was really going on.
Overall, an engaging read with a whimsical feel, even if I wanted a bit more depth in the main plot.
One of the highlights was the lighthearted adventure—especially the cow-chasing moments—which added a playful charm to the story. I also enjoyed how different adults contributed small clues along the way, helping the characters slowly uncover what was really going on.
Overall, an engaging read with a whimsical feel, even if I wanted a bit more depth in the main plot.
Want to Read
June 5, 2026Week 1. Question: Do you hope to finish this book in twelve (12) weeks? Will you finish it on your own if you don’t finish it in class? Why or why not?
Yes, I hope to finish this book in the twelve weeks that we have in class because it is so far a very good book with lots of things that interest me. This novel is called Keepers of the pact and it is about a fishing town in Newfoundland that supposedly has hidden treasure. I want to finish this book in twelve weeks because I feel like I can relate to what's happening a bit and because it is an intriguing book so far and I want the satisfaction of finishing it. I can relate to this book because my cottage is in a fishing town and I know what it takes to be a fisherman and that they two have their secrets around my area as well, not treasure but other interesting places and things that they don't want people to know about just like the treasure.
Week 2. Who are the main character(s) involved in the story so far? Briefly describe each character in a paragraph and try to determine their motivations.
There are three main characters, they are friends that live in a small fishing town, all three are 12 years old. The main kid is named Alister, he is a courageous, curious boy whose dad is the captain of the local fleet that spends ninety-five percent of the year on the water, so Alister does not get to see his dad that often which leads him to wonder how he is doing and what is is like to be a fisherman. Ben, who is one of Alister's friends, is a kind-hearted boy who does not take risks and always does the right thing, except when he is with Alister who is always bending the rules and doing things that he shouldn't do. Finally you have Sadie who is tough as nails, she is always up for a challenge and does not let things fly, even though she is the smallest out of the three friends, she is definitely the strongest.
Week 3. What does the main character want or need? What will get in the way of that? How will the character overcome the problem? & Are there any hints or clues in the way this story is written? Does the genre of the story help you to make any predictions?
Alister, the main character, wants something that will make him a hero, a pioneer in his town. Alister wants treasure. Every town has secrets and this town's secret is hidden treasure, and Alister wants to find it, and he wants it badly, he will do anything to this treasure. Although there is a mysterious ship in the harbour which is anchored right over where the treasure supposedly is. I think that that ship will cause trouble in Alister's hopes of finding this treasure. To overcome this problem I think that Alister and his friends are going to go out into the harbour in a dory to find a way to get the treasure right then and there or sabotage the mysterious ship so that they do not find the treasure before Alister and his friends do. I think that Alister will overcome this problem and the book is kind of giving that sense away because Alister seems to live a very hard life and I think that he will be rewarded by something like finding the treasure.
Week 4. What personal experience have you had that relates to the characters or plot of this book? Describe your experience, and then describe the part of the book that relates to it. How are they similar?
This book that I am reading is based in a small fishing town in Newfoundland and they live life a very old school way on that island. (the small town is on an island.) They make there money from their natural resources like blueberries and their fish. To get around the island they either walk or bike, only a few people have cars. There is one grocery store and one convenient store that the whole town lives off of, they also have bakeries and stuff like that, but my point is that they live a simple, old school life. My connection to this is my cottage. My cottage is in a small town by the ocean. We have one convenient store and a bakery. Everyone has cars to get to their cottages but when you're there you do not use them, you walk or bike around, just like the little town. In the book they are searching for the town's hidden treasure. At my cottage there is no hidden treasure but we do go looking on our bike for specific little things that are hidden at a beach or in the forest, that is how I connect to the book I am reading.
Week 5. Based on what you know now, how will the story end? Describe your ending, and then describe elements of the story that led you to your conclusions.
Based on what I have read, I think that this story will end with the good guys succeeding. More specifically the three main characters, Alister, Ben and Sadie will find the treasure that is supposedly hidden in a cave across the bay from their town. They will sail out to the cave and with the help of the mysterious ship in the bay they will search the cave and find the treasure which will be the classic box of gold and expensive accessories. There are a few key events that happen in the story that lead me to think that that is how the story will end. First, is that the three friends have already tried twice to go out to the cave and find the treasure so I think they are going to want to find more than ever. As well as the determination that they have the fact that the mysterious ship helped them hide from some bad people once already so I think they will turn out to be nice and help them find the treasure.
Week 6. Describe a scene in the book where a sensory image is used. What sense does the author appeal to? How does the sensory image work to give the reader a better sense of the characters?
There was a part in the book where the three kids, Alister, Ben and Sadie were sneaking on a mystery boat and the crew from the boat found them and put them in a little cargo box that is meant to store the fish. They described the stench of old fish and how they were just sitting in that for 20 minutes, it really made me smell that unappealing fish smell and even made me feel that sick feeling in my stomach. This sensory image in particular really gives me a better sense of what the characters were going through because I have smelt that smell before and it is incredibly unpleasant and it almost made me feel like I was in the book with them.
Week 7. Summarizing (Chapter 23)
Alister and his friends are returning their skiff from being parked at the lighthouse wharf. They all do their job like taking down the sail, taking all the water out, etcetera. Ben leaves to go take the skimmed milk back to his parents store and Sadie returns to her house to go help her mom with some chores. Alister is on his way to old man Jake's house to ask about something that came up during the day. On his way he looks back at the skiff one more time and realizes that Sadie did not take down the sail the way that Alister's dad likes it, so he goes back to fix it. When he arrives he looks in the water around him and sees a face, he screams but realizes that it is a merperson. Although he knows it is a merperson he still screams and falls when the merperson calls out his dad’s name. Alister is on the ground and his mom shows up, hoping that his mom doesn't realise that he has been on the water all day Alister tries to act like he is watching the mysterious boat come to shore. His mom arrives and sees Alister's dads favorite compass sitting on the doc next to Alister, she points it out and says to put it away when he gets home. Alister was confused because that compass fell out of his pocket in the cave a couple weeks ago. Then he realizes that it was the merperson that gave it back, because it is his dads compass and the merperson called out his dads name. Ben returns home and puts back the compass.
Week 8. Are there any characters, character traits, or other situations/elements that you think the author is specifically employing to combat negative stereotypes or attitudes, or historical discrimination? What are they? Are they effective?
In this book there are a couple of characters and character traits that combat very common stereotypes in the olden days but also in today's world. The character that combats the negative stereotypes is Sadie, she is a 13 year old girl whose father left town when she was really young. With that kind of situation the stereotype would be that she is the classic teenage girl, all she cares about is her looks, and what others think about her, she is always hanging out with her girl friends and can’t do dirty type work. She is almost the complete opposite. She is a teenage girl who lives in a small fishing village. She does not care about her looks because she is always dirty and stinky from doing all kinds of hard dirty work. She is always hanging out with her friends but first of all they are boys and second, they don't hangout and watch tv or do lazy classic teenage stuff like that, they are always working, sailing or exploring the amazing nature filled town they live in. Unlike the stereotypical 13 year old girl she is very competent with doing hard physical labor, out of her two other friends who are both boys she is the most competent of them all. They are very accurate counter stereotypes because it is showing that girls are not incompetent with stuff like that.
Week 9. Describe some of the secondary characters in the story. What roles do they play? In what ways are they important to the unfolding of the story?
There are three really important secondary characters in this book, Grey, Kiju and Old man Jake. Starting with Grey. Grey is a 40-50 year old man. He is the stereotypical rich man, cares about himself and no one else. He grew up just like all of the other people in this town, fishing and working at their parents' shops. Although he chose a different path than all the other people. He decided to risk it all and buy the company that owns all the fishing boats and sells the fish. He is a very bossy, selfish personne, all he cares about is money. Right now in the book he is supporting a Scottish ship to take the merpeople from the sea, put them on their ship and put them in an aquarium in Scotland because he will get paid from this. Kiju is part of the First Nations on the island. She is the grandmother of Ben and she can talk to the animal. She is a very caring, thoughtful person. She is short and wears her tribes clothing type, which is extravagant and very warm and built for the island. Old man Jake is an old fisherman. He was the captain of the big ship that went out for long periods of time to fish. He sits on the deck of his shed on the waterfront with his dog sitting next to him white repairing fishing nets. They are all very important because they all help Alister and his friends in different ways to save the merpeople.
Week 10. Describe how you feel about a character in the book. If they were a real person, would you want to know them? Why or why not?
I think Alister is a great person, he is empathetic, he can talk to merpeople, he is kind and humble through all of his talents. He is very nice and supportive but he is also a great sailor. He is one of the best sailors out of the three friends in the book and I think that it would be really cool to know him in person. I like to sail and having a great sailor with all of those traits as well would be a great friend to have on and off the water. If I were to choose one person to be friends with in this book I would choose Alister.
Week 11. If they made a film or TV version of the book, what would it be like? TV show or movie? Animated? Live-action? A mix? Why? What celebrities would play the starring roles?
If they made some sort of film on this book it would be a movie. It would be a movie because it is based off of one big event/goal that they are trying to accomplish so they do not have enough information and a big enough story line to make different shows. The celebrities that would star would be the same as Harry Potter. Harry would be Alister, Ron would be Ben and Hermionie would be Sadie. The reason for this is because they are very similar type books with the characters having similar personalities and to have a throw back of the Harry Potter series.
Week 12. Who did the author write this book for? What were they hoping to get their readers to think about? Were they successful? Why or why not?
This author wrote this book for a wide range of audiences. The two most targeted audiences are people who live in the maritimes and people who do not have access to the ocean. The reason why the maritimes are a targeted audience is so that they can feel a bit related to it, feel as if they are in the book. The book teaches maritimers by how it really emphasizes the fact that you need to keep the ocean clean but also respect it and everything that lives within it. The other targeted audience would be people who live in the middle of a continent where they do not have access to the ocean. The reason this is a targeted audience is to teach them the way of life in the places and how they may want to come and live that life some day.
Yes, I hope to finish this book in the twelve weeks that we have in class because it is so far a very good book with lots of things that interest me. This novel is called Keepers of the pact and it is about a fishing town in Newfoundland that supposedly has hidden treasure. I want to finish this book in twelve weeks because I feel like I can relate to what's happening a bit and because it is an intriguing book so far and I want the satisfaction of finishing it. I can relate to this book because my cottage is in a fishing town and I know what it takes to be a fisherman and that they two have their secrets around my area as well, not treasure but other interesting places and things that they don't want people to know about just like the treasure.
Week 2. Who are the main character(s) involved in the story so far? Briefly describe each character in a paragraph and try to determine their motivations.
There are three main characters, they are friends that live in a small fishing town, all three are 12 years old. The main kid is named Alister, he is a courageous, curious boy whose dad is the captain of the local fleet that spends ninety-five percent of the year on the water, so Alister does not get to see his dad that often which leads him to wonder how he is doing and what is is like to be a fisherman. Ben, who is one of Alister's friends, is a kind-hearted boy who does not take risks and always does the right thing, except when he is with Alister who is always bending the rules and doing things that he shouldn't do. Finally you have Sadie who is tough as nails, she is always up for a challenge and does not let things fly, even though she is the smallest out of the three friends, she is definitely the strongest.
Week 3. What does the main character want or need? What will get in the way of that? How will the character overcome the problem? & Are there any hints or clues in the way this story is written? Does the genre of the story help you to make any predictions?
Alister, the main character, wants something that will make him a hero, a pioneer in his town. Alister wants treasure. Every town has secrets and this town's secret is hidden treasure, and Alister wants to find it, and he wants it badly, he will do anything to this treasure. Although there is a mysterious ship in the harbour which is anchored right over where the treasure supposedly is. I think that that ship will cause trouble in Alister's hopes of finding this treasure. To overcome this problem I think that Alister and his friends are going to go out into the harbour in a dory to find a way to get the treasure right then and there or sabotage the mysterious ship so that they do not find the treasure before Alister and his friends do. I think that Alister will overcome this problem and the book is kind of giving that sense away because Alister seems to live a very hard life and I think that he will be rewarded by something like finding the treasure.
Week 4. What personal experience have you had that relates to the characters or plot of this book? Describe your experience, and then describe the part of the book that relates to it. How are they similar?
This book that I am reading is based in a small fishing town in Newfoundland and they live life a very old school way on that island. (the small town is on an island.) They make there money from their natural resources like blueberries and their fish. To get around the island they either walk or bike, only a few people have cars. There is one grocery store and one convenient store that the whole town lives off of, they also have bakeries and stuff like that, but my point is that they live a simple, old school life. My connection to this is my cottage. My cottage is in a small town by the ocean. We have one convenient store and a bakery. Everyone has cars to get to their cottages but when you're there you do not use them, you walk or bike around, just like the little town. In the book they are searching for the town's hidden treasure. At my cottage there is no hidden treasure but we do go looking on our bike for specific little things that are hidden at a beach or in the forest, that is how I connect to the book I am reading.
Week 5. Based on what you know now, how will the story end? Describe your ending, and then describe elements of the story that led you to your conclusions.
Based on what I have read, I think that this story will end with the good guys succeeding. More specifically the three main characters, Alister, Ben and Sadie will find the treasure that is supposedly hidden in a cave across the bay from their town. They will sail out to the cave and with the help of the mysterious ship in the bay they will search the cave and find the treasure which will be the classic box of gold and expensive accessories. There are a few key events that happen in the story that lead me to think that that is how the story will end. First, is that the three friends have already tried twice to go out to the cave and find the treasure so I think they are going to want to find more than ever. As well as the determination that they have the fact that the mysterious ship helped them hide from some bad people once already so I think they will turn out to be nice and help them find the treasure.
Week 6. Describe a scene in the book where a sensory image is used. What sense does the author appeal to? How does the sensory image work to give the reader a better sense of the characters?
There was a part in the book where the three kids, Alister, Ben and Sadie were sneaking on a mystery boat and the crew from the boat found them and put them in a little cargo box that is meant to store the fish. They described the stench of old fish and how they were just sitting in that for 20 minutes, it really made me smell that unappealing fish smell and even made me feel that sick feeling in my stomach. This sensory image in particular really gives me a better sense of what the characters were going through because I have smelt that smell before and it is incredibly unpleasant and it almost made me feel like I was in the book with them.
Week 7. Summarizing (Chapter 23)
Alister and his friends are returning their skiff from being parked at the lighthouse wharf. They all do their job like taking down the sail, taking all the water out, etcetera. Ben leaves to go take the skimmed milk back to his parents store and Sadie returns to her house to go help her mom with some chores. Alister is on his way to old man Jake's house to ask about something that came up during the day. On his way he looks back at the skiff one more time and realizes that Sadie did not take down the sail the way that Alister's dad likes it, so he goes back to fix it. When he arrives he looks in the water around him and sees a face, he screams but realizes that it is a merperson. Although he knows it is a merperson he still screams and falls when the merperson calls out his dad’s name. Alister is on the ground and his mom shows up, hoping that his mom doesn't realise that he has been on the water all day Alister tries to act like he is watching the mysterious boat come to shore. His mom arrives and sees Alister's dads favorite compass sitting on the doc next to Alister, she points it out and says to put it away when he gets home. Alister was confused because that compass fell out of his pocket in the cave a couple weeks ago. Then he realizes that it was the merperson that gave it back, because it is his dads compass and the merperson called out his dads name. Ben returns home and puts back the compass.
Week 8. Are there any characters, character traits, or other situations/elements that you think the author is specifically employing to combat negative stereotypes or attitudes, or historical discrimination? What are they? Are they effective?
In this book there are a couple of characters and character traits that combat very common stereotypes in the olden days but also in today's world. The character that combats the negative stereotypes is Sadie, she is a 13 year old girl whose father left town when she was really young. With that kind of situation the stereotype would be that she is the classic teenage girl, all she cares about is her looks, and what others think about her, she is always hanging out with her girl friends and can’t do dirty type work. She is almost the complete opposite. She is a teenage girl who lives in a small fishing village. She does not care about her looks because she is always dirty and stinky from doing all kinds of hard dirty work. She is always hanging out with her friends but first of all they are boys and second, they don't hangout and watch tv or do lazy classic teenage stuff like that, they are always working, sailing or exploring the amazing nature filled town they live in. Unlike the stereotypical 13 year old girl she is very competent with doing hard physical labor, out of her two other friends who are both boys she is the most competent of them all. They are very accurate counter stereotypes because it is showing that girls are not incompetent with stuff like that.
Week 9. Describe some of the secondary characters in the story. What roles do they play? In what ways are they important to the unfolding of the story?
There are three really important secondary characters in this book, Grey, Kiju and Old man Jake. Starting with Grey. Grey is a 40-50 year old man. He is the stereotypical rich man, cares about himself and no one else. He grew up just like all of the other people in this town, fishing and working at their parents' shops. Although he chose a different path than all the other people. He decided to risk it all and buy the company that owns all the fishing boats and sells the fish. He is a very bossy, selfish personne, all he cares about is money. Right now in the book he is supporting a Scottish ship to take the merpeople from the sea, put them on their ship and put them in an aquarium in Scotland because he will get paid from this. Kiju is part of the First Nations on the island. She is the grandmother of Ben and she can talk to the animal. She is a very caring, thoughtful person. She is short and wears her tribes clothing type, which is extravagant and very warm and built for the island. Old man Jake is an old fisherman. He was the captain of the big ship that went out for long periods of time to fish. He sits on the deck of his shed on the waterfront with his dog sitting next to him white repairing fishing nets. They are all very important because they all help Alister and his friends in different ways to save the merpeople.
