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Keepers of the Marsh
Twin sisters team up—despite drastically different personalities—to save their family from a bitter witch’s curse in this rich and atmospheric middle grade novel.
Twelve-year-old Lana isn’t looking for trouble when she ventures into the swampy marsh behind her family’s home in Galveston Bay. She’s just sweaty and bored and lonely, sick of sitting around doing nothing.
Her family never goes anywhere. Her mom and her sisters want nothing to do with her, and none of them will talk about their dead dad. With loads of unanswered questions and no other options, Lana decides to seek out the legendary Alligator Witch—if she’s even real.
What Lana doesn’t realize is that the Alligator Witch is very real, and has spent decades plotting her revenge on the town. When the witch swiftly casts a terrifying curse, the only person Lana can ask for help is her unfriendly and generally unwilling twin, Gracie.
Together, the twins embark on a memorable journey to make sense of the Alligator Witch's dark past, along with the unexpected role their family played in her descent. In spite of their differences, Lana and Gracie must unite to make things right and save their loved ones.
An enchanting read packed full of fascinating lore, girl-powered adventure, and just-enough danger, this story of sisterhood will keep readers turning pages. Hand to fans of exciting, lightly magical sagas like The Midnight Children and The Jumbies.
Twelve-year-old Lana isn’t looking for trouble when she ventures into the swampy marsh behind her family’s home in Galveston Bay. She’s just sweaty and bored and lonely, sick of sitting around doing nothing.
Her family never goes anywhere. Her mom and her sisters want nothing to do with her, and none of them will talk about their dead dad. With loads of unanswered questions and no other options, Lana decides to seek out the legendary Alligator Witch—if she’s even real.
What Lana doesn’t realize is that the Alligator Witch is very real, and has spent decades plotting her revenge on the town. When the witch swiftly casts a terrifying curse, the only person Lana can ask for help is her unfriendly and generally unwilling twin, Gracie.
Together, the twins embark on a memorable journey to make sense of the Alligator Witch's dark past, along with the unexpected role their family played in her descent. In spite of their differences, Lana and Gracie must unite to make things right and save their loved ones.
An enchanting read packed full of fascinating lore, girl-powered adventure, and just-enough danger, this story of sisterhood will keep readers turning pages. Hand to fans of exciting, lightly magical sagas like The Midnight Children and The Jumbies.
- GenresMiddle GradeFantasy
208 pages, Hardcover
Published May 20, 2025
About the author
Maura Jortner
4 books49 followersMaura Jortner grew up in NH but now lives in TX with her family and Shiloh, her cat, who can do tricks.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 11, 2025
2025 reads: 112/300
i received a finished copy from the publisher as part of their influencer program. this did not affect my rating.
lana was just trying to beat the end-of-summer boredom, which is what led her to the swampy marsh behind her family’s home…the very marsh her family has always warned against going into. she encounters the legendary alligator witch, who curses lana’s family members to be frozen until lana returns the witch’s things. every family member except lana’s fraternal twin, gracie, that is. the two put aside their differences to save their loved ones, learning about their family’s history along the way.
this was such a good book! this was set in galveston, texas, and i think that was the perfect setting for this story. i loved how this tied into the historical aspect of the book. the alligator witch is an old legend, and her story was explored quite well throughout. as lana and gracie worked together to uncover the mystery of the alligator witch, they got closer to each other, and even started opening about their dad, who they lost a few years ago. i thought their grief was discussed well and showed how it can be different for everyone. overall, this was a great middle grade fantasy, and i look forward to reading more from the author.
i received a finished copy from the publisher as part of their influencer program. this did not affect my rating.
lana was just trying to beat the end-of-summer boredom, which is what led her to the swampy marsh behind her family’s home…the very marsh her family has always warned against going into. she encounters the legendary alligator witch, who curses lana’s family members to be frozen until lana returns the witch’s things. every family member except lana’s fraternal twin, gracie, that is. the two put aside their differences to save their loved ones, learning about their family’s history along the way.
this was such a good book! this was set in galveston, texas, and i think that was the perfect setting for this story. i loved how this tied into the historical aspect of the book. the alligator witch is an old legend, and her story was explored quite well throughout. as lana and gracie worked together to uncover the mystery of the alligator witch, they got closer to each other, and even started opening about their dad, who they lost a few years ago. i thought their grief was discussed well and showed how it can be different for everyone. overall, this was a great middle grade fantasy, and i look forward to reading more from the author.
October 1, 2025
thank you to holiday house and walker books group for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
this was a beautiful middle grade story that depicted different ways to grieve the loss of a family member. lana’s father passed away before the start of the book and while her mom and twin sister have tried not to mention him, lana wants to honor his legacy by doing the activities he used to take them on. one such adventure, was about a local legend the alligator witch, who lives behind the property of their house and can never be visited. we follow lana after she’s met the alligator witch and placed a curse on her family members. lana has to team up with her twin sister who she finds very different from her to defeat this curse.
this was a very quick read and story that combine historical elements with a magical realism component. we would flash back between lana’s present and the past, learning how the witch came to be. my favorite part of the book was her story and how this local legend fed into the community we see at present. there are multiple families involved in this legend and each have their own purpose and motivations for how we see them today. it made for some very interesting foils to lana, who was very adament in her thinking.
as for lana, sometimes it became difficult for me to fully root for lana because she really struggled to see why her family members would grieve her father much differently from how she did. this was especially apparent in her twin sister, who would essentially shut down at any mention of their father. i do wish she grew a bit more in understanding her sister by the end of the story. but i do think she was starting to get there by the end of the story. it also helped that her mom began to see her side as well. it’s never easy to lose a family member, and i think jortner showed how important it is to discuss your feelings and actions with your family members in such a sensitive time.
this was a beautiful middle grade story that depicted different ways to grieve the loss of a family member. lana’s father passed away before the start of the book and while her mom and twin sister have tried not to mention him, lana wants to honor his legacy by doing the activities he used to take them on. one such adventure, was about a local legend the alligator witch, who lives behind the property of their house and can never be visited. we follow lana after she’s met the alligator witch and placed a curse on her family members. lana has to team up with her twin sister who she finds very different from her to defeat this curse.
this was a very quick read and story that combine historical elements with a magical realism component. we would flash back between lana’s present and the past, learning how the witch came to be. my favorite part of the book was her story and how this local legend fed into the community we see at present. there are multiple families involved in this legend and each have their own purpose and motivations for how we see them today. it made for some very interesting foils to lana, who was very adament in her thinking.
as for lana, sometimes it became difficult for me to fully root for lana because she really struggled to see why her family members would grieve her father much differently from how she did. this was especially apparent in her twin sister, who would essentially shut down at any mention of their father. i do wish she grew a bit more in understanding her sister by the end of the story. but i do think she was starting to get there by the end of the story. it also helped that her mom began to see her side as well. it’s never easy to lose a family member, and i think jortner showed how important it is to discuss your feelings and actions with your family members in such a sensitive time.
May 19, 2025
Loved, loved this one. Always moving forward, magic realism, witch in a swamp, a curse, a misunderstood young girl with powers, twins who don't look alike at all, a character who can never break a rule.
But she helps her twin sister to "jail-break" their grandmother, who just had a stroke and can't speak, to run from the home that is taking care of her. This started with a reckless action from one of the twins trying to speak to their recently deceased father to deal with grief but ended in a curse upon the family and a race that made me miss pedipaper games to find the solution to break the curse. It is an awesome trio, plus friends coming together to fight a deadline to solve more than just a frozen cat situation. Eh, eh, Toffu is awesome.
I like how the author mixes hard issues with adventure and a series of unfortunate events. This one made me curious about the previous work. Ordered that, too.
I love this cover; the colors, the twins, and the design are amazing.
But she helps her twin sister to "jail-break" their grandmother, who just had a stroke and can't speak, to run from the home that is taking care of her. This started with a reckless action from one of the twins trying to speak to their recently deceased father to deal with grief but ended in a curse upon the family and a race that made me miss pedipaper games to find the solution to break the curse. It is an awesome trio, plus friends coming together to fight a deadline to solve more than just a frozen cat situation. Eh, eh, Toffu is awesome.
I like how the author mixes hard issues with adventure and a series of unfortunate events. This one made me curious about the previous work. Ordered that, too.
I love this cover; the colors, the twins, and the design are amazing.
