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Kingdom Keepers #2
Disney at Dawn
It's supposed to be a happy day at the Magic Kingdom—the return of the teenaged holographic hosts. But things go very wrong when a sudden lightning storm disrupts the celebration, and Amanda's mysterious sister, Jez, disappears. The only clue is the sighting of a wild monkey in the Magic Kingdom during the storm. The mystery deepens as Finn is contacted by Wayne, an old man he hasn't heard from in months. Wayne tells Finn that there's trouble at the Animal the evil Overtakers have gained control of one of the computer servers that will be used to operate Daylight Holographic Imaging there. That means that if any of the holographic hosts fall asleep, they will go into comas—permanently. Filled with action and brimming with the same meticulous detail as The Kingdom Disney After Dark , this second book in the series —Disney at Dawn— is the result of hands-on research behind the scenes at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park. Young and older readers alike will get a glimpse into a second Disney kingdom. The wild rides have only just begun; and the clock is ticking. How long can the teens keep themselves awake in their quest to find their friend—and what happens if they fail?
378 pages, Hardcover
First published August 26, 2008
775 people are currently reading
7158 people want to read
About the author
Ridley Pearson
186 books2,098 followersRidley Pearson is the author of more than fifty novels, including the New York Times bestseller Killer Weekend; the Lou Boldt crime series; and many books for young readers, including the award-winning children's novels Peter and the Starcatchers, Peter and the Shadow Thieves, and Peter and the Secret of Rundoon, which he cowrote with Dave Barry. Pearson lives with his wife and two daughters, dividing their time between Missouri and Idaho.
Also writes Chris Klick mysteries as Wendell McCall.
Also writes Chris Klick mysteries as Wendell McCall.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 976 reviews
May 3, 2013
Pearson has done it again, for the 2nd time in this series. (this is the 2nd book) He has written another disaster. I was disappointed in how un-magical the first Kingdom Keepers was. This is one is actually worse. I am sorry to say, but this book is not for die-hard Disney fans. After reading the first one, I was hoping the second book would be so much better. I am disappointed to report that it was not.
This book is the sequel to The Kingdom Keepers, which was released in 2005. It is a story about 5 kids who were hired by Disney to become Holographic hosts in the parks. In the first book, these kids were introduced to the mistakes/ hiccups within the technology of their holograms that was added intentionally by Disney Imagineers. They were required to save the Magic Kingdom from the "Overtakers" by use of the embedded technology and would later allow them to go back to pretty normal lives after saving the day. In this second book, they have to save the day again, but as their normal children selves. This time they are required to return to Walt Disney World so that they may figure out the riddles and save friends while in Animal Kingdom.
In the first book, Maleficent was the most vile and evil villain known to all of Disney; this second book introduces a new villain that even Maleficent is frightened by. The kids must travel throughout the park in disguises to stop the "Overtakers" from taking over the park and then later, all of WDW. There are clues for the children to follow and some pretty far-fetched tasks they must take in order to save their friend. There is danger, a few near-thrills and of course, names and areas in the book that any Disney fan would recognize.
The second book not only brings back the original Disney Holographic Hosts (DHIs - Disney Holographic Images), but also introduces some new DHIs. They are now being extended beyond the humans as well. With the book taking place in Animal Kingdom, it is not too hard to figure it out though. :) The kids have a hard time battling and knowing if what they are going up against is real or technology.
As with the first book, the characters lacked character. He never really goes into detail about them, their strengths and how it is used in the story, what they are thinking, etc. Instead, this book is more like reading a play script: Bobby said , Jenny said, Bobby said, Alice said, etc.
There are quite a few things that bother me about this book and made it un-enjoyable. The biggest part for me is that the story is so far-fetched that it is hard to feel like a part of the action. It is written with no emotion. Pearson does not take the time to detail the scenery or what is happening so that the reader gets the full picture. He jumps from scene to scene as if these kids were super-human and describes all actions taken by the characters as spontaneous with no thought and again, leaving out details. I can deal with the story being unrealistic, but it is annoying for me as a Disney veteran, that he takes so little care and detail in describing the areas that I have visited before and yet I cannot picture the parks or area he is writing about.
Something else I noticed that really rubbed me the wrong way is that Pearson has a hard time sticking with his original ideas, or so it appears while reading. This book is filled with so many inconsistencies.
- One moment he is writing like an excited kid telling a story and then the next moment he is throwing out big words that most 6th graders would not know.
- His characters have no defined personality. They flip-flop from the way they are originally written in and then change again. There is no consistency in their personalities or who they are or even what they have to contribute to the situation.
- In the vast majority of the book he writes in plain everyday American English and then tries to narrate with a British vocabulary. For me, it reads more uneducated than it does brilliant. ;)
One of the other things that really turned me off about this book is his constant reference (in a book written for kids) regarding Maybeck's use of foul language and making reference to the "F word." That is completely unnecessary.
I also do not appreciate Pearson's constant stereotyping. The girls are dumb, conceited, useless, whatever and the boys are all heroes who save the day. It was very much a ‘boys rule and girls drool' type of story. The first book was the same. Well, with the exception of Maybeck. Maybeck is written as a character with a poor attitude, foul mouth, self-absorbed and hot-headed. Reference to his being black is made several times, almost to the point of being racist. I generally would not care about this except Pearson rarely comments on the appearance of other characters. He mentioned Charlene's blonde hair but other than that, there is never anything written in that focuses on the way the kids look, how they hold themselves, what they are like as a person, etc. He does point to Charlene's conceit often, but oddly he changed her personality in the book 100% and it seemed like she was a different person. Inconsistent again.
This book must have skipped the editor all together. It is filled with grammatical errors, spelling errors, etc.
Towards the end of the book, there was a part in the story which could have been fantastic, but like the rest of the book he fell short. The kids were in the Dinosaur ride and the animatronics began to come to life, like in the first book. There was no elaboration, only a near-thrill. This part of the book could have been fantastic. Sad to say it was not.
One final thing I did not care about was the negative view placed on Disney as a whole. Pearson may not feel negatively about Disney, but his stories do not come across that way.
-One thing is that the Cast Members are rude and almost ignorant. In some parts of the book, they are written as mindless and almost jerky instead of helpful and observant. Though all Disney CMs are not wonderful, most of them are pretty outstanding and uphold the Disney image and name.
-The big one that really bothers me is how Maleficent is described. In Sleeping Beauty, she is mean and very powerful, but she is also very well-spoken, beautiful and elegant. SHE IS NOT A FAIRY!! If Maleficent were a real person, green face and all, she would be beautiful and magnificent. The way she would hold herself would be like a lady, an evil lady with great powers. In the book, he writes her in as an almost catty old woman with withered hands and scale-like skin. He describes her more like a lizard than a lady.
The book was left open to write another which will take place in Disney Studios. If he is going to write a book in all 4 parks, he needs to take some creative writing classes. I am sorry, but Pearson is no match for children novel writers like JK Rowling, CS Lewis or Holly Black.
Overall, I do not recommend this book to die-hard Disney fans. It was a real disappointment.
This book is the sequel to The Kingdom Keepers, which was released in 2005. It is a story about 5 kids who were hired by Disney to become Holographic hosts in the parks. In the first book, these kids were introduced to the mistakes/ hiccups within the technology of their holograms that was added intentionally by Disney Imagineers. They were required to save the Magic Kingdom from the "Overtakers" by use of the embedded technology and would later allow them to go back to pretty normal lives after saving the day. In this second book, they have to save the day again, but as their normal children selves. This time they are required to return to Walt Disney World so that they may figure out the riddles and save friends while in Animal Kingdom.
In the first book, Maleficent was the most vile and evil villain known to all of Disney; this second book introduces a new villain that even Maleficent is frightened by. The kids must travel throughout the park in disguises to stop the "Overtakers" from taking over the park and then later, all of WDW. There are clues for the children to follow and some pretty far-fetched tasks they must take in order to save their friend. There is danger, a few near-thrills and of course, names and areas in the book that any Disney fan would recognize.
The second book not only brings back the original Disney Holographic Hosts (DHIs - Disney Holographic Images), but also introduces some new DHIs. They are now being extended beyond the humans as well. With the book taking place in Animal Kingdom, it is not too hard to figure it out though. :) The kids have a hard time battling and knowing if what they are going up against is real or technology.
As with the first book, the characters lacked character. He never really goes into detail about them, their strengths and how it is used in the story, what they are thinking, etc. Instead, this book is more like reading a play script: Bobby said , Jenny said, Bobby said, Alice said, etc.
There are quite a few things that bother me about this book and made it un-enjoyable. The biggest part for me is that the story is so far-fetched that it is hard to feel like a part of the action. It is written with no emotion. Pearson does not take the time to detail the scenery or what is happening so that the reader gets the full picture. He jumps from scene to scene as if these kids were super-human and describes all actions taken by the characters as spontaneous with no thought and again, leaving out details. I can deal with the story being unrealistic, but it is annoying for me as a Disney veteran, that he takes so little care and detail in describing the areas that I have visited before and yet I cannot picture the parks or area he is writing about.
Something else I noticed that really rubbed me the wrong way is that Pearson has a hard time sticking with his original ideas, or so it appears while reading. This book is filled with so many inconsistencies.
- One moment he is writing like an excited kid telling a story and then the next moment he is throwing out big words that most 6th graders would not know.
- His characters have no defined personality. They flip-flop from the way they are originally written in and then change again. There is no consistency in their personalities or who they are or even what they have to contribute to the situation.
- In the vast majority of the book he writes in plain everyday American English and then tries to narrate with a British vocabulary. For me, it reads more uneducated than it does brilliant. ;)
One of the other things that really turned me off about this book is his constant reference (in a book written for kids) regarding Maybeck's use of foul language and making reference to the "F word." That is completely unnecessary.
I also do not appreciate Pearson's constant stereotyping. The girls are dumb, conceited, useless, whatever and the boys are all heroes who save the day. It was very much a ‘boys rule and girls drool' type of story. The first book was the same. Well, with the exception of Maybeck. Maybeck is written as a character with a poor attitude, foul mouth, self-absorbed and hot-headed. Reference to his being black is made several times, almost to the point of being racist. I generally would not care about this except Pearson rarely comments on the appearance of other characters. He mentioned Charlene's blonde hair but other than that, there is never anything written in that focuses on the way the kids look, how they hold themselves, what they are like as a person, etc. He does point to Charlene's conceit often, but oddly he changed her personality in the book 100% and it seemed like she was a different person. Inconsistent again.
This book must have skipped the editor all together. It is filled with grammatical errors, spelling errors, etc.
Towards the end of the book, there was a part in the story which could have been fantastic, but like the rest of the book he fell short. The kids were in the Dinosaur ride and the animatronics began to come to life, like in the first book. There was no elaboration, only a near-thrill. This part of the book could have been fantastic. Sad to say it was not.
One final thing I did not care about was the negative view placed on Disney as a whole. Pearson may not feel negatively about Disney, but his stories do not come across that way.
-One thing is that the Cast Members are rude and almost ignorant. In some parts of the book, they are written as mindless and almost jerky instead of helpful and observant. Though all Disney CMs are not wonderful, most of them are pretty outstanding and uphold the Disney image and name.
-The big one that really bothers me is how Maleficent is described. In Sleeping Beauty, she is mean and very powerful, but she is also very well-spoken, beautiful and elegant. SHE IS NOT A FAIRY!! If Maleficent were a real person, green face and all, she would be beautiful and magnificent. The way she would hold herself would be like a lady, an evil lady with great powers. In the book, he writes her in as an almost catty old woman with withered hands and scale-like skin. He describes her more like a lizard than a lady.
The book was left open to write another which will take place in Disney Studios. If he is going to write a book in all 4 parks, he needs to take some creative writing classes. I am sorry, but Pearson is no match for children novel writers like JK Rowling, CS Lewis or Holly Black.
Overall, I do not recommend this book to die-hard Disney fans. It was a real disappointment.
June 5, 2020
As a huge Disney parks fan, it should be no surprise that I am in love with this series. Book Two of the series,
Kingdom Keepers: Disney at Dawn
, picks up where we left off from the first book. I applaud Ridley Pearson for making references to things that happened in the first book, in case you forgot it or just did not read it. However, Book Two is definitely the bridge between Books One and Three. I could not wait to finish it, in order to read the next one in the series:
Kingdom Keepers: Disney in Shadow
.
Plus, Pearson has rewritten the series to incorporate the recent additions and changes to the respective parks. If you read the series when it was first published, then you will appreciate the books being updated. The new edition makes for a great chronicle of all the newest looks to the parks. What a difference 15 years make‼️‼️🥳🥳
Plus, Pearson has rewritten the series to incorporate the recent additions and changes to the respective parks. If you read the series when it was first published, then you will appreciate the books being updated. The new edition makes for a great chronicle of all the newest looks to the parks. What a difference 15 years make‼️‼️🥳🥳
January 12, 2021
Third time reading but I never gave a review in the first place so here we are.
SPOLIERS ARE INCLOSED BY RED HEARTS. so if you see red hearts scroll till you see red hearts again and read below
What were my thoughts on the characters?
————————————————
FINN: I always like Finn! His leadership qualities and he isn’t cringey. I have to keep reminding myself he is only 14, for he acts much older.
CHARLIE: I’m so glad Charlene finally got her nickname! I think her character grows more in this book and the third. She is an annoying cheerleader girl at first but we soon discover she is much more and she starts that growth in this book which I love❤️
WILLA: my girl! I feel she isn’t ever involved much. I love her. She is bad*ss more than she knows. Love that girl.
MAYBECK: we love are sarcastic boy😭 he is the best honestly. His dry humor keeps the book sane👍🏼
PHILBY: I always found him annoying but he gets better as the books go on. But he is always loyal which I love.
AMANDA: we live our other girly! She is the image of girl power. But it’s not annoying or cringey😂 she is just epic. I mean honestly.
JEZ: Yesss Jez. I love her as the books go on. She is smart and carries this lightness with her. She always reminds me of the kingdom keepers guardian angel in my opinion.
What were my thoughts on the ships?
————————————————
I ship Fimanda so hard😭 just happen already!!
Also Charbeck👍🏼 everything perfect in this world.
what were my thoughts on any deaths?
————————————————
No deaths needed to discuss☺️
If there was one, was it a good cliffhanger?
————————————————
Always a great ending!! Always sets up the next book really well.
how was the ending?
——————————
Very quick paced. I think it went by a bit too quickly.
Who was your favorite character?————————————————
Always and forever Maybeck🖤
did the story keep me guessing?
————————————————
Well it’s a reread so no...
Was it slow or face paced?
—————————————
50/50
Did I have a favorite part?
————————————————
Anytime they get on rides and something traumatic happens🥳
Was it exciting enough to keep me reading?
————————————————————
Again...REREAD!
did I laugh or cry?
———————————————
Nope☺️ But I always laugh inside at Maybeck.
did the story grip me?
————————————————
REREAD. but always does!
was there any sexual content?
————————————————
Nope 😊 light flirting but that’s all. And mentions of having a boyfriend.
Did I enjoy the writing style?
————————————————
It’s simple and easy to read that’s for sure!
who would i suggest this to?
————————————————
Anyone who likes Percy Jackson. It has that middle grade coming into YA vibe. They are epic!! And you can’t read this unless you love Disney. Or the parks.
SPOLIERS ARE INCLOSED BY RED HEARTS. so if you see red hearts scroll till you see red hearts again and read below
What were my thoughts on the characters?
————————————————
FINN: I always like Finn! His leadership qualities and he isn’t cringey. I have to keep reminding myself he is only 14, for he acts much older.
CHARLIE: I’m so glad Charlene finally got her nickname! I think her character grows more in this book and the third. She is an annoying cheerleader girl at first but we soon discover she is much more and she starts that growth in this book which I love❤️
WILLA: my girl! I feel she isn’t ever involved much. I love her. She is bad*ss more than she knows. Love that girl.
MAYBECK: we love are sarcastic boy😭 he is the best honestly. His dry humor keeps the book sane👍🏼
PHILBY: I always found him annoying but he gets better as the books go on. But he is always loyal which I love.
AMANDA: we live our other girly! She is the image of girl power. But it’s not annoying or cringey😂 she is just epic. I mean honestly.
JEZ: Yesss Jez. I love her as the books go on. She is smart and carries this lightness with her. She always reminds me of the kingdom keepers guardian angel in my opinion.
What were my thoughts on the ships?
————————————————
I ship Fimanda so hard😭 just happen already!!
Also Charbeck👍🏼 everything perfect in this world.
what were my thoughts on any deaths?
————————————————
No deaths needed to discuss☺️
If there was one, was it a good cliffhanger?
————————————————
Always a great ending!! Always sets up the next book really well.
how was the ending?
——————————
Very quick paced. I think it went by a bit too quickly.
Who was your favorite character?————————————————
Always and forever Maybeck🖤
did the story keep me guessing?
————————————————
Well it’s a reread so no...
Was it slow or face paced?
—————————————
50/50
Did I have a favorite part?
————————————————
Anytime they get on rides and something traumatic happens🥳
Was it exciting enough to keep me reading?
————————————————————
Again...REREAD!
did I laugh or cry?
———————————————
Nope☺️ But I always laugh inside at Maybeck.
did the story grip me?
————————————————
REREAD. but always does!
was there any sexual content?
————————————————
Nope 😊 light flirting but that’s all. And mentions of having a boyfriend.
Did I enjoy the writing style?
————————————————
It’s simple and easy to read that’s for sure!
who would i suggest this to?
————————————————
Anyone who likes Percy Jackson. It has that middle grade coming into YA vibe. They are epic!! And you can’t read this unless you love Disney. Or the parks.
June 24, 2010
*sigh*
I still wish I could like the series but it still continues to just be so very badly written.
And, I can handle the kids turning into holograms; I can believe Disney villains are trying to take over the parks - those things are supposed to be fiction and they're part of the fantasy of the story. But when you get basic, simple real-world facts wrong, it's SO aggravating.
For example, a huge part of the plot requires that they stay in communication. And they opt to use Nintendo DS systems. But, in order to do so, they announce (more than once) that there is free Wi-Fi in all the parks. No, there's not! There is NO free Wi-Fi anywhere on property - not even in the resorts. Heck, you can't even PAY for Wi-Fi in your resort room.
It's highly aggravating to have such simple, obvious failures in reality throughout the series on top of the poor writing. It's a shame because the story is a clever idea and deserved a better author.
I still wish I could like the series but it still continues to just be so very badly written.
And, I can handle the kids turning into holograms; I can believe Disney villains are trying to take over the parks - those things are supposed to be fiction and they're part of the fantasy of the story. But when you get basic, simple real-world facts wrong, it's SO aggravating.
For example, a huge part of the plot requires that they stay in communication. And they opt to use Nintendo DS systems. But, in order to do so, they announce (more than once) that there is free Wi-Fi in all the parks. No, there's not! There is NO free Wi-Fi anywhere on property - not even in the resorts. Heck, you can't even PAY for Wi-Fi in your resort room.
It's highly aggravating to have such simple, obvious failures in reality throughout the series on top of the poor writing. It's a shame because the story is a clever idea and deserved a better author.
July 11, 2017
“Maybe we all dream pieces of the future but just don’t happen to know it.”
March 16, 2013
Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I find that the book Kingdom Keepers II: Disney at Dawn is an excellent book. The novel is intended for young adults and is written by the talented author, Ridley Pearson. This book is filled with excitement as you once again follow Finn, Maybeck, Willa, Charlene, and Philby (aka the Kingdom Keepers) into the world of Disney’s Animal Kingdom. As you read this book, the main issue that keeps appearing is the struggle between good and evil.
As I was reading this book there was only one problem that I noticed and that was it can get confusing and hard to follow. An example is: “But the monkeys grew daring, tightening the circle around Finn. Preparing to strike.”…”Philby’s and Wayne’s avatars ran along a catwalk of steel mesh, following the few remaining cables like train tracks toward an unconfirmed destination.” The first quotation is from the end of one chapter and the next quotation is the start of the next chapter. As a rule, people tend to get confused when they are reading about one thing and then they start reading about something else. One minute you are reading about Finn’s close-to-death encounter with monkeys then you are reading about Philby and Wayne following wires. If your mind is not fully concentrated on what you are reading you will easily get lost. Another example is the following. “He waited to make sure Maybeck had received the message.”…”the apes and monkeys encircled Finn closing around him like a net.” Just like the last example, you need to pay attention to what you are reading.
Besides that small negative detail, this book is full of positive characteristics. Since this book takes place in the Animal Kingdom, the story is full of adventure and suspense that leaves you wanting more. “The cool air…Three loud bangs of thunder mixed with the fireworks making a war one out of the sky. A fiery backdrop played out behind the green creature standing in the window.” As a rule, you don’t usually see a green villainous creature standing in the window ceil of a tall tower. This creature that is mentioned is Maleficent and as you keep reading you find out that she eventually jumps out the window. Since this is one of the first major events in to book, it starts out the book with adventure.
“The dragon charged, seemingly not touching the ground at all. It flicked its long tail back and forth, moving in a snake like fashion, quickly closing the distance between them.”…”The dragon smashed into the door, then slammed its powerful tail against the stump.” As a rule, people don’t run through the Savannah of the Animal Kingdom running from a dragon. This brings in the element of excitement and action into the storyline of the book.
“More obnoxious bird noises overhead. He looked up. Four trees. Hundreds of birds. What the…?”…”The birds attacked.” As a rule, when you look up into the trees above you, there are never hundreds of birds and they never attack you all at once. This brings the element of excitement and even adventure into the story, after all how many days do you see someone get attacked by a black could of birds.
And what book wouldn’t be complete without some suspense? “He raised his right hand. In it was the black remote with the small button at its center. ‘Ready’ he said. The others nodded. He pushed the button.” This quotation is at the end of the book where they are going to start on another part of the journey but then the book ends.
So, in a world that is full of dull, boring, and long books, Kingdom Keepers II: Disney at Dawn is a breath of fresh air. It is a book that is full of adventure and suspense as you follow the Kingdom Keepers as they fight against evil. It is full of wonderful book to read and despite being hard to follow at times, I would recommend it to everyone.
As I was reading this book there was only one problem that I noticed and that was it can get confusing and hard to follow. An example is: “But the monkeys grew daring, tightening the circle around Finn. Preparing to strike.”…”Philby’s and Wayne’s avatars ran along a catwalk of steel mesh, following the few remaining cables like train tracks toward an unconfirmed destination.” The first quotation is from the end of one chapter and the next quotation is the start of the next chapter. As a rule, people tend to get confused when they are reading about one thing and then they start reading about something else. One minute you are reading about Finn’s close-to-death encounter with monkeys then you are reading about Philby and Wayne following wires. If your mind is not fully concentrated on what you are reading you will easily get lost. Another example is the following. “He waited to make sure Maybeck had received the message.”…”the apes and monkeys encircled Finn closing around him like a net.” Just like the last example, you need to pay attention to what you are reading.
Besides that small negative detail, this book is full of positive characteristics. Since this book takes place in the Animal Kingdom, the story is full of adventure and suspense that leaves you wanting more. “The cool air…Three loud bangs of thunder mixed with the fireworks making a war one out of the sky. A fiery backdrop played out behind the green creature standing in the window.” As a rule, you don’t usually see a green villainous creature standing in the window ceil of a tall tower. This creature that is mentioned is Maleficent and as you keep reading you find out that she eventually jumps out the window. Since this is one of the first major events in to book, it starts out the book with adventure.
“The dragon charged, seemingly not touching the ground at all. It flicked its long tail back and forth, moving in a snake like fashion, quickly closing the distance between them.”…”The dragon smashed into the door, then slammed its powerful tail against the stump.” As a rule, people don’t run through the Savannah of the Animal Kingdom running from a dragon. This brings in the element of excitement and action into the storyline of the book.
“More obnoxious bird noises overhead. He looked up. Four trees. Hundreds of birds. What the…?”…”The birds attacked.” As a rule, when you look up into the trees above you, there are never hundreds of birds and they never attack you all at once. This brings the element of excitement and even adventure into the story, after all how many days do you see someone get attacked by a black could of birds.
And what book wouldn’t be complete without some suspense? “He raised his right hand. In it was the black remote with the small button at its center. ‘Ready’ he said. The others nodded. He pushed the button.” This quotation is at the end of the book where they are going to start on another part of the journey but then the book ends.
So, in a world that is full of dull, boring, and long books, Kingdom Keepers II: Disney at Dawn is a breath of fresh air. It is a book that is full of adventure and suspense as you follow the Kingdom Keepers as they fight against evil. It is full of wonderful book to read and despite being hard to follow at times, I would recommend it to everyone.
April 30, 2012
Okay, the series has me hooked. Much more action in the second book, and I love finding out Disney secrets!
January 12, 2021
Wow… I AM SO HAPPY THIS IS ONLY THE SECOND BOOK! These books are so good and so well written! Some of the descriptions has me feeling deep emotions for the characters. For example, when Jez was playing the music through the speakers, repeatedly, in the park and knew that it would hopefully lead the kingdom keepers to find where she was, I was like GIRLL I AM SO SORRY YOU ARE HIDDEN FROM THEM AND WERE KIDNAPPED (by the overtakers) BUT DANG GIRL YOU ARE SO SMART! My love for Jess will never fade away! As iconic as the first book was, I have a feeling that books will keep on getting better as they go along!🤩
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 11, 2018
My 11-year-old nephew loaned me this book while I was on vacation. It's an entertaining series, but awkwardly written and sometimes unclear. But with six main characters, there's always someone to like, and having been to Disney World, I enjoyed the trip through the back lots of the parks. A great choice for young readers who love everything Disney.