Week 10. Describe how you feel about a character in the book. If they were a real person, would you want to know them? Why or why not?
I think Alister is a great person, he is empathetic, he can talk to merpeople, he is kind and humble through all of his talents. He is very nice and supportive but he is also a great sailor. He is one of the best sailors out of the three friends in the book and I think that it would be really cool to know him in person. I like to sail and having a great sailor with all of those traits as well would be a great friend to have on and off the water. If I were to choose one person to be friends with in this book I would choose Alister.
Week 11. If they made a film or TV version of the book, what would it be like? TV show or movie? Animated? Live-action? A mix? Why? What celebrities would play the starring roles?
If they made some sort of film on this book it would be a movie. It would be a movie because it is based off of one big event/goal that they are trying to accomplish so they do not have enough information and a big enough story line to make different shows. The celebrities that would star would be the same as Harry Potter. Harry would be Alister, Ron would be Ben and Hermionie would be Sadie. The reason for this is because they are very similar type books with the characters having similar personalities and to have a throw back of the Harry Potter series.
Week 12. Who did the author write this book for? What were they hoping to get their readers to think about? Were they successful? Why or why not?
This author wrote this book for a wide range of audiences. The two most targeted audiences are people who live in the maritimes and people who do not have access to the ocean. The reason why the maritimes are a targeted audience is so that they can feel a bit related to it, feel as if they are in the book. The book teaches maritimers by how it really emphasizes the fact that you need to keep the ocean clean but also respect it and everything that lives within it. The other targeted audience would be people who live in the middle of a continent where they do not have access to the ocean. The reason this is a targeted audience is to teach them the way of life in the places and how they may want to come and live that life some day.
September 22, 2023
Keepers of the Pact by Karen Kelloway is an intriguing read for Middle Graders published by Nimbus Publishing.
The pacing moves the plot along smoothly with perils and cliffhangers capping of each short chapter to keep the young reader engaged. I loved Karen's take on merpeople and her well researched intertwining of Ingenious legend, small fishing village life in Newfoundland, and relatable characters, all wrapped up in a good mystery.
A fun, engaging read for kids and 50 somethings like me.
The pacing moves the plot along smoothly with perils and cliffhangers capping of each short chapter to keep the young reader engaged. I loved Karen's take on merpeople and her well researched intertwining of Ingenious legend, small fishing village life in Newfoundland, and relatable characters, all wrapped up in a good mystery.
A fun, engaging read for kids and 50 somethings like me.
September 27, 2023
Published in the Miramichi Reader on September 24- 2023
https://miramichireader.ca/2023/09/ke...
Fondly known as a lopsided three-legged stool, Alistair, Ben, and Sadie are generally always together, and despite being the same age, their heights are radically different. The 12-year-old trio live in the historic town of Brigus in Newfoundland and are on the hunt for the Misty Cove Treasure. According to Ben’s Grandmother/ Kiju, pirates visited their cove a hundred years ago, hid their treasure, and were unable to return to get it.
But instead of finding hidden treasure, they stumble upon something straight out of Myths and Legends. Strange shrieks (maybe it’s a dying seagull?), unexplained leaks in the fishing vessels (are they caused by the blasting?), and what was that in the water…? All these mysteries will keep you invested in this story right until the end.
Keepers of the Pact also has you dreaming of what you’d buy with your share of the treasure. Would you be like Ben and want to buy a candy pantry and enjoy Halloween all year round, or would you buy a new skiff like Alistair?
With its attractive cover and fun map at the beginning of the book, Keepers of the Pact is sure to not only engage middle-graders but their teachers as well. With 34 short chapters, this would make a great classroom read-aloud novel. There are even some insightful and thoughtful discussion questions and a writing exercise at the end. The captivating first chapter would also make this the perfect book for first-chapter Fridays.
https://miramichireader.ca/2023/09/ke...
Fondly known as a lopsided three-legged stool, Alistair, Ben, and Sadie are generally always together, and despite being the same age, their heights are radically different. The 12-year-old trio live in the historic town of Brigus in Newfoundland and are on the hunt for the Misty Cove Treasure. According to Ben’s Grandmother/ Kiju, pirates visited their cove a hundred years ago, hid their treasure, and were unable to return to get it.
But instead of finding hidden treasure, they stumble upon something straight out of Myths and Legends. Strange shrieks (maybe it’s a dying seagull?), unexplained leaks in the fishing vessels (are they caused by the blasting?), and what was that in the water…? All these mysteries will keep you invested in this story right until the end.
Keepers of the Pact also has you dreaming of what you’d buy with your share of the treasure. Would you be like Ben and want to buy a candy pantry and enjoy Halloween all year round, or would you buy a new skiff like Alistair?
With its attractive cover and fun map at the beginning of the book, Keepers of the Pact is sure to not only engage middle-graders but their teachers as well. With 34 short chapters, this would make a great classroom read-aloud novel. There are even some insightful and thoughtful discussion questions and a writing exercise at the end. The captivating first chapter would also make this the perfect book for first-chapter Fridays.
January 11, 2024
There's nothing quite like an adventure read to brighten up a weekend! This book has all the things that make up an edge-of-your-seat story--treasure hunting, "pirates" mer-people, and three precocious 12-year old adventurers. Throw in a HUGE town secret, and you have "Keepers of the Pact."
One of the things I liked best about this story was that each of the three children played a vital part in the unfolding of the plot. Alastair may be the "main character," but he could not have succeeded in their mission, if it were not for his two best friends, Sadie and Ben. What begins as three kids on a treasure hunt, becomes MUCH MORE! (I won't say any more, because I don't want to give any "spoilers!")
I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I started this book, but I now know that the author delivered! Do yourself a favor and READ THIS BOOK! I know I will be looking for more books to read by Karen Kelloway!
Thank you to NetGalley, for a free download of this book, in exchange for an honest review. Reading this book was a joy!
One of the things I liked best about this story was that each of the three children played a vital part in the unfolding of the plot. Alastair may be the "main character," but he could not have succeeded in their mission, if it were not for his two best friends, Sadie and Ben. What begins as three kids on a treasure hunt, becomes MUCH MORE! (I won't say any more, because I don't want to give any "spoilers!")
I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I started this book, but I now know that the author delivered! Do yourself a favor and READ THIS BOOK! I know I will be looking for more books to read by Karen Kelloway!
Thank you to NetGalley, for a free download of this book, in exchange for an honest review. Reading this book was a joy!
August 30, 2023
Keepers of the Pact had me eagerly turning the page to see what was going to happen next in this fun-filled story where secrets are slowly unravelled. The author did a great job breathing life into the characters and their adventures around Brigus. Although written for a younger audience, it can definitely be enjoyed by readers of all ages.
November 2, 2023
Jorja's review:
Alistair is a twelve year old boy who lives in Brigus Newfoundland and Labrador. Brigus is a fishing town and Alistair’s dad is a fisher who is almost always out at sea. His father forbade him from going out in his skiff when he is not home. One day when his father is gone Mr. Grey, the owner of the docks starts blasting a tunnel near one the docks. The community begins to theorizer’s what he is doing. Some think he’s looking for treasure, while others think he is making a landing port for supplies. The treasure theory peaks Alistair’s interest along with his friends, Sadie and Ben. They decide to take Alistair’s dads skiff and compass to go and investigate the blast site. While looking around they find a small tunnel. Alistair feels he can fit through, so he takes off his life jacket and goes in. Once Alistair goes through the tunnel he falls into a deep pond and starts to drown from the weight of the seaweed and his clothes. Sadie and Ben start to panic because they can’t get through the tunnel to help Alistair, but then a strange creature saves Alistair and brings him back to his friends. They decide to leave after this close call but they can’t explain what just saved Alistair’s life. While leaving they see a new ship coming in to the harbor called “My Dream”. Everyone in the town is interested in this new ship. They notice that the only person who goes on or off the boat is Mr. Grey and the crew of the ship fish everyday but never seem to catch anything. One day Alistair and his friends see the crew bring up something bigger than what they have ever seen in their harbor before. This makes Alistair, Sadie and Ben suspicious so they sneak on the boat, but what they discover leads them to things that were supposed to be kept a secret to everyone in Brigus.
I really enjoyed this book and the fact that it talks about indigenous people, the people of Brigus, and the connections they have to each other. I also really liked that Alistair, Sadie and Ben reminded me of Harry, Hermione and Ron through their personalities and the dangerous situations that they get themselves into. I rate this book a 4/5.
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Julia's review:
This book follows our main character Alistair along with his friends, Sadie and Ben who must put the Pact of Protection back to save the small town of Brigus, Newfoundland.
I would classify this book as a fantasy adventure kinda book because there is a lot that goes on during the book. I picked this book as my next read because the author wrote this book for her son who liked Harry Potter, Percy Jackson and most importantly The Land Of Stories ( which is one of my favourite series of all time) and I was hooked on how she wrote a fantasy novel for people who loved these stories.
I loved this book because I absolutely loved the setting, being from Newfoundland and Labrador I get to see a lot of beautiful places such as Brigus. Although this book is not set In Nova Scotia, it does have a Nova Scotian author and a Nova Scotian publishing! I think everyone should read this book for the beautiful descriptions of Newfoundland and the awesome Blueberry festival!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars
Alistair is a twelve year old boy who lives in Brigus Newfoundland and Labrador. Brigus is a fishing town and Alistair’s dad is a fisher who is almost always out at sea. His father forbade him from going out in his skiff when he is not home. One day when his father is gone Mr. Grey, the owner of the docks starts blasting a tunnel near one the docks. The community begins to theorizer’s what he is doing. Some think he’s looking for treasure, while others think he is making a landing port for supplies. The treasure theory peaks Alistair’s interest along with his friends, Sadie and Ben. They decide to take Alistair’s dads skiff and compass to go and investigate the blast site. While looking around they find a small tunnel. Alistair feels he can fit through, so he takes off his life jacket and goes in. Once Alistair goes through the tunnel he falls into a deep pond and starts to drown from the weight of the seaweed and his clothes. Sadie and Ben start to panic because they can’t get through the tunnel to help Alistair, but then a strange creature saves Alistair and brings him back to his friends. They decide to leave after this close call but they can’t explain what just saved Alistair’s life. While leaving they see a new ship coming in to the harbor called “My Dream”. Everyone in the town is interested in this new ship. They notice that the only person who goes on or off the boat is Mr. Grey and the crew of the ship fish everyday but never seem to catch anything. One day Alistair and his friends see the crew bring up something bigger than what they have ever seen in their harbor before. This makes Alistair, Sadie and Ben suspicious so they sneak on the boat, but what they discover leads them to things that were supposed to be kept a secret to everyone in Brigus.
I really enjoyed this book and the fact that it talks about indigenous people, the people of Brigus, and the connections they have to each other. I also really liked that Alistair, Sadie and Ben reminded me of Harry, Hermione and Ron through their personalities and the dangerous situations that they get themselves into. I rate this book a 4/5.
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Julia's review:
This book follows our main character Alistair along with his friends, Sadie and Ben who must put the Pact of Protection back to save the small town of Brigus, Newfoundland.
I would classify this book as a fantasy adventure kinda book because there is a lot that goes on during the book. I picked this book as my next read because the author wrote this book for her son who liked Harry Potter, Percy Jackson and most importantly The Land Of Stories ( which is one of my favourite series of all time) and I was hooked on how she wrote a fantasy novel for people who loved these stories.
I loved this book because I absolutely loved the setting, being from Newfoundland and Labrador I get to see a lot of beautiful places such as Brigus. Although this book is not set In Nova Scotia, it does have a Nova Scotian author and a Nova Scotian publishing! I think everyone should read this book for the beautiful descriptions of Newfoundland and the awesome Blueberry festival!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars
May 1, 2024
Keepers of the Pact is such a fun adventure that brings some life and mystery into a perfectly ordinary world.
I loved the messaging in this book, I’m actually sad that I didn’t realize that this held Indigenous themes a bit sooner, because I could have reviewed this book for Bridge to Publishing, but instead I did it for Digitally Lit . :/.
Other than that, I really enjoy reading fantasy books, and this one really reminded me of Kira’s Secret Secret by Orysia Dawydiak
I loved the messaging in this book, it was very heartfelt, very touching, very sweet, and very important. I love how Indigenous themes were woven into it, and how they were presented in a fun way for readers to learn. I feel like readers that are familiar with the information would also have a good time reading it, and so would readers that weren’t originally familiar with the information. There’s a lot of fun humor, fun adventure, mystery, and fantasy. I’ve no doubt that anyone who picks up this book will have a good time.
