The Owl Keeper

by Christine Brodien-Jones

Maxwell Unger has always loved the night. He used to do brave things like go tramping through the forest with his gran after dark. He loved the stories she told him about the world before the Destruction--about nature, and books, and the silver owls. His favorite story, though, was about the Owl Keeper.

According to Max's gran, in times of darkness the Owl Keeper would appear to unite owls and sages against the powers of the dark. Gran is gone now, and so are her stories of how the world used to be. Max is no longer brave. The forest is dangerous, the books Gran saved have been destroyed, and the silver owls are extinct. At least, that's what the High Echelon says. But Max knows better.

Maxwell Unger has a secret. And when a mysterious girl comes to town, he just might have to start being brave again.

The time of the Owl Keeper, Gran would say, is coming soon.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Fiction, Dystopia, Adventure, Animals

306 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

I've always been drawn to the mysterious “other worlds” we inhabit as children: the invisible secret worlds that adults never seem to notice. Much of my childhood was spent immersed in books (the library was just around the corner) and I wrote my first story at age seven about a girl and a dragon.

Branches of trees were the best places to read books. My favorites were fairy tales, fantasy and science-fiction, including books by Edward Eager, Astrid Lindgren, Ray Bradbury and Madeleine L’Engle. Years later I would read these same stories to my sons Ian and Derek.

After studying creative writing at Emerson College, Boston, I traveled and lived in Almeria (Spain), London and Amsterdam. I met my husband Peter, a native of Wales, while traveling and we raised our two boys in New England. Over the years I've worked as a free-lance journalist, an editor and a teacher.

I'm the author of the post-apocalyptic fantasy THE OWL KEEPER (Delacorte Press, 2010)and THE SCORPIONS OF ZAHIR (Delacorte Books for Young Readers, 2012). Delacorte will publish my next book, THE GLASS PUZZLE, in June 2013. I'm represented by Stephen Fraser of the Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency.

When I’m not writing, I love to sail, read, hike and explore distant corners of Argentina. Peter and I divide our time between Gloucester, Massachusetts and an old country house in Deer Isle, Maine. We spend our winters in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Owl Keeper is a non-stop, action packed ball of awesomeness. Based on the novel's summary, I figured I was in for a tale just about a boy and owls. Thought there also might be a little fantasy sprinkled in to keep things going. Wrong. Christine Brodien-Jones carefully mixes in hints of dystopian, mystery, adventure, and fantasy to create hands down the best novel aimed at younger teens that I have read since the Harry Potter series.

To say the least, Christine Brodien-Jones and The Owl Keeper blew my socks off. Brodien-Jones' keeps her writing is simplistic and the action flowing. For me, that worked out really well. The novel did not require me to puzzle over certain situations or wonder what did the author want me to get out of this passage. This means that I was allowed to enjoy the novel just for what it was.

The action in this novel is top notched. I was glued to the book as action sequence after action sequence occurred. I was amazed that Brodien-Jones could use so much action and not make it seem repetitive or too over the top. The whole novel just flowed together so nicely as the reader uncovers all the little secrets in Max's world. And the world that Max inhabits is very intriguing. Brodien-Jones has created a very dystopian feeling world that has a nice science fiction and fantasy feel to it. The world is quite different from our world, but not so much so that the author needed to go into long, drawn out explanations about how and why things are they way they are. The author does this in a nice short paragraph and focuses mainly on plot and character development.

The characters of Max and Rose are a wonderful combination for the world that Brodien-Jones has created. True, I did like Rose a little more over Max. But this is because Rose is the kind of character that one cannot ignore. She is spunky, full of life, and very impulsive. As the novel moved along, I did find myself liking Max more and more as he grew into his own skin. His character is all about growth, and by the end of novel, he is a completely changed character... just the way it should be. In addition to Max and Rose, owls, and specifically Max's owl, play into a large portion of this novel. One must admire Brodien-Jones' attention to detail. She has captured every detail from the owl's habits down to its personality. The owls added lots of depth and definition to Max's world, and made the novel a lot more fun to read.

For me, Brodien-Jones has hit the ball out of the park with this novel. From the amazing depth of her characters to the non-stop action, this novel was a blast. The novel's ending does set the reader up for a sequel, or possibly even this being the first novel in a series, so I am really hopeful that I will get to see more of Max, Rose, and the owls. While girls will throughly enjoy this novel, I think this may be a wonderful novel to give to a young male teen who has been struggling to find a novel to read. The action and adventure in this novel will be sure to captivate and inspire anyone's imagination.

[Danika Dinsmore · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really drawn to this book by the concept. It sounded so original. A boy living in a post-apocalyptic world who is allergic to the daylight and in search of The Owl Keeper. A combination dystopia - fantasy, two of my favourite genres.

I was a bit disappointed, though. I couldn't get emotionally invested in the main characters, who were underdeveloped. Max was an extremely passive protagonist. Instead of deducing and investigating and discovering and being ingenious, he coincidentally overhears information, people and animals rescue him, and he is conveniently in the right place at the right time. It also takes too long for him to put two-and-two together when information is practically bonked over his head.

There are also complete leaps in logic and sense. For instance (possible
SPOILER), it makes no sense that when Max and Rose run away that the only ones sent after them are two elderly people: Ms. Crumlin and Dr. Tredegar. Where were the Dark Brigade? Mrs. Crumlin wasn't a police officer or an official of any sort. And while they're fighting the pilot of their aircraft is just hanging out waiting for them? The whole bridge scene is filled with illogical moments like this.

Additionally, the plot seems to be driven by a prophecy, rather than the characters' actions.

I think the story is imaginative and has a lot of potential to develop more in sequels, but I would only recommend it for 6th grade or younger. I don't think the characters or concepts would be engaging enough for teens.

[Kitty Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

My overall reaction to this novel is extremely favorable. I have definitely found another all time favorite children's author. My 12 year old daughter read the book and demanded I read it right after she was done. In her words, "Mom, this is one of the greatest books I have ever read, there has to be a second book!" She promptly made me stop what I was doing and look up the author to find out. When I told her there were other novels by Mrs. Jones she let me know with profound importance that she must have every single volume written. After having read, "The Owl Keeper" parents would do their children a great disservice to pass this author's works up.

Do your children a favor, get a copy of, "The Owl Keeper" today and Mrs. Jones, please for my sake and my daughters... write a sequel, the world of the Silver Owls, Max and Rose could not possibly be over!

[Mel · Rating 1 out of 5]

Okay. My mother picked this out for me, which just shows that she can NOT be charged with deciding what I read. EVER. The whole High Echelon was creepy, but not in a cool, pulls-you-in way. I haven't read that much Dystopian, and this is just drivel Dystopian. I'll stick with Hunger Games, perhaps Divergent someday, but NOT this crap.
Maxwell Unger is a wimp, who supposedly USED to be brave when his dear old granny was alive. Also, he's the most GULLIBLE IDIOT in the entire world.
It was COMPLETELY OBVIOUS that that old bat Mrs. Crumlin was an evil witch who filled his head with lies and crap. AND HE FREAKIN DRANK HER CAKE AND HOT CHOCOLATE!!! Didn't ANYBODY ