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The Keepers #1
The Box and the Dragonfly
Artifacts. Miseries. Mysteries . . .
From the moment Horace F. Andrews sees the sign from the bus—a sign with his own name on it—everything changes. The sighting leads him underground, to the House of Answers, a hidden warehouse full of mysterious objects. But there he finds only questions. What is this curious place? Who are the strange, secretive people who entrust him with a rare and immensely powerful gift? And what is he to do with it?
Horace quickly discovers that nothing is ordinary anymore. From the sinister man lurking around every corner to the gradual mastery of his newfound abilities to his encounters with Chloe—a girl who has an astonishing talent of her own—Horace follows a path that puts him in the middle of a centuries-old conflict.
Horace’s journey leads him and Chloe deep into a place where every decision they make could have disastrous consequences. Most important, it links Horace to the Box of Promises and a future he never saw coming.
With an action-packed blend of science fiction and fantasy, Ted Sanders creates a world where everything is more than it seems and where friendship and loyalty have the greatest power of all.
From the moment Horace F. Andrews sees the sign from the bus—a sign with his own name on it—everything changes. The sighting leads him underground, to the House of Answers, a hidden warehouse full of mysterious objects. But there he finds only questions. What is this curious place? Who are the strange, secretive people who entrust him with a rare and immensely powerful gift? And what is he to do with it?
Horace quickly discovers that nothing is ordinary anymore. From the sinister man lurking around every corner to the gradual mastery of his newfound abilities to his encounters with Chloe—a girl who has an astonishing talent of her own—Horace follows a path that puts him in the middle of a centuries-old conflict.
Horace’s journey leads him and Chloe deep into a place where every decision they make could have disastrous consequences. Most important, it links Horace to the Box of Promises and a future he never saw coming.
With an action-packed blend of science fiction and fantasy, Ted Sanders creates a world where everything is more than it seems and where friendship and loyalty have the greatest power of all.
544 pages, Hardcover
First published March 3, 2015
120 people are currently reading
3459 people want to read
About the author
Ted Sanders
13 books158 followersTed Sanders is the author of The Box and the Dragonfly, the first book in the new middle grade series The Keepers, coming in 2015 from HarperCollins Children's. His first book, the short story collection No Animals We Could Name (Graywolf 2012), was the winner of the 2011 Bakeless Prize for Fiction. His stories and essays have appeared in publications The Southern Review, Cincinnati Review, Georgia Review, and the O. Henry Prize Stories anthology. A recipient of a 2012 National Endowment for the Arts literature fellowship, he lives with his family in Urbana, Illinois, and teaches at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 227 reviews
December 13, 2014
I won't put myself through an entire 600 page book if it's not a lot of fun, but this IS a lot of fun. Some science, some fantasy, main characters I liked a lot, and a promise of COOL MOM in book two. I hope the old person wardens become an even dicier issue in the future. Good rec for Percy Jackson, Septimus Heap, and Amulet fans.
November 17, 2014
I was rather excited about this book from the moment I was first told about it. The person telling me about the book generally doesn't like children's books, so when she was proving to be excited about it, I thought I should be paying attention to that. And you know what? She was right.
There is so much in this book that I liked. We're immediately introduced to Horace, our hero of the story, who immediately sees a sign that catches his eye, which immediately leads him to his first encounter with a questionable character, which is quickly followed by Horace's discovery of the the House of Answers, which immediately sets Horace on his way to adventure. This all sounds really rushed when I type it out like this, but it works. Sometimes I feel stories are too drawn out to get to the action, and sometimes they are far too rushed, but this one worked perfectly for me to get us into the story. As was mentioned by the person who told me about the book, I had an immediate feel for Harry Potter, but only in the sense that there was a very real, very close world of magic that is going on in the background of this story that the general population knows nothing about, and it's been this way for a very long time. Sanders really does a great job of a quick world building that doesn't feel forced, it just is. However, that's about as far as the HP similarities went. Horace is a really smart kid, and he's very methodical and scientific in his thinking, so when he is presented with what seems to be a magical artifact, he goes about exploring it's properties in a very scientific way, even going so far as to discuss some of his thoughts with his science teacher. Here is another something that I particularly liked about the story; there does actually seem to be some science behind the magic and fiction in the story. It makes the entire story feel really grounded for me.
Horace, Chloe (the other hero of our story), their families, and the other characters in the story also feel very real. They have their flaws, their families aren't perfect, they make mistakes. One of the things that I continually was impressed with is Horace's relationship with his family, especially his mother. One thing that I find frequently frustrating about many YA and middle grade books is the constant necessity for the kids to keep things from the adults in the stories. I assume this must be to show that a certain level of independence in a young person is a good thing, but the other thing to remember is that the kids these books are geared at are young, and don't always know best, and sometimes it's OK, even a good thing, to ask for help from the grownups in their lives. Granted, while Horace doesn't reveal everything that is going on in his life with his parents, they still play an important part in his life and he still relies on their advice. To me, this seems like a refreshing turn of events for a YA or middle grade book. On the flip side of that, with Chloe's family and he strained relationship with her father, I feel this is refreshing in its own way, as it shows kids that don't have the ideal family life or have problems at home that there can still be magic in the world and that relying on your friends can be just as important as relying on your family.
While it seems like The Box and the Dragonfly is a large book (clocking in at 544 pages!), it is paced great and never feels like it is slogging along. I read it in two sittings and was partly saddened that I got through it so quickly. Given the age group that the book is geared towards, however, I think it will move along at a great rate and kids won't feel bored reading it at all, nor will they feel like they've got a huge book to plod through.
If I had any complaint at all about the book, it's Sanders' descriptions of his characters. I never felt at any point in the book that I had a clear idea of what any of the characters looked like. While this works to some of the characters advantages and their very nature, it doesn't work for others. Other than a vague idea that Horace is a bigger kid, I have no idea what he looks like. Is he bigger as in taller, broader, or bulkier? Just telling me he's a big kid doesn't really help me put a clear picture of him together in my head. While reading, I kept having more and more differing views of how the characters look. Maybe it's just me, but I feel a more precise description of some of the characters would have gone a long way.
This one "flaw" aside (and honestly, that's not even that big of a deal), Sanders has created quite the fine world in The Box and the Dragonfly. Not one to read much middle grade anymore, I'm pleased to have read two such strong middle grade debuts this year (the other being J. A. White's The Thickety: A Path Begins). Just like that book, I'll definitely be looking forward to continue reading Horace and Chloe's adventures and will be recommending this book to all my friends with young readers!
There is so much in this book that I liked. We're immediately introduced to Horace, our hero of the story, who immediately sees a sign that catches his eye, which immediately leads him to his first encounter with a questionable character, which is quickly followed by Horace's discovery of the the House of Answers, which immediately sets Horace on his way to adventure. This all sounds really rushed when I type it out like this, but it works. Sometimes I feel stories are too drawn out to get to the action, and sometimes they are far too rushed, but this one worked perfectly for me to get us into the story. As was mentioned by the person who told me about the book, I had an immediate feel for Harry Potter, but only in the sense that there was a very real, very close world of magic that is going on in the background of this story that the general population knows nothing about, and it's been this way for a very long time. Sanders really does a great job of a quick world building that doesn't feel forced, it just is. However, that's about as far as the HP similarities went. Horace is a really smart kid, and he's very methodical and scientific in his thinking, so when he is presented with what seems to be a magical artifact, he goes about exploring it's properties in a very scientific way, even going so far as to discuss some of his thoughts with his science teacher. Here is another something that I particularly liked about the story; there does actually seem to be some science behind the magic and fiction in the story. It makes the entire story feel really grounded for me.
Horace, Chloe (the other hero of our story), their families, and the other characters in the story also feel very real. They have their flaws, their families aren't perfect, they make mistakes. One of the things that I continually was impressed with is Horace's relationship with his family, especially his mother. One thing that I find frequently frustrating about many YA and middle grade books is the constant necessity for the kids to keep things from the adults in the stories. I assume this must be to show that a certain level of independence in a young person is a good thing, but the other thing to remember is that the kids these books are geared at are young, and don't always know best, and sometimes it's OK, even a good thing, to ask for help from the grownups in their lives. Granted, while Horace doesn't reveal everything that is going on in his life with his parents, they still play an important part in his life and he still relies on their advice. To me, this seems like a refreshing turn of events for a YA or middle grade book. On the flip side of that, with Chloe's family and he strained relationship with her father, I feel this is refreshing in its own way, as it shows kids that don't have the ideal family life or have problems at home that there can still be magic in the world and that relying on your friends can be just as important as relying on your family.
While it seems like The Box and the Dragonfly is a large book (clocking in at 544 pages!), it is paced great and never feels like it is slogging along. I read it in two sittings and was partly saddened that I got through it so quickly. Given the age group that the book is geared towards, however, I think it will move along at a great rate and kids won't feel bored reading it at all, nor will they feel like they've got a huge book to plod through.
If I had any complaint at all about the book, it's Sanders' descriptions of his characters. I never felt at any point in the book that I had a clear idea of what any of the characters looked like. While this works to some of the characters advantages and their very nature, it doesn't work for others. Other than a vague idea that Horace is a bigger kid, I have no idea what he looks like. Is he bigger as in taller, broader, or bulkier? Just telling me he's a big kid doesn't really help me put a clear picture of him together in my head. While reading, I kept having more and more differing views of how the characters look. Maybe it's just me, but I feel a more precise description of some of the characters would have gone a long way.
This one "flaw" aside (and honestly, that's not even that big of a deal), Sanders has created quite the fine world in The Box and the Dragonfly. Not one to read much middle grade anymore, I'm pleased to have read two such strong middle grade debuts this year (the other being J. A. White's The Thickety: A Path Begins). Just like that book, I'll definitely be looking forward to continue reading Horace and Chloe's adventures and will be recommending this book to all my friends with young readers!
Read
September 11, 2019This book was suggested to me on Instagram by a follower and I am so happy they did.
Okay this book hooked me right from the start which is surprising. I'm not normally one for contemporary set fantasies most of the time but this really worked for me! I think between having Horace's magical box and Chloe's dragonfly, I'd want to go with a dragonfly so I can walk through stuff but both of their abilities were used really well throughout the whole plot.
We of course have an underground evil cult trying to kidnap children but pretending they aren't evil. Good times in middle grade!
I will absolutely be reading the sequel after how things ended between Horace and his mother. I loved his family dynamic but my mind got blown at the end.
Okay this book hooked me right from the start which is surprising. I'm not normally one for contemporary set fantasies most of the time but this really worked for me! I think between having Horace's magical box and Chloe's dragonfly, I'd want to go with a dragonfly so I can walk through stuff but both of their abilities were used really well throughout the whole plot.
We of course have an underground evil cult trying to kidnap children but pretending they aren't evil. Good times in middle grade!
I will absolutely be reading the sequel after how things ended between Horace and his mother. I loved his family dynamic but my mind got blown at the end.