The characters were strong and well written, with a good plot to drive the story forward. If you go looking for adventure, you usually find it, and that’s something that I kept in mind for the duration of this book. If I was thinking that certain aspects of it weren’t realistic (because let’s be real for a moment, what 12yr old takes a boat out in the morning to sneak out into some sea caves), I always thought “oh this is only something that happens in books”…. well I hate to break it to you, but this is a book. Haha. It’s such a fun filled adventure where both the readers and the characters learn new things. It really feels like a real story, and I suppose it’s based on a real story, the elements that we don’t usually get to see that are within Indigenous myths, legends, and history. It’s safe to say that I really enjoyed Keepers of the Pact, and it’s truly a book that people of all ages can enjoy. I really hope that you check it out and that you have fun reading it!
I loved the messaging in this book, I’m actually sad that I didn’t realize that this held Indigenous themes a bit sooner, because I could have reviewed this book for Bridge to Publishing, but instead I did it for Digitally Lit . :/.
Other than that, I really enjoy reading fantasy books, and this one really reminded me of Kira’s Secret Secret by Orysia Dawydiak
I loved the messaging in this book, it was very heartfelt, very touching, very sweet, and very important. I love how Indigenous themes were woven into it, and how they were presented in a fun way for readers to learn. I feel like readers that are familiar with the information would also have a good time reading it, and so would readers that weren’t originally familiar with the information. There’s a lot of fun humor, fun adventure, mystery, and fantasy. I’ve no doubt that anyone who picks up this book will have a good time.
The characters were strong and well written, with a good plot to drive the story forward. If you go looking for adventure, you usually find it, and that’s something that I kept in mind for the duration of this book. If I was thinking that certain aspects of it weren’t realistic (because let’s be real for a moment, what 12yr old takes a boat out in the morning to sneak out into some sea caves), I always thought “oh this is only something that happens in books”…. well I hate to break it to you, but this is a book. Haha. It’s such a fun filled adventure where both the readers and the characters learn new things. It really feels like a real story, and I suppose it’s based on a real story, the elements that we don’t usually get to see that are within Indigenous myths, legends, and history. It’s safe to say that I really enjoyed Keepers of the Pact, and it’s truly a book that people of all ages can enjoy. I really hope that you check it out and that you have fun reading it!
March 8, 2024
Who doesn't enjoy a bit of intrigue, want to believe in magic, adventure and discovery? Keepers of the Pact is not just a book for kids. Hidden treasures, merpeople, ships, underwater caves, community... readers of all ages will enjoy the mystery of this well-crafted story, situated in Brigus, Newfoundland. I certainly did.
Karen Kelloway masterfully weaves a delightful story of friendship, following Alistair, Ben and Sadie through a series of adventures where it is unclear which adults in their lives they can trust with a secret they are unravelling through their discoveries. They do find guidance from Ben's Kiju (grandmother) and Chief Jo, Chief of the Seal Rock Reserve, who offers the wisdom and stories of the elders to shed light on the long-held Secrets of the Pact.
The book will have you turning pages to see what happens next. Parents and grandparents can read this book with children and grandchildren and embark on their own conversations about the mysteries that surround us all, when we have eyes, heart and wisdom to see.
Karen Kelloway masterfully weaves a delightful story of friendship, following Alistair, Ben and Sadie through a series of adventures where it is unclear which adults in their lives they can trust with a secret they are unravelling through their discoveries. They do find guidance from Ben's Kiju (grandmother) and Chief Jo, Chief of the Seal Rock Reserve, who offers the wisdom and stories of the elders to shed light on the long-held Secrets of the Pact.
The book will have you turning pages to see what happens next. Parents and grandparents can read this book with children and grandchildren and embark on their own conversations about the mysteries that surround us all, when we have eyes, heart and wisdom to see.
August 16, 2023
Karen Kelloway beautifully weaves together strands of adventure tales, mythology and lore, and the relatable lives and wonderings of young people, creating a fun and rollicking page-turner. Readers of all ages will learn from this culturally and historically rich book, and feel like they have taken a plunge into the waters of Brigus Bay with Alistair and his friends.
January 13, 2025
A cute little story! I wasn't sure whether , the reveals were solid and it lends itself well to being a possible series or just a standalone. A solid book!
January 21, 2024
I read this for fun over the weekend at a friends house. I liked it a lot and enjoyed the characters.
March 7, 2024
I loved Keepers of the Pact! What a wonderful story - the characters were fantastic and I was pulled into their world with ease and pure enjoyment.
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April 21, 2024Enjoyed this fun adventure (with a touch of fantasy) set in Newfoundland. It has a rich cast of characters you’ll be rooting for from the start. My twelve-year-old and I both enjoyed this and are hoping a sequel is in the works!
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