January 28, 2025
E ARC provided by Edelweiss
Lana's family is struggling after the death of her father two years ago. While she and her twin sister Gracie, younger sister Duck, and parents used to go out and do a lot of activities, her mother, an English teacher, is struggling with being a single parents and never wants to go out. Her grandmother, who owns a lot of land in Galveston, Texas, including the marsh near Lana's house, has had a stroke. She used to be right next door, but now is in an assisted living facility. When Lana is bored, she goes to Nana's house to play board games, and finds a note with her father's name on it, a key, and the cryptic message "Do your duty. The alligator witch is always there." Lana has grown up hearing about the alligator witch, but never took it seriously. She asks her neighbor, Mrs. LaSalle, about it, and talks to Mrs. LaSalle's mother about it. Lana decides to go into the marsh, which is never allowed because of the prevalence of alligators, and meets the witch. Of course, asking a witch questions is always a delicate matter, and Lana ends up making a deal with the witch thta freezes her mother, younger sister, and cat, Tofu! This plunges her, as well as her sister, into an old legend involving a medium named Zofia, the wealthy Getty family, and the Galveston hurrican of 1900. Nana also has a lot of information, but can't speak due to her stroke, and has trouble getting around. This doesn't stop the group from breaking Nana out of the home and riding on scooters around town! Lana learns a lot of family history, and feels closer to her father as she and her twin work to solve the mystery of the alligator witch and unfreeze her family. Afterwards, she has a heart to heart with her mother about not forgetting the father, and talking about him openly.
Strengths: I'm all for freezing relatives in order to give kids a chance to break their grandmothers out of care facilities and solve mysteries! It was also interesting to see a twin dynamic where the twins weren't exactly the best of friends, and had very different interests and friends. The legend of the alligator witch is well developed, and we get some flashbacks to Zofia's experience in 1900 with the hurricane. The setting is well described, and I felt damp and icky just reading about the marsh. The real star here is Nana, though, vaulting over a low balcony to escape, even though she needs a walker to get around, and using a note pad to communicate. Wow. Including history about the Galvestone hurricane gives this added appeal.
Weaknesses: Perhaps if Lana had been in therapy for her grief, she would have been able to let her mother grieve in her own way. It would be nice to see more constructive portrayals of parents handling grief in middle grade. There's really no point in talking about people who have died, but the mother does need to be aware of her daughter's needs.
What I really think: This was a bit difference from Jortner's 102 Days of Lying About Lauren, which I adored because of its theme park setting, but will be a huge hit with readers who like creepy, atmospheric Southern mysteries like Fournet's Brick Dust and Bones, Beasley's Tumble & Blue or Young's What Stays Buried. A good nonfiction companion would be Anderson's 2013 City of the Dead: Galveston Hurricane, 1900.
Lana's family is struggling after the death of her father two years ago. While she and her twin sister Gracie, younger sister Duck, and parents used to go out and do a lot of activities, her mother, an English teacher, is struggling with being a single parents and never wants to go out. Her grandmother, who owns a lot of land in Galveston, Texas, including the marsh near Lana's house, has had a stroke. She used to be right next door, but now is in an assisted living facility. When Lana is bored, she goes to Nana's house to play board games, and finds a note with her father's name on it, a key, and the cryptic message "Do your duty. The alligator witch is always there." Lana has grown up hearing about the alligator witch, but never took it seriously. She asks her neighbor, Mrs. LaSalle, about it, and talks to Mrs. LaSalle's mother about it. Lana decides to go into the marsh, which is never allowed because of the prevalence of alligators, and meets the witch. Of course, asking a witch questions is always a delicate matter, and Lana ends up making a deal with the witch thta freezes her mother, younger sister, and cat, Tofu! This plunges her, as well as her sister, into an old legend involving a medium named Zofia, the wealthy Getty family, and the Galveston hurrican of 1900. Nana also has a lot of information, but can't speak due to her stroke, and has trouble getting around. This doesn't stop the group from breaking Nana out of the home and riding on scooters around town! Lana learns a lot of family history, and feels closer to her father as she and her twin work to solve the mystery of the alligator witch and unfreeze her family. Afterwards, she has a heart to heart with her mother about not forgetting the father, and talking about him openly.
Strengths: I'm all for freezing relatives in order to give kids a chance to break their grandmothers out of care facilities and solve mysteries! It was also interesting to see a twin dynamic where the twins weren't exactly the best of friends, and had very different interests and friends. The legend of the alligator witch is well developed, and we get some flashbacks to Zofia's experience in 1900 with the hurricane. The setting is well described, and I felt damp and icky just reading about the marsh. The real star here is Nana, though, vaulting over a low balcony to escape, even though she needs a walker to get around, and using a note pad to communicate. Wow. Including history about the Galvestone hurricane gives this added appeal.
Weaknesses: Perhaps if Lana had been in therapy for her grief, she would have been able to let her mother grieve in her own way. It would be nice to see more constructive portrayals of parents handling grief in middle grade. There's really no point in talking about people who have died, but the mother does need to be aware of her daughter's needs.