November 22, 2023
11/21/23:
THESE KIDS ARE TWELVE!!!!!!!!!! TWELVE!
ain'tnoway
the older i get the more i'm like Absolutely Not WHAT is going ON. most insane summer of your life and you're TWELVE! when i was 12 i jus kind of chilled i guess i don't even know. definitely didn't Save The World.
anyway! I have finally come and reread this, because I'm home on break and of course it's the most productive thing I could do.. because it's been about five years since TSL. (My mother, upon seeing me with this book, goes, "oh that again?" yea mom this again <3)
i have Thoughts and Feelings. MANY of them. i have never stopped thinking about this series.. it has been going on six years. what does that say about me? a lot probably but i'm not going to think about THAT. instead..
as you can tell, I'm a very normal 19 year old.
well. I did in fact end up writing down a lot of my thoughts this time. goodreads does not get them because they're really stupid (not that this all isn't stupid; goodreads is basically my journal at this point). but..
i think i'll start with the way these books have always made me viscerally uncomfortable at points. Why? couldn't tell you. however I am beginning to believe it's just in the way Sanders chooses to write tan'ji, and that I appreciate - the belonging, the one and the same that is being tan'ji, instrument and keeper. it is not a concept i can explain even after reading these books six times (lol. help me) but that's the point of it, isn't it? and just the way it's written gets me. so yea <-- i am the most eloquent english major in the history of english majors
OTHERWISE, my grievances remain the same because i am still mad as heck about Side Characters but that is a me thign and applies to basically every book i read. i will never stop getting far too invested in side characters with no background. #girl.
i have so many unanswered questions but that is the nature of worldbuilding (tolkien does not count). still, what's ongradalleae (spelling!!) and the cube in ingrid's doba??? ALSO WHO IS BECK!!??????
so much was built up in this book and thematically this series just satisfies me and drives me insane at the same time. there is SO!!!!! much and that is both what i love and hate about it. the heck are you gonna do with a MIDDLE GRADE series with the wildest worldbuilding ever like. So Much Going On aaaaaaaa i know not all of it is going to be covered but . Hhhfjkhjgkwo <- resorting to keyboard slams again. the buildup is CRAZY
still. i appreciate everything so much. i am so insane about cycles and it definitely started here w the STUPOID IDIOT BLACK FISH AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA shoutout to the p[eople that witness me losing my mind about cycles everytime one shows up ifn media. HELLO LOKI S2 I AM LOOKING DIRECTLY AT YOU! cycles and multiverses started here. this is fundamentally such an important piece of literature to me it's kinda concerning.
also just, Horace and Chloe. i love them so so so much. (do they read 12 to me? no. but i also have no understanding of ages so that means nothing) and H's mom takes best MG mother of all time. (C's takes worst). they are SUCH special protagonists.
also if i think too hard about it Dr Jericho and the Mordin are freakin terrifying. horror movie material.
i enjoy the whole "who is really right here?" bc Yea the Wardens are the Good Guys but also.. there's so much withheld and so much going on it's really just like that. the trickle of information is insane bc you're not going to just trust a couple 12 year olds with all the secrets of the multiverse but also at the same time. these are your champions.. your salvation in a way. they've gotta KNOW. meister be like transparency who??? and while the mordin are so clearly the bad guys there's also a moment of well. We don't know the whole story and we're not going to be told the whole story and trust isn't something that easily earned by anyone - so really what is going on here? bc it's black and white but also .. not really? and thats cool. yeehaw middle grade novels.
the use of ingrid's character still drives me insane though.
as always, i just want to know more about the other tan'ji that exist here.
--
1/17/23: hi lol I am here for the sole purpose of documenting that it's been five (5) years since I first read this book. I think it's a slight problem that I still think about this series. I should reread it tan'ji are pretty lit
2021: every single time i’m supposed to be responsible and productive i think ah yes, let’s proceed to reread THIS SERIES,
random things, this time
- listen for all its faults it’s incredible to reread knowing what happens in the later books bc like. the amount of detail is astonishing. foreshadowing babeyyy
- what the heck is organdelle it was literally never explained this is uncool lemme know abt more tanu :(
- if i have to read the phrase “slack with shock” or “rigid with shock” one more time i’m going to commit a crime
- hhhh alvalaithen my beloved
- i really like the way how the first time chloe meets gabriel she decides his staff is a lightsaber and he’s just kinda like ...”it’s decidedly NOT a lightsaber” idk why but that’s hilarious to me
- ingrid
- neptune
- how the hell are these kids still on their feet after 27 hours. death
- the pacing is still funny to me bc idk the first parts r all slow exploration and then all of a SUDDEN, INSANITY for like 100 pages
- sometimes i forget these kids are like 12 and 15 until parts like the “touching” part appear and then i’m like oh yeah. children
- i jus wanna know abt more tan’ji bro
- i want a jithandra i wonder what my vora color would be
— 2018
<3<3<3<3<3
this... this is one of the books that I'll remember always. although it starts out really slowly, it does soon pick up pace and wow.
1/13/20: y'all it's been two years what the heck how jskdkfkslldkf
1/12/22: IT'S BEEN FOUR YEARS ???? GOD .
THESE KIDS ARE TWELVE!!!!!!!!!! TWELVE!
ain'tnoway
the older i get the more i'm like Absolutely Not WHAT is going ON. most insane summer of your life and you're TWELVE! when i was 12 i jus kind of chilled i guess i don't even know. definitely didn't Save The World.
anyway! I have finally come and reread this, because I'm home on break and of course it's the most productive thing I could do.. because it's been about five years since TSL. (My mother, upon seeing me with this book, goes, "oh that again?" yea mom this again <3)
i have Thoughts and Feelings. MANY of them. i have never stopped thinking about this series.. it has been going on six years. what does that say about me? a lot probably but i'm not going to think about THAT. instead..
as you can tell, I'm a very normal 19 year old.
well. I did in fact end up writing down a lot of my thoughts this time. goodreads does not get them because they're really stupid (not that this all isn't stupid; goodreads is basically my journal at this point). but..
i think i'll start with the way these books have always made me viscerally uncomfortable at points. Why? couldn't tell you. however I am beginning to believe it's just in the way Sanders chooses to write tan'ji, and that I appreciate - the belonging, the one and the same that is being tan'ji, instrument and keeper. it is not a concept i can explain even after reading these books six times (lol. help me) but that's the point of it, isn't it? and just the way it's written gets me. so yea <-- i am the most eloquent english major in the history of english majors
OTHERWISE, my grievances remain the same because i am still mad as heck about Side Characters but that is a me thign and applies to basically every book i read. i will never stop getting far too invested in side characters with no background. #girl.
i have so many unanswered questions but that is the nature of worldbuilding (tolkien does not count). still, what's ongradalleae (spelling!!) and the cube in ingrid's doba??? ALSO WHO IS BECK!!??????
so much was built up in this book and thematically this series just satisfies me and drives me insane at the same time. there is SO!!!!! much and that is both what i love and hate about it. the heck are you gonna do with a MIDDLE GRADE series with the wildest worldbuilding ever like. So Much Going On aaaaaaaa i know not all of it is going to be covered but . Hhhfjkhjgkwo <- resorting to keyboard slams again. the buildup is CRAZY
still. i appreciate everything so much. i am so insane about cycles and it definitely started here w the STUPOID IDIOT BLACK FISH AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA shoutout to the p[eople that witness me losing my mind about cycles everytime one shows up ifn media. HELLO LOKI S2 I AM LOOKING DIRECTLY AT YOU! cycles and multiverses started here. this is fundamentally such an important piece of literature to me it's kinda concerning.
also just, Horace and Chloe. i love them so so so much. (do they read 12 to me? no. but i also have no understanding of ages so that means nothing) and H's mom takes best MG mother of all time. (C's takes worst). they are SUCH special protagonists.
also if i think too hard about it Dr Jericho and the Mordin are freakin terrifying. horror movie material.
i enjoy the whole "who is really right here?" bc Yea the Wardens are the Good Guys but also.. there's so much withheld and so much going on it's really just like that. the trickle of information is insane bc you're not going to just trust a couple 12 year olds with all the secrets of the multiverse but also at the same time. these are your champions.. your salvation in a way. they've gotta KNOW. meister be like transparency who??? and while the mordin are so clearly the bad guys there's also a moment of well. We don't know the whole story and we're not going to be told the whole story and trust isn't something that easily earned by anyone - so really what is going on here? bc it's black and white but also .. not really? and thats cool. yeehaw middle grade novels.
the use of ingrid's character still drives me insane though.
as always, i just want to know more about the other tan'ji that exist here.
--
1/17/23: hi lol I am here for the sole purpose of documenting that it's been five (5) years since I first read this book. I think it's a slight problem that I still think about this series. I should reread it tan'ji are pretty lit
2021: every single time i’m supposed to be responsible and productive i think ah yes, let’s proceed to reread THIS SERIES,
random things, this time
- listen for all its faults it’s incredible to reread knowing what happens in the later books bc like. the amount of detail is astonishing. foreshadowing babeyyy
- what the heck is organdelle it was literally never explained this is uncool lemme know abt more tanu :(
- if i have to read the phrase “slack with shock” or “rigid with shock” one more time i’m going to commit a crime
- hhhh alvalaithen my beloved
- i really like the way how the first time chloe meets gabriel she decides his staff is a lightsaber and he’s just kinda like ...”it’s decidedly NOT a lightsaber” idk why but that’s hilarious to me
- ingrid
- neptune
- how the hell are these kids still on their feet after 27 hours. death
- the pacing is still funny to me bc idk the first parts r all slow exploration and then all of a SUDDEN, INSANITY for like 100 pages
- sometimes i forget these kids are like 12 and 15 until parts like the “touching” part appear and then i’m like oh yeah. children
- i jus wanna know abt more tan’ji bro
- i want a jithandra i wonder what my vora color would be
— 2018
<3<3<3<3<3
this... this is one of the books that I'll remember always. although it starts out really slowly, it does soon pick up pace and wow.
1/13/20: y'all it's been two years what the heck how jskdkfkslldkf
1/12/22: IT'S BEEN FOUR YEARS ???? GOD .
December 29, 2014
This will have to be on my list of top children's titles for 2015, since it's not out yet (cheater pants, with your advance copy). The book itself is titled The Keepers: The Box and the Dragonfly, so I think it is the prequel and the actual story. I will have to ask the Harper rep when she comes by to visit in two weeks. Not usually my bag, but our Harper rep was so enthusiastic about it, how could I say no when offered a copy?
I can't, apparently.
Horace Andrews is on a bus when he sees his name on a sign. That's not something that happens everyday, especially in a children's book. The curiosity over his name on the sign leads to an underground cellar of secrets, known as The House of Answers. Here is where- he hopes- he finds an answer to why his name was on that sign. Of course, that only uncovers more questions. Who are all of the people working at this warehouse? Why is he picked to have this special gift? And again, what's the deal with his name on the sign? More and more questions, and less and less answers from The House of Answers.
Working with this gift that he now has, Horace tries to do his best with his newfound gift and come to some sort of conclusion about what the hell is going on. He encounters Chloe, a young girl with whom he strikes up a special friendship (and of course, she's got an amazing talent of her own, as do many of those hanging out at the House of Answers). Horace ends up walking the line between what turns out to be a war between two factions that has waged for years. Can he figure out what happened? How do he and Chloe figure into this? Again, more questions, less answers!
Horace and Chloe end up in a deep, dark place where the wrong move could end up in dire consequences for everyone involved, and everyone beyond. The Box of Promises, another clue in this everlong maze of questions without answers, brings Horace a new number of challenges and the future. More importantly, is Horace ready for what lies ahead for him? For Chloe? For mankind as they have known it? Lots of importance lying on the shoulders of these two kids.
You're got some science fiction, some fantasy, and some really great characters in Horace and Chloe. If you're stuck for time, you may want to wait a bit longer, because this is almost 550 pages, and you will want to devote a lot of time to it once you start reading it. Definitely to answer all the questions, or get an idea of what the hell Horace has stumbled into. There were references to Harry Potter for the younger set. I only got a small measure of Harry Potter. A lot of this book reminded me of the Sixty Eight Rooms series with a bit of Brandon Mull thrown in for good measure, more than Harry Potter. The book doesn't drag at all, it clips along at a pretty good pace, so again, make sure you have time to devote to that 544 pages!
One thing I didn't quite get was that while Sanders makes you fully aware of the characters' mindsets, family relationships, etc, you really are searching for a physicality of the characters. There are no real discernible physical descriptions of the characters. Maybe Sanders wants you to craft your own visualization?? Not sure, but that was a little unusual. Having said that, let me make it crystal clear that it does not stop you from reading and wanting to get to the finish.
This book is fabulous! I hope it finds the core audience it strives for. I also can't wait for the next book (I believe it's going to be a series) to see what fates befall Horace and Chloe next.
The Keepers: The Box and The Dragonfly is out from Harper on March 3, 2015.It's geared toward the 8-12 year old group, but it felt a more like the 8-10 group, in my opinion. Add it to your to be read lists now. More importantly, make sure you pick up a copy from your nearest (indie) bookstore when it's released.
I can't, apparently.
Horace Andrews is on a bus when he sees his name on a sign. That's not something that happens everyday, especially in a children's book. The curiosity over his name on the sign leads to an underground cellar of secrets, known as The House of Answers. Here is where- he hopes- he finds an answer to why his name was on that sign. Of course, that only uncovers more questions. Who are all of the people working at this warehouse? Why is he picked to have this special gift? And again, what's the deal with his name on the sign? More and more questions, and less and less answers from The House of Answers.
Working with this gift that he now has, Horace tries to do his best with his newfound gift and come to some sort of conclusion about what the hell is going on. He encounters Chloe, a young girl with whom he strikes up a special friendship (and of course, she's got an amazing talent of her own, as do many of those hanging out at the House of Answers). Horace ends up walking the line between what turns out to be a war between two factions that has waged for years. Can he figure out what happened? How do he and Chloe figure into this? Again, more questions, less answers!
Horace and Chloe end up in a deep, dark place where the wrong move could end up in dire consequences for everyone involved, and everyone beyond. The Box of Promises, another clue in this everlong maze of questions without answers, brings Horace a new number of challenges and the future. More importantly, is Horace ready for what lies ahead for him? For Chloe? For mankind as they have known it? Lots of importance lying on the shoulders of these two kids.
You're got some science fiction, some fantasy, and some really great characters in Horace and Chloe. If you're stuck for time, you may want to wait a bit longer, because this is almost 550 pages, and you will want to devote a lot of time to it once you start reading it. Definitely to answer all the questions, or get an idea of what the hell Horace has stumbled into. There were references to Harry Potter for the younger set. I only got a small measure of Harry Potter. A lot of this book reminded me of the Sixty Eight Rooms series with a bit of Brandon Mull thrown in for good measure, more than Harry Potter. The book doesn't drag at all, it clips along at a pretty good pace, so again, make sure you have time to devote to that 544 pages!
One thing I didn't quite get was that while Sanders makes you fully aware of the characters' mindsets, family relationships, etc, you really are searching for a physicality of the characters. There are no real discernible physical descriptions of the characters. Maybe Sanders wants you to craft your own visualization?? Not sure, but that was a little unusual. Having said that, let me make it crystal clear that it does not stop you from reading and wanting to get to the finish.
This book is fabulous! I hope it finds the core audience it strives for. I also can't wait for the next book (I believe it's going to be a series) to see what fates befall Horace and Chloe next.
The Keepers: The Box and The Dragonfly is out from Harper on March 3, 2015.It's geared toward the 8-12 year old group, but it felt a more like the 8-10 group, in my opinion. Add it to your to be read lists now. More importantly, make sure you pick up a copy from your nearest (indie) bookstore when it's released.
May 19, 2015
An everyday boy from Chicago finds a secret shop and a magical talisman that's linked to him. A epic quest unfolds slowly, as he meets tall creepy villains and a spunky girl who also has a magic talisman. And then finally, they meet the old man and old woman who explain the epic war that's about to climax. This would be a great read-alike for Harry Potter, as it has the cozy magic buried under reality, and spooky sense of discovery. But this lacks the humor and mystery plot that kept Rowling's series chugging along. This book is more like her later series books, so kids who don't mind long talky fantasy may enjoy.
February 22, 2020
2.5 stars.
Ugh. I was enjoying this book SO MUCH but then Chloe came along and really ruined it for me. Her character was unbearable to listen to (I had an audiobook) and I couldn't wait until she was gone every time she appeared.
But the storyline was so good (and I loved Horace so much) that I probably would have kept going, but there (Chloe again) was swearing! And not written in a tasteful way either. The words were written down and like come on??? This is a kids book? Kids don't need to hear MORE swear words than their already hearing.
So sadly, this was a did not finish for me. :(
Ugh. I was enjoying this book SO MUCH but then Chloe came along and really ruined it for me. Her character was unbearable to listen to (I had an audiobook) and I couldn't wait until she was gone every time she appeared.
But the storyline was so good (and I loved Horace so much) that I probably would have kept going, but there (Chloe again) was swearing! And not written in a tasteful way either. The words were written down and like come on??? This is a kids book? Kids don't need to hear MORE swear words than their already hearing.
So sadly, this was a did not finish for me. :(
October 18, 2014
Got an ARC of this--couldn't put it down. What an ending! I'm already excited for the next one. Horace and Chloe are great characters. I will probably buy the hardcover when it comes out.
December 30, 2014
Time travel with a
little bit of Hogwarts charm:
a superb combo.
little bit of Hogwarts charm:
a superb combo.
January 30, 2015
Excellent read!!! I can SO get more kids to read this book here at Da Vinci!!!! Don't be afraid of the length as it's too short as it is!
October 10, 2018
Drawn to a particular box inside a mysterious store, Horace finds his new gift changing the way he looks at everything around him, as well as leading him to befriend the surly Chloe and join a group dedicated to protecting children like them from a terrible evil looking to capture them. Sanders will surely please fans of science fiction with this intriguingly complex opening that sets off a mystery of wondrous proportions. Horace and Chloe have made bonds that are going to change their lives forever - and these are bonds one cannot break.
February 1, 2015
I was unprepared for what awaited me after my wife, who works in the media, brought home an advance copy of this book, and gave it our 9-year-old -- who after immediately devouring it gave it to me for my birthday.
Who would think that an exciting fantasy story marketed for kids would cast its most entrancing spell in the arena of normal human emotions and relationships? The story itself is exciting and like much successful fantasy, seems to describe a reality hovering in your subconscious that you didn't know you knew. There is an attempt to provide scientific context for the fantastic elements (which worked for me except for one minor inconsistency). The excitement builds and by the end this was an impossible-to-put down book.
But the main characters -- so real and familiar with dialogue that's pitch-perfect in almost every scene -- were the real stars for me, quickly getting under my skin. Even their more realistic challenges were as captivating as the fascinating world they discovered hidden under their noses.
Experiences of intimacy and attachment are a lot of what this book ended up being about for me, and I thought these were handled beautifully, with an emotional truthfulness as deep as the best of the children's fantasy genre. "Incredible" and "beautiful" were the words that sprang to mind on completing this book, and waiting for the next in the series is a daunting separation indeed!
Who would think that an exciting fantasy story marketed for kids would cast its most entrancing spell in the arena of normal human emotions and relationships? The story itself is exciting and like much successful fantasy, seems to describe a reality hovering in your subconscious that you didn't know you knew. There is an attempt to provide scientific context for the fantastic elements (which worked for me except for one minor inconsistency). The excitement builds and by the end this was an impossible-to-put down book.
But the main characters -- so real and familiar with dialogue that's pitch-perfect in almost every scene -- were the real stars for me, quickly getting under my skin. Even their more realistic challenges were as captivating as the fascinating world they discovered hidden under their noses.
Experiences of intimacy and attachment are a lot of what this book ended up being about for me, and I thought these were handled beautifully, with an emotional truthfulness as deep as the best of the children's fantasy genre. "Incredible" and "beautiful" were the words that sprang to mind on completing this book, and waiting for the next in the series is a daunting separation indeed!
August 11, 2016
4.5 actual rating
while about 75% of the way thru this I was feeling like it was a chore to finish, and wondered if maaybe it should've been edited down a hundred pages or more but couldn't put forth the energy to really decide if it was necessary. even if the buildup was a little too long and the details a bit too many, I do love this story. Lots of adventure, lots of mystery and intrigue, classic good vs evil overhead. reasonably likable characters (Chloe seemed alright at the beginning but she just aggravated me more as the book went on). it does move kinda slow so I feel like maybe it'd be a tough sell to the intended audience, if they can be bothered to pick it up at the almost 600 page size. (the sequel is arguably even longer but I never compared the pages. I just know it's enormous for a second in a series)
back I the point- the ending was excellent. I love the last conversation and I do want to know the rest of it but I'm not sure I ever will.
I'll definitely recommend this to anyone interested in the cover or this type of story, it is excellent for what it is :)
while about 75% of the way thru this I was feeling like it was a chore to finish, and wondered if maaybe it should've been edited down a hundred pages or more but couldn't put forth the energy to really decide if it was necessary. even if the buildup was a little too long and the details a bit too many, I do love this story. Lots of adventure, lots of mystery and intrigue, classic good vs evil overhead. reasonably likable characters (Chloe seemed alright at the beginning but she just aggravated me more as the book went on). it does move kinda slow so I feel like maybe it'd be a tough sell to the intended audience, if they can be bothered to pick it up at the almost 600 page size. (the sequel is arguably even longer but I never compared the pages. I just know it's enormous for a second in a series)
back I the point- the ending was excellent. I love the last conversation and I do want to know the rest of it but I'm not sure I ever will.
I'll definitely recommend this to anyone interested in the cover or this type of story, it is excellent for what it is :)
November 25, 2016
I have some mixed feelings about this story. Let's get to the good things first:
-solid writing and characterization.
-unique and complex magic system.
-lots of action.
-few to no plot holes (this is difficult in a book this long- good job, Sanders!)
-most things made sense in time.
-time travel without paradoxes that addresses the issue of whether or not the future is written in stone (this is one of the few things that was a little hard to understand).
In general, I just enjoyed the book. Everything was done correctly, following the rules of crafting a story, but it wasn't anything brilliant. Now one thing about it that didn't give me good vibes:
-the whole story reeks of materialism. I can understand bonding with an animal or another human like this, but a box? A construction of wood and glass? Seriously? Yuck.
-solid writing and characterization.
-unique and complex magic system.
-lots of action.
-few to no plot holes (this is difficult in a book this long- good job, Sanders!)
-most things made sense in time.
-time travel without paradoxes that addresses the issue of whether or not the future is written in stone (this is one of the few things that was a little hard to understand).
In general, I just enjoyed the book. Everything was done correctly, following the rules of crafting a story, but it wasn't anything brilliant. Now one thing about it that didn't give me good vibes:
-the whole story reeks of materialism. I can understand bonding with an animal or another human like this, but a box? A construction of wood and glass? Seriously? Yuck.
June 30, 2024
5th read: Still hits the same, what can I say?
4th read (ish): I am still so obsessed with this world and characters. This book feels so personal to me.
Absolutely incredible. If you love science and clever books with intricate magic systems then this is for you…The first time I read this at 10 I was a little scared of Dr. Jericho ngl…
Btw this is magical realism and it’s just so *chef’s kiss*.
Criminally underrated and I will never understand why people don’t talk about this. One of my fav books of all time
4th read (ish): I am still so obsessed with this world and characters. This book feels so personal to me.
Absolutely incredible. If you love science and clever books with intricate magic systems then this is for you…The first time I read this at 10 I was a little scared of Dr. Jericho ngl…
Btw this is magical realism and it’s just so *chef’s kiss*.
Criminally underrated and I will never understand why people don’t talk about this. One of my fav books of all time
February 1, 2016
Wow. First book since Harry Potter that gave me the the sense that this was going to be something special. Read this in three days, magical book about trust, friendship and family... With a little chess thrown in.
January 24, 2015
Sanders has done something rare in this book - he's managed to both have character development and action! Too many books these days only have one or the other. I'm excited to see what comes next in this new series.
September 17, 2014
great book about relativity and time physics hut in a kid friendly Wrinkle in Time way. Can't wait for the next installment.
February 18, 2015
3.5 A bit long, a bit confusing at times, but a magical adventure with a a cliff hanger ending. How long will I have to wait for the next one?
June 1, 2017
An awesome fantasy book that I enjoyed. Hope it gets all the popularity it deserves.
to-read-own
August 20, 20158/20/15 Kindle Daily Deal $1.99
June 22, 2018
This is a book that is better than most- correction almost every YA book I've ever read. And I've read a lot of YA, it's my chosen genre to read, and my genre to write. Every side character is unique and well defined and none of them think they aren't the main character of this story. Every magical item isn't your tropey basic one (it lets me fly, or I can walk through walls), but they have unique twists, limits, and terrifying consequences that aren't the usual simple exhaustion. The main characters are deep, moving and have wonderful arcs. This book made me cheer in victory, gasp from a twist, feel intense fear, and even laugh out loud multiple times (once from a pun which I'm still not totally okay with).
It never topped the New York times best seller list. None of my friends have heard of it. Heck, the only reason I've heard of it is because I was thinking of applying to Champaign-Urbana for Grad school (it is now choice #1 if you're curious).
It lacks a basic romance. What I mean by that is there's no kissing or hugging or wanting to kiss and hug, but theres a moment when the characters touch in a unique way only possible by their objects and it is the unique one-ness that people try to accomplish, but can't because of our human limitations.
But the main "fault" is that this book deals with the impossibility of knowing, and when the characters are given the ability to KNOW in absolute or nearly absolute details it deals with that. It speaks to something so often forgotten in our culture and never talked about to children "too much knowledge spoils the process". That feeling is sometimes just as important as knowing. Its characters are on the brink of understanding, both going from Middle schoolers to high schoolers, from regular people to Keepers, and from childhood to a loss of innocence and adulthood. When they get here they discover that sometimes not knowing is actually just as important. This is a message that is very hard to grasp, unfortunately too hard for some adults and some children.
If I was more of a scholar I'd talk about Heidegger and his "dasein" and C.S. Lewis and Phillip K. Dick and coming of age stories and all of the amazing idea and influences who these pages pay tribute to and strengthen. However, I am not a scholar. I am a writer and as such I'll talk about one man. Thank you Ted Sanders, you have truly helped a writer find his way again.
It never topped the New York times best seller list. None of my friends have heard of it. Heck, the only reason I've heard of it is because I was thinking of applying to Champaign-Urbana for Grad school (it is now choice #1 if you're curious).
It lacks a basic romance. What I mean by that is there's no kissing or hugging or wanting to kiss and hug, but theres a moment when the characters touch in a unique way only possible by their objects and it is the unique one-ness that people try to accomplish, but can't because of our human limitations.
But the main "fault" is that this book deals with the impossibility of knowing, and when the characters are given the ability to KNOW in absolute or nearly absolute details it deals with that. It speaks to something so often forgotten in our culture and never talked about to children "too much knowledge spoils the process". That feeling is sometimes just as important as knowing. Its characters are on the brink of understanding, both going from Middle schoolers to high schoolers, from regular people to Keepers, and from childhood to a loss of innocence and adulthood. When they get here they discover that sometimes not knowing is actually just as important. This is a message that is very hard to grasp, unfortunately too hard for some adults and some children.
If I was more of a scholar I'd talk about Heidegger and his "dasein" and C.S. Lewis and Phillip K. Dick and coming of age stories and all of the amazing idea and influences who these pages pay tribute to and strengthen. However, I am not a scholar. I am a writer and as such I'll talk about one man. Thank you Ted Sanders, you have truly helped a writer find his way again.
July 8, 2020
A somewhat unexpected 5 stars. While I was reading there wasn’t a point when I thought “oh this is definitely a 5 star book” it was just like I got to the end and thought about it and it was the obvious decision.
A bunch of things I liked in this book:
The best types of villains are
1) Well-developed with a great redemption arc
2) Creepy ass bitches
We got the second one. And yeah, they were lowkey terrifying. I mean, you stick a huge thin stick man with incorrect finger joints on page 6 of a book, as he’s pretending to be nice but is instead threatening and who doesn’t know how to smile right, what do you expect me to do? Not be creeped out?
I really liked how the book was written. Also nothing was ever boring. It’s a long book but it’s kind of like a TV show. Things are always progressing, and we see the long term development of the characters as opposed to seeing them for only a short period of time. Definitely a different reading experience than what I’m used to.
Speaking of characters, yes. Because I love Horace and I (really) love Chloe but most of all I love their relationship because it is so dang wholesome. At the end I felt like I really knew them in real life. Glad this is a series because I could read about them for a long time.
More on characterization: Very interesting stuff going on with the mentor figures. Usually these roles are portrayed as very trustworthy and as people the main characters can always turn to. But here, they get called out for their shit and I don’t automatically trust them because we see that they’re human and make mistakes. I don’t know yet what their intentions are and I wonder if this is going to come back at some point 👀
The whole climax of the book was absolutely insane and it must have taken some serious planning. The author obviously knows wtf he’s doing because that entire setup and execution was very impressive.
Also not the cliffhanger ending… I need book 2 rn
A bunch of things I liked in this book:
The best types of villains are
1) Well-developed with a great redemption arc
2) Creepy ass bitches
We got the second one. And yeah, they were lowkey terrifying. I mean, you stick a huge thin stick man with incorrect finger joints on page 6 of a book, as he’s pretending to be nice but is instead threatening and who doesn’t know how to smile right, what do you expect me to do? Not be creeped out?
I really liked how the book was written. Also nothing was ever boring. It’s a long book but it’s kind of like a TV show. Things are always progressing, and we see the long term development of the characters as opposed to seeing them for only a short period of time. Definitely a different reading experience than what I’m used to.
Speaking of characters, yes. Because I love Horace and I (really) love Chloe but most of all I love their relationship because it is so dang wholesome. At the end I felt like I really knew them in real life. Glad this is a series because I could read about them for a long time.
More on characterization: Very interesting stuff going on with the mentor figures. Usually these roles are portrayed as very trustworthy and as people the main characters can always turn to. But here, they get called out for their shit and I don’t automatically trust them because we see that they’re human and make mistakes. I don’t know yet what their intentions are and I wonder if this is going to come back at some point 👀
The whole climax of the book was absolutely insane and it must have taken some serious planning. The author obviously knows wtf he’s doing because that entire setup and execution was very impressive.
Also not the cliffhanger ending… I need book 2 rn
November 20, 2024
This is a nice adventure/fantasy/sci-fi book. It's fairly enjoyable.
While I was on the first half, I thought this book was "smart." I like that it's not pure magic, but there's a science to it. Although it would be better if there was more consistency with the concept, especially the "going thin."
The main info-dumping happened in the middle of the book, which is okay. I got to see the character figure things out on his own, which is a sort of adventure in itself. I like how time travel was handled and somehow different from the most. The main concept of the story was just okay; it's not that intriguing, but it's interesting enough for me to continue reading. There was the obsession with objects, like Gollum and the ring. These objects (Tanu) were not really weapons but simply tools, so it confused me why they had to send a bunch of kids on a dangerous mission.
Horace is a great character, but I have mixed feelings about Chloe. I like the sort of mystery that shrouds Gabriel. Neptune is pretty useless and unnecessary. Dr. Jericho needed more page-time.
While I was on the first half, I thought this book was "smart." I like that it's not pure magic, but there's a science to it. Although it would be better if there was more consistency with the concept, especially the "going thin."
The main info-dumping happened in the middle of the book, which is okay. I got to see the character figure things out on his own, which is a sort of adventure in itself. I like how time travel was handled and somehow different from the most. The main concept of the story was just okay; it's not that intriguing, but it's interesting enough for me to continue reading. There was the obsession with objects, like Gollum and the ring. These objects (Tanu) were not really weapons but simply tools, so it confused me why they had to send a bunch of kids on a dangerous mission.
Horace is a great character, but I have mixed feelings about Chloe. I like the sort of mystery that shrouds Gabriel. Neptune is pretty useless and unnecessary. Dr. Jericho needed more page-time.
February 8, 2019
Amazing!
Very exciting. Compelling characters. Intellectually stimulating. Even though the characters are young, it didn't feel like a middle-grade book. Can't wait to read the next one.
The Box and the Dragonfly reminded me of A Wrinkle in Time so much. These kids get swept up in a fight that is so much bigger than anything they have ever known. And it is frustrating and wonderful and scary. We as readers get to go along for the ride.
I really enjoyed Horace, who is detail-oriented, kind, intelligent and awkward, and Chloe, who is self-confident, skeptical and also strangely trusting.
The writing and feel reminded me of N.D.Wilson's 100 Cupboards series.
Very exciting. Compelling characters. Intellectually stimulating. Even though the characters are young, it didn't feel like a middle-grade book. Can't wait to read the next one.
The Box and the Dragonfly reminded me of A Wrinkle in Time so much. These kids get swept up in a fight that is so much bigger than anything they have ever known. And it is frustrating and wonderful and scary. We as readers get to go along for the ride.
I really enjoyed Horace, who is detail-oriented, kind, intelligent and awkward, and Chloe, who is self-confident, skeptical and also strangely trusting.
The writing and feel reminded me of N.D.Wilson's 100 Cupboards series.
February 18, 2021
Absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVED this book!!! So good and I can't wait to read the next one. This book felt like such a unique adventure like none other I've ever read in my life. I genuinely love the world of the Keepers, the Wardins and the Riven. I'm so excited to dive into more of this incredibly unique exciting world and follow more journeys taken by the Keepers looking for answers... it was just my style and level of writing also - that Upper Middle-Grade genre. Ted Sanders please hop online and write more!
August 30, 2024
05/29/2024
Yeah...I know I said I wasn't gonna collect ARC's but I couldn't resist this one!! Its beautiful and I love it. This series means a lot to me, one of two favorites from my middle grade years.
Yeah...I know I said I wasn't gonna collect ARC's but I couldn't resist this one!! Its beautiful and I love it. This series means a lot to me, one of two favorites from my middle grade years.
September 19, 2020
La storia non è malaccio, ma trovo i protagonisti insopportabili. Peccato.
February 5, 2017
Great book for middle readers!
And can I just say -- the last 2 pages?! OMG! It's rare that a book for this age group drops a major bomb in the last couple of pages, you know, the kind that makes you want to immediately re-read the book with new knowledge. Dang!
And can I just say -- the last 2 pages?! OMG! It's rare that a book for this age group drops a major bomb in the last couple of pages, you know, the kind that makes you want to immediately re-read the book with new knowledge. Dang!
December 19, 2021
3.5 ✨
IDk. It was good. I enjoyed it. But it didn’t suck me in as much as others of similar concept, ya know? That little twist right at the end tho. That might just get me to come back for book two 😂
IDk. It was good. I enjoyed it. But it didn’t suck me in as much as others of similar concept, ya know? That little twist right at the end tho. That might just get me to come back for book two 😂
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