January 5, 2014
It was really hard to get into this book. The characters fell flat for me. Other than the girl with blonde hair and the kid who f bombs I can't describe any of them. There is no imagery, no character development and nothing memorable. The editing was horrible. I'm not sure if this is just the library kindle version or not but it was just as bad as if I had written it myself. Ha. There were many scenes that could have been so much more and I would start to get excited and then just say "What?" At one point in the book Jez said she didn't remember writing stuff in her diary. How do you wake up from a dream and draw detailed pictures and words from your dreams and not remember drawing them? Does she channel spirits and do remote drawing? I read a lot of fantasy so I had no problem taking that suspension of belief required to read something like this. I just found it to be boring and poorly written. Sorry for the poor spacing and if words are cut off. Every time I try to post this review it cuts off random pieces on me.
October 26, 2024
"Disney at Dawn" by Ridley Pearson was my favorite Kingdom Keepers novel as a kid, and revisiting it now, I can still say it's a fun, magical journey—but I think the first book in the series might still have a slight edge. The story picks up with Finn and his friends facing off against the Overtakers once more, this time at Animal Kingdom, which I love! It’s such an amazing park, and Pearson captures its wild, mysterious atmosphere perfectly.
One of the things I’ve always appreciated about The Kingdom Keepers series is how relatable Finn is. He’s thrown into these intense situations but remains brave and grounded, which makes it easy to connect with him. The beginning and end of Disney at Dawn are definite highlights, packed with action and suspense. However, the middle section, while enjoyable, doesn’t quite have the same spark or tension.
Overall, it’s still a solid entry in the series. I’d rate it 4/5—an entertaining book that lets you explore Animal Kingdom in an unforgettable way but doesn’t fully match the excitement of the original.
One of the things I’ve always appreciated about The Kingdom Keepers series is how relatable Finn is. He’s thrown into these intense situations but remains brave and grounded, which makes it easy to connect with him. The beginning and end of Disney at Dawn are definite highlights, packed with action and suspense. However, the middle section, while enjoyable, doesn’t quite have the same spark or tension.
Overall, it’s still a solid entry in the series. I’d rate it 4/5—an entertaining book that lets you explore Animal Kingdom in an unforgettable way but doesn’t fully match the excitement of the original.
April 29, 2010
Again, if I wasn't such a Disney fan, my liking for this book would not be this much.
In some ways this book was better than Disney at Dark (Kingdom Keepers #1). The mystery was more interesting and the information given was fascinating (as far as how the parks run etc). It definitely was action-packed but it still lacked something.
Still, I'm struggling with the portrayal of the kids in these stories. They just.. act like what an adult would envision a kid to be like (if that makes sense?) Everything just falls into place for them, they make all the right decisions and they are way too mature for 14 year old kids. I love pre-teen fiction but this one really toes the line between interesting and just plain annoying.
I will be reading the next one - how could I not with the ending in this one? but at this point I'm expecting more of the same. As a Disney lover though, I'll take what I can get when set in the magical background of Disney World.
In some ways this book was better than Disney at Dark (Kingdom Keepers #1). The mystery was more interesting and the information given was fascinating (as far as how the parks run etc). It definitely was action-packed but it still lacked something.
Still, I'm struggling with the portrayal of the kids in these stories. They just.. act like what an adult would envision a kid to be like (if that makes sense?) Everything just falls into place for them, they make all the right decisions and they are way too mature for 14 year old kids. I love pre-teen fiction but this one really toes the line between interesting and just plain annoying.
I will be reading the next one - how could I not with the ending in this one? but at this point I'm expecting more of the same. As a Disney lover though, I'll take what I can get when set in the magical background of Disney World.
December 26, 2009
I joked while reading this book that it was lowering my IQ as I read it - that's probably unfair. It cetainly didn't increase my brain power, however.
My primary interest in the story is the setting (Walt Disney World & the Animal Kingdom) and the plot... sadly, I think the books would be difficult to follow if I didn't have a working knowledge of the parks. And the plot? While there's some great twists (Pearson actually gives Dave Barry credit for coming up with some of the plotting), as a whole, the story feels like an extended for the third novel (which will be published in April of 2010.)
Yes, I probably read the third book to see where the series is going... but I won't be proud of it.
My primary interest in the story is the setting (Walt Disney World & the Animal Kingdom) and the plot... sadly, I think the books would be difficult to follow if I didn't have a working knowledge of the parks. And the plot? While there's some great twists (Pearson actually gives Dave Barry credit for coming up with some of the plotting), as a whole, the story feels like an extended for the third novel (which will be published in April of 2010.)
Yes, I probably read the third book to see where the series is going... but I won't be proud of it.
December 23, 2015
Overall this is a fine book for kids. I am guessing somewhere around 8 to 10 years old. It is kind of fun, not much different than the first without the anti-disney stuff that was all over the first book.
I thought the technology was a little confusing and a bit tough to follow, but overall no big deal. It is not a great book, it isn't a horrible book, it is alright. It had one part of the book that had a cool attraction at Disney World, but unfortunately it does not really exist.
I read it because I couldn't find anything else at the library and it was ok for that. If you like the first one and just want another strange adventure go ahead and give it a try.
I thought the technology was a little confusing and a bit tough to follow, but overall no big deal. It is not a great book, it isn't a horrible book, it is alright. It had one part of the book that had a cool attraction at Disney World, but unfortunately it does not really exist.
I read it because I couldn't find anything else at the library and it was ok for that. If you like the first one and just want another strange adventure go ahead and give it a try.
July 31, 2015
This was better then the first book, I'm going with Pearson's writing is improving and he's not set on making teens or YA readers out to be dummies like the first book he wrote.
The book is still very unbelievable as far as how the kids act, I know of no 14 year old that acts like these kids do. That aside it was an alright book, I won't be waiting with baited breath for the next one.
OH! and the ending, if the only way to get readers to read your next book is just to END with no conclusion? You need to improve your writing.
The book is still very unbelievable as far as how the kids act, I know of no 14 year old that acts like these kids do. That aside it was an alright book, I won't be waiting with baited breath for the next one.
OH! and the ending, if the only way to get readers to read your next book is just to END with no conclusion? You need to improve your writing.
September 24, 2010
Eh. I had picked up the first two books at the same time, so despite my disappointment with the first one, I read the second. It was even more disappointing - the sequence of events is illogical, there is a great deal of attention to plot elements that are never resolved, but inadequate attention to the primary story. So again, unless you are a hardcore Walt Disney World fan who wants to be able to say you have read EVERYTHING that has ever come out about the parks, skip it.
April 20, 2009
I loved this book. I guess it's because I love Disney World and I have been to all these places and it makes the book so real. So I might be a touch biased. But I found them entertaining anyway.
December 5, 2016
I thought this was a very fun read. Especially because we were at Disney World while I was reading the book.
July 22, 2025
This is OK. I feel like there were some things that were kind of recon or forgotten that they were talked about and book one so it was kind of hard to get behind all of it. I know it’s going to spin off into the other books, so I’m going to be OK with it for now, but this is not my favorite.
November 4, 2019
*3.5 stars. I liked it more than the first one, I will say that.
June 16, 2015
This book was even more troublesome than the first one in the series. The premise is more or less the same (the five teenagers cross over to the parks as holographic versions of themselves in their sleep and try to stop the Overtakers, a group of Disney villains from attractions and films who have some sort of unidentified and even unacknowledged master plan), except that the most part of this book takes place while the kids are awake, and danger awaits if they should happen to drift off to sleep! This one takes place in Animal Kingdom, so there are lots of gratuitous cameos by various creatures, including the impending threat of Chernabog!
So the start of this book made me think it had a little more promise than the first one. A couple of the kids were actually starting to show the slightest bit of character and distinct personality, and it started out as a nice little mystery, but then the payoff is sloppy. It all eventually slid back into its murky, bewildering twists of "story." So much of it just doesn't make sense. It's like the author forgot something that he had written a page before. It completely rewrites the entire mythology of the premise to fit the current circumstances, citing events that happened in the first book, but getting the details wrong. When you create a fantasy world, you have to establish some rules to make it the slightest bit engaging or believable, and Pearson tried to establish some of these rules in the first book, but then went ahead and broke them all in this one! Things that were clearly outlined in the first book were totally ignored or inexplicably altered. Shortcuts, new random characters (Finn suddenly has a little sister, never before mentioned, and only brought up so he can let his friend use her DS?), using plot devices in a real space that aren't true (free Wi-Fi all over Disney property?), excuses to further the flimsy storyline, it all equals pretty bad writing.
Overall, there WAS a little more character happening with the kids, but they were still bland and unpleasant, and their conversation was stilted, stiff and unnatural. They either knew too much or not enough. They either acted too young or too old, but never their actual age. Also, please, Ridley, ENOUGH with the embarrassingly side-stepped cursewords. It's tacky and inappropriate.
And yes, there's even an in-text reference to the book as if someone had written and published the story of what happened. Oh, that fourth wall, it's ever so thin sometimes. It's also starting to sound more and more like a huge advertisement, and not only for Disney. The product placement references abound. In this book, Nintendo DSs and the now defunct Virtual Magic Kingdom are major plot points. Oh, don't worry--a major part of this book's climax involves pixelated characters fighting computer trolls in a virtual game playing zone.
I REALLY want to like these books, and there ARE some really cool elements here, but they're so awkwardly and unnaturally handled. The storytelling is just off in so many ways--Again, it all feels like a really bad fanfiction. It seems like the author doesn't understand teenagers, and for all his alleged research about the inner working of the parks, he has so much of the information wrong. (STOP saying "the Fantasmics," PLEASE.) I guess I'll keep reading them in case they improve (also, because I'm morbidly curious about these things, and also because they're pretty quick reads).
So the start of this book made me think it had a little more promise than the first one. A couple of the kids were actually starting to show the slightest bit of character and distinct personality, and it started out as a nice little mystery, but then the payoff is sloppy. It all eventually slid back into its murky, bewildering twists of "story." So much of it just doesn't make sense. It's like the author forgot something that he had written a page before. It completely rewrites the entire mythology of the premise to fit the current circumstances, citing events that happened in the first book, but getting the details wrong. When you create a fantasy world, you have to establish some rules to make it the slightest bit engaging or believable, and Pearson tried to establish some of these rules in the first book, but then went ahead and broke them all in this one! Things that were clearly outlined in the first book were totally ignored or inexplicably altered. Shortcuts, new random characters (Finn suddenly has a little sister, never before mentioned, and only brought up so he can let his friend use her DS?), using plot devices in a real space that aren't true (free Wi-Fi all over Disney property?), excuses to further the flimsy storyline, it all equals pretty bad writing.
Overall, there WAS a little more character happening with the kids, but they were still bland and unpleasant, and their conversation was stilted, stiff and unnatural. They either knew too much or not enough. They either acted too young or too old, but never their actual age. Also, please, Ridley, ENOUGH with the embarrassingly side-stepped cursewords. It's tacky and inappropriate.
And yes, there's even an in-text reference to the book as if someone had written and published the story of what happened. Oh, that fourth wall, it's ever so thin sometimes. It's also starting to sound more and more like a huge advertisement, and not only for Disney. The product placement references abound. In this book, Nintendo DSs and the now defunct Virtual Magic Kingdom are major plot points. Oh, don't worry--a major part of this book's climax involves pixelated characters fighting computer trolls in a virtual game playing zone.
I REALLY want to like these books, and there ARE some really cool elements here, but they're so awkwardly and unnaturally handled. The storytelling is just off in so many ways--Again, it all feels like a really bad fanfiction. It seems like the author doesn't understand teenagers, and for all his alleged research about the inner working of the parks, he has so much of the information wrong. (STOP saying "the Fantasmics," PLEASE.) I guess I'll keep reading them in case they improve (also, because I'm morbidly curious about these things, and also because they're pretty quick reads).
August 3, 2009
While still recovering from their first overnight adventures in the Magic Kingdom. Finn, the unelected leader, is join by techie Philby, Willa, Charlene, and Maybeck when they are once again forced to use their surprising talents. These skills came about after they became DHIs, or digital hosts for Disney World. It seems that when they go to sleep in the real world, they appear as holograms in various locations in Disney World.
In the first book, they had to fight of Maleficent and the pirates from the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. The Overtakers, as the evils ones are called, are made up of all the Disney villains, who are trying to take over the amusement park. While they defeated her once, it seems that Maleficent is not done.
She has just recently kidnapped Jez, the adopted sister of Finn's good friend, Amanda Lockhart. Amanda has previously experience with helping out the Kingdom Keepers, and it seems that caught Maleficent's attention. Jez and Amanda are not as average as everyone thinks, and their skills will endanger the fairy queen's plans as she tries to help out Chernabog, who was really the leader of the Overtakers. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the name, he is that giant demon-like creature from Fantasia.
Rather than focusing the fight in the Magic Kingdom, the Kingdom Keepers are forced to challenge Maleficent and her allies in the Animal Kingdom. Things have become more difficult because new plans to expand the DHI program has set that part of the park up to host holograms. Maleficent has captured the new server and has plans to use it to stake a claim for her master.
The real strength of these books is a chance to explore the park as an adventure rather than a tourist. Action takes place throughout that keeps the readers on the edge of their seat. This is definitely not a book you want to pick up if you are looking for major character development, but that is OK. It is a fun read, and lives up to those expectations, particularly as the story is filled with familiar names of characters and locations from Disney film and the park.
My one and only complaint, which was the same in the first volume, is that the book does not include a map of the park, which would be helpful for readers who are less familiar with either the Magic Kingdom (in the first book) or the Animal Kingdom.
The novel does tie things up, but some of the plot is left open, clearly leaving an opportunity for a likely third installment.
In the first book, they had to fight of Maleficent and the pirates from the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. The Overtakers, as the evils ones are called, are made up of all the Disney villains, who are trying to take over the amusement park. While they defeated her once, it seems that Maleficent is not done.
She has just recently kidnapped Jez, the adopted sister of Finn's good friend, Amanda Lockhart. Amanda has previously experience with helping out the Kingdom Keepers, and it seems that caught Maleficent's attention. Jez and Amanda are not as average as everyone thinks, and their skills will endanger the fairy queen's plans as she tries to help out Chernabog, who was really the leader of the Overtakers. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the name, he is that giant demon-like creature from Fantasia.
Rather than focusing the fight in the Magic Kingdom, the Kingdom Keepers are forced to challenge Maleficent and her allies in the Animal Kingdom. Things have become more difficult because new plans to expand the DHI program has set that part of the park up to host holograms. Maleficent has captured the new server and has plans to use it to stake a claim for her master.
The real strength of these books is a chance to explore the park as an adventure rather than a tourist. Action takes place throughout that keeps the readers on the edge of their seat. This is definitely not a book you want to pick up if you are looking for major character development, but that is OK. It is a fun read, and lives up to those expectations, particularly as the story is filled with familiar names of characters and locations from Disney film and the park.
My one and only complaint, which was the same in the first volume, is that the book does not include a map of the park, which would be helpful for readers who are less familiar with either the Magic Kingdom (in the first book) or the Animal Kingdom.
The novel does tie things up, but some of the plot is left open, clearly leaving an opportunity for a likely third installment.
December 30, 2011
In spite of the mixed reviews on here I went ahead and read the second book in the Kingdom Keeper series and I enjoyed it. I am not one of those people who read a book to just find out what is wrong with it so I enjoyed it. If you are one of those people who will get hung up on the fact that Finn has a sister even though the author didn't tell us that he did in the first book (nor did he tell us that Finn didn't have one) or the fact that the park doesn't have free wi-fi (seriously, are you really that upset over that fact) then you will not enjoy this book. Frankly, for those who like to proof read and point out all the mistakes in others works amuse me. When have you not made a mistake or two. And by the way, we are reading fiction. These same people have not yet had a problem with a boy being able to turn himself into a hologram but they are putting their foot down about the lack of wi-fi at the park. As Seinfeld would say, "Who are these people?"
Now, onto the review. I didn't enjoy this book as good as the first one because I have never been to the Animal Kingdom. Now hopefully I will get to read further into the series and find them back at the Magic Kingdom and see what happens next. The book ends abruptly leaving the reader wanting closure. This is a ploy to make you read the next book and for me, it will work. I like Pearson's adult books and they are much heavier reading than this series but again, we are reading a young adult novel. Keeping that in mind will help you to enjoy these books.
Now, onto the review. I didn't enjoy this book as good as the first one because I have never been to the Animal Kingdom. Now hopefully I will get to read further into the series and find them back at the Magic Kingdom and see what happens next. The book ends abruptly leaving the reader wanting closure. This is a ploy to make you read the next book and for me, it will work. I like Pearson's adult books and they are much heavier reading than this series but again, we are reading a young adult novel. Keeping that in mind will help you to enjoy these books.
April 4, 2011
I read this aloud with my 10 year old son, same as the first book, Disney at Dark. I didn't enjoy this as much as the first one. It did not hold our attention and took much longer to read. The story line is good, full of adventure and leaves you wondering what is next. I did not like the constant references to the first book. It seemed out of place and just thrown in there. It was not necessary to the plot. Throughout the whole book, I kept thinking this looks and feels like a movie coming. It made me think Disney hired Ridley Pearson to write a series of books just to get kids hooked, so a movie would make them tons of more money. Not that they need it. I costs a small fortune to take your family to a Disney Theme Park.
I think this is a fun adventure book for children, especially for boys. I got very tired of reading pages of detail about the complicated computer, virtual, server,... stuff. But face it, I am not a computer wiz so, most of that bored me. Kids who love that stuff will like this book. A very clean and moral book. There are issues about lying to parents. But how else could you stay up all night, sneak out of the house, and save the life of a friend. Ahhh!! Fantasy.
I think this is a fun adventure book for children, especially for boys. I got very tired of reading pages of detail about the complicated computer, virtual, server,... stuff. But face it, I am not a computer wiz so, most of that bored me. Kids who love that stuff will like this book. A very clean and moral book. There are issues about lying to parents. But how else could you stay up all night, sneak out of the house, and save the life of a friend. Ahhh!! Fantasy.
September 19, 2008
Still wondering why this hasn't been changed to "Disney at Dawn" instead of "Rise of Chernabog"...but anyway,
This book disappointed my in some ways. The constant theme throughout the book seems to be "KKs vs. the world", which, even when done brilliantly like J.K. Rowling in "HP and the Deathly Hallows", bugs the heck out of me. So you can imagine how I felt about this book. It felt like most of it had nothing to do with the Kingdom Keepers, more like a random group of kids trying to save their friend. It just doesn't work for me. I'm kind of ashamed to say this, but, if this weren't a Kingdom Keepers book, I probably wouldn't have finished it. Even the ending leaves you feeling incomplete because it's a cliffhanger for a sequel.
With that said, there were some good parts to it. The last 50 pages or so had me reading non-stop, thus the 5 star rating. If this was just some random book, though, it would've gotten a 4 or even a 3. Yeah. That's how bad it is. Maybe my expectations were too high, maybe people who expected nothing will like this. I don't know. But I was disappointed that it was much worse than the original Kingdom Keepers.
This book disappointed my in some ways. The constant theme throughout the book seems to be "KKs vs. the world", which, even when done brilliantly like J.K. Rowling in "HP and the Deathly Hallows", bugs the heck out of me. So you can imagine how I felt about this book. It felt like most of it had nothing to do with the Kingdom Keepers, more like a random group of kids trying to save their friend. It just doesn't work for me. I'm kind of ashamed to say this, but, if this weren't a Kingdom Keepers book, I probably wouldn't have finished it. Even the ending leaves you feeling incomplete because it's a cliffhanger for a sequel.
With that said, there were some good parts to it. The last 50 pages or so had me reading non-stop, thus the 5 star rating. If this was just some random book, though, it would've gotten a 4 or even a 3. Yeah. That's how bad it is. Maybe my expectations were too high, maybe people who expected nothing will like this. I don't know. But I was disappointed that it was much worse than the original Kingdom Keepers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 14, 2022
Disney At Dawn is the second of the soon to be seven book series, Kingdom Keepers.
The book's setting starts out at the Magic Kingdom, but for the majority of the book it takes place at the Animal Kingdom.
~~~
The beginning of the story takes place during the DHI day parade at Magic Kingdom. Finn and the other DHI's are riding on their float when Philby notices a gray balloon next to the Cinderella Castle. Due to the growing thunderstorm, though, it disappears in the crowd. They also realize that Chernabog one of the most powerful Disney villains ever created is missing from his float. (CREEPY!!!) As they continue into the parade, Amanda (My favorite character!!!) and her sister Jez, or Jess, show up. Amanda is trying to warn Finn about something when Charlene notices a pair of monkeys in the crowd. Amanda, still trying warn them, puts a green leaf to her face and points to the castle...
~~~
Ok so thats all I'm writing because I don't give the story away. For serious you guys, this is probably one of the best books in the series. Probably because I'm like obsessed with Amanda. She is my favorite character EVER!!!! But anyways, you should totally check it out. :)
The book's setting starts out at the Magic Kingdom, but for the majority of the book it takes place at the Animal Kingdom.
~~~
The beginning of the story takes place during the DHI day parade at Magic Kingdom. Finn and the other DHI's are riding on their float when Philby notices a gray balloon next to the Cinderella Castle. Due to the growing thunderstorm, though, it disappears in the crowd. They also realize that Chernabog one of the most powerful Disney villains ever created is missing from his float. (CREEPY!!!) As they continue into the parade, Amanda (My favorite character!!!) and her sister Jez, or Jess, show up. Amanda is trying to warn Finn about something when Charlene notices a pair of monkeys in the crowd. Amanda, still trying warn them, puts a green leaf to her face and points to the castle...
~~~
Ok so thats all I'm writing because I don't give the story away. For serious you guys, this is probably one of the best books in the series. Probably because I'm like obsessed with Amanda. She is my favorite character EVER!!!! But anyways, you should totally check it out. :)
October 6, 2012
"Disney at Dawn" is the second of Ridley Pearson's clever Kingdom Keepers series. In this outing the Disney Host Interactive (DHI) kids are participating in a celebration at Orlando's Magic Kingdom when they start noticing animals in the park. Animals belong at Animal Kingdom, of course ... and that's the beginning of the troubles.
It seems that the Overtakers, a crew of Disney villains from the first book, have a new plan for taking over the parks ... and it involves the animals.
The next thing that happens is that one of the kids' friends, Jez, disappears. Fortunately, she's left behind her diary -- which is filled with drawings of things that start to happen to the kids. With the diary now understood as a series of potential clues, the kids go looking for their friend and take on the Overtakers once again.
I enjoyed this book, which is aimed at the 'tween set. It will only make sense if the first book has already been read; it appears that the series must be read in order rather than as stand-alones.
It seems that the Overtakers, a crew of Disney villains from the first book, have a new plan for taking over the parks ... and it involves the animals.
The next thing that happens is that one of the kids' friends, Jez, disappears. Fortunately, she's left behind her diary -- which is filled with drawings of things that start to happen to the kids. With the diary now understood as a series of potential clues, the kids go looking for their friend and take on the Overtakers once again.
I enjoyed this book, which is aimed at the 'tween set. It will only make sense if the first book has already been read; it appears that the series must be read in order rather than as stand-alones.
June 29, 2011
This book was fantastic. A mysterious and engaging plot that manages to improve on the previous book. This one was mainly set in the Animal Kingdom, which I found to be an interesting setting, and the authors certainly used it to his advantage. These books are better than any I've ever read on setting detail, and they really manage to use every little bit of Disney World to their advantage. The characters got deeper and the real world and the Disney universe combined further, and many characters you've heard of will pop up at some point. I found this book got teen language and actions down very well, it really felt like I was reading real conversations while reading this. Rather than swear words, the author used implied words, which I thought was nice, especially with how squeaky clean publishers keep books today. I'm definitely going to read the next in the series and hope that some day I can apply to be a DHI :)
September 13, 2008
Disney before Dawn, along with its predecessor, Disney after Dark, are an amazing wealth of information about the on-goings of behind-the-scenes life at the Disney Parks. Author Ridley Pearson does an amazing job of bringing these parks to life--literally! The plot of the books brings the Disney villains to life inside the parks and its up to a group of kids, known as the Kingdom Keepers to stop them. These kids get to go into the inner workings of the Magic Kingdom in the first book, and to the Animal Kingdom in this sequel. It was fascinating to learn how the parks work, to watch Disney imagineering to be taken to an even grander level than what its already like today. I loved the tension and the build-up, and as far as I'm concerned, the ending rocks my socks! I can't wait to see what Pearson comes up with for the next installment!
December 24, 2008
I read this a lot faster than I expected. It was fun and adventurous. Definitely not as good as the first one, but enjoyable nonetheless. I was warned that the ending was highly unsatisfactory, and I completely agree. I am forced to read the next one to find out what happens. The plot line is very creative though, and it makes me wonder about Disney Resorts and its magic. If you enjoyed the first one, you will enjoy this one.
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