What I really think: This was a bit difference from Jortner's 102 Days of Lying About Lauren, which I adored because of its theme park setting, but will be a huge hit with readers who like creepy, atmospheric Southern mysteries like Fournet's Brick Dust and Bones, Beasley's Tumble & Blue or Young's What Stays Buried. A good nonfiction companion would be Anderson's 2013 City of the Dead: Galveston Hurricane, 1900.
April 11, 2025
Maura Jortner (102 Days of Lying About Lauren) pivots completely from her first book with its abandonment and survival in a theme park themes and this time, brings middle grade readers to a creepy marsh with an equally creepy witchy woman who curses a family in response to her space being invaded. Trying to find a connection to her deceased father, 12 year old Lana seeks out the Alligator Witch of the marsh who has featured in Galveston legends to ask her to use her spiritualist skills to contact him. Instead, the witch sends out flames from one of her prized possessions, a candelabra, to freeze three of Lana’s most loved beings-her mother, younger sister Duck, and her cat, Tofu. The only thing that will pacify the witch and lift the curse is for Lana to find something that was stolen from her and return it. Enlisting the help of Gracie, her fraternal twin who is night & day different from her, Lana embarks on a study of Galveston’s history as it links with the story of Zofia/Alligator Witch. Along the way, she finds there are some things about her twin that are very much like her, discovers new family and a new purpose, as well as helps her still grieving family begin to talk about their dad and revisit some of their favorite memories of him.
Grief has been a central theme in many books for middle grade and teen readers but in Jortner’s KEEPERS OF THE MARSH, it is an element in a much bigger story arc that extends to themes of family, friendship, collaboration, and understanding, appreciating and even benefiting from the differences in each of us. Using real events and places important to the city of Galveston, TX gives the book a historical fiction flare at times and adds to the feeling that the Alligator Witch could be more fact than legend. The transformation of a scared young girl in 1900 to a frightening witch with an alligator as a familiar is stemmed in being wronged and subsequent bitterness, which is somewhat common, but the act that brings the change is completely unique and that blend of expected with the unusual is terrific. Lana’s realization that she and Gracie are not as different as she thought and their resulting closeness, combined with the family finally beginning to talk about their dad/husband and the healing that begins give this adventure story a touch of warmth that adds depth to the adventure. Note on cover art-The cover is engaging and sure to draw the eye of older elementary readers and does reflect physical descriptions of Lana and Gracie from the text, but the twins never went into the marsh together. Jingle note: Hum the old Kookaburra Sits on the Old Gum Tree song so you can sing with Duck when she launches into the Alligator Witch chant.
Text is free of profanity, unless you are like Duck and think “kick-butt” is a cuss word, and also free of sexual content and any significant violence. Reading audience is likely grades 4-6.
Thanks for the signed print arc, Maura Jortner, Holiday House Publishing, and the 2025 Texas Library Association annual conference.
Grief has been a central theme in many books for middle grade and teen readers but in Jortner’s KEEPERS OF THE MARSH, it is an element in a much bigger story arc that extends to themes of family, friendship, collaboration, and understanding, appreciating and even benefiting from the differences in each of us. Using real events and places important to the city of Galveston, TX gives the book a historical fiction flare at times and adds to the feeling that the Alligator Witch could be more fact than legend. The transformation of a scared young girl in 1900 to a frightening witch with an alligator as a familiar is stemmed in being wronged and subsequent bitterness, which is somewhat common, but the act that brings the change is completely unique and that blend of expected with the unusual is terrific. Lana’s realization that she and Gracie are not as different as she thought and their resulting closeness, combined with the family finally beginning to talk about their dad/husband and the healing that begins give this adventure story a touch of warmth that adds depth to the adventure. Note on cover art-The cover is engaging and sure to draw the eye of older elementary readers and does reflect physical descriptions of Lana and Gracie from the text, but the twins never went into the marsh together. Jingle note: Hum the old Kookaburra Sits on the Old Gum Tree song so you can sing with Duck when she launches into the Alligator Witch chant.
Text is free of profanity, unless you are like Duck and think “kick-butt” is a cuss word, and also free of sexual content and any significant violence. Reading audience is likely grades 4-6.
Thanks for the signed print arc, Maura Jortner, Holiday House Publishing, and the 2025 Texas Library Association annual conference.
May 31, 2025
I loved this book so much. It has that perfect blend of historical fiction, magical realism, and messy, real family dynamics that I’m always chasing. The story follows Lana, a twelve-year-old girl who’s dealing with a lot: grief, feeling like the odd one out in her own family, and a disconnect from her twin sister that runs deep. After her father dies, she heads into the marsh looking for answers and ends up waking something way bigger than she bargained for.
The magic in this isn’t flashy. It’s the kind that creeps in through stories, memory, and old wounds. There’s a curse, a local legend, and a family history that ties into the 1900 Galveston storm, and the way it all comes together felt really grounded and emotional. There’s a lot of heart here.
What worked so well for me was the pacing. Nothing ever dragged, and there wasn’t any filler. It’s one of those books where every chapter moves things forward in a way that feels meaningful. And even though there’s magic, it’s really about connection - between sisters, across generations, and with the past.
This was such a strong debut. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for whatever Maura Jortner writes next. If you like stories that sit in that in-between space, part ghost story and part coming-of-age, with a lot of depth and a little bit of Southern folklore, I’d say give this one a shot!
The magic in this isn’t flashy. It’s the kind that creeps in through stories, memory, and old wounds. There’s a curse, a local legend, and a family history that ties into the 1900 Galveston storm, and the way it all comes together felt really grounded and emotional. There’s a lot of heart here.
What worked so well for me was the pacing. Nothing ever dragged, and there wasn’t any filler. It’s one of those books where every chapter moves things forward in a way that feels meaningful. And even though there’s magic, it’s really about connection - between sisters, across generations, and with the past.
This was such a strong debut. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for whatever Maura Jortner writes next. If you like stories that sit in that in-between space, part ghost story and part coming-of-age, with a lot of depth and a little bit of Southern folklore, I’d say give this one a shot!
August 8, 2025
Thank you to the publisher for a gifted copy; all thoughts are my own!
📖 Book Review 📖 Moving from the Mid-Atlantic area to New Orleans for college was quite a culture shock for so many reasons! We spent our days boating here so I did not think twice about going out on Lake Pontchartrain, until it was brought to my attention that we were swimming with gators and I freaked out! But there was not much more to my adjustment than just these prehistoric predators, there is a culture and lore that is enthralling; and Maura Jortner pens a middle grade that brings the alluring mystery of the swampy marshes to readers everywhere.
As a mom of a handful of kids this age (including Irish twins), I connected with the characters in the best way possible…I was chuckling at their antics that mirrored my daily life. The humor on these pages resonated and I loved every minute of it!
But the importance of stories goes far beyond just a good laugh, layered within is the ability to work through difficult situations such as grief and healing. Loss of any nature is hard and connections are important; through this beautifully fantastical story of magical realism Maura Jortner shares the importance of keeping history alive through generations.
📖 Book Review 📖 Moving from the Mid-Atlantic area to New Orleans for college was quite a culture shock for so many reasons! We spent our days boating here so I did not think twice about going out on Lake Pontchartrain, until it was brought to my attention that we were swimming with gators and I freaked out! But there was not much more to my adjustment than just these prehistoric predators, there is a culture and lore that is enthralling; and Maura Jortner pens a middle grade that brings the alluring mystery of the swampy marshes to readers everywhere.
As a mom of a handful of kids this age (including Irish twins), I connected with the characters in the best way possible…I was chuckling at their antics that mirrored my daily life. The humor on these pages resonated and I loved every minute of it!
But the importance of stories goes far beyond just a good laugh, layered within is the ability to work through difficult situations such as grief and healing. Loss of any nature is hard and connections are important; through this beautifully fantastical story of magical realism Maura Jortner shares the importance of keeping history alive through generations.
April 24, 2026
Fraternal twins. An Alligator Witch who has quite a backstory. What I love so much about this story is how Maura Jortner weaved in Galveston history and fantasy elements. She also writes realistically about the relationships between siblings and friends.
If you're looking for a shorter middle grade read (200 pages), this book would make a wonderful read aloud for the end of 4th grade or 5th grade students. Many 5th and 6th graders would enjoy this as an independent or book club read.
I loved it as an adult!
If you're looking for a shorter middle grade read (200 pages), this book would make a wonderful read aloud for the end of 4th grade or 5th grade students. Many 5th and 6th graders would enjoy this as an independent or book club read.
I loved it as an adult!
June 16, 2025
In my opinion this is an average young adult novel about a woman who is believed to be a witch with the power to contact spirits. The main character (Lana) one of a pair of twins who wants to unravel the mystery of the witch and perhaps contact her dead father with the "witch's" help.. She will enlist the help of her twin sister (she has little in common with), her grandmother and other friends. to help her in this quest
May 14, 2025
I loved the elements of a marsh witch combined with a seance, mausoleum discovery, and overall spooky feel. While I enjoyed the story, the writing did read like a low middle grade and sometimes felt a little boring at times with constantly hearing the main character's thoughts. Overall, this was a cute read that nearly made me cry at the very end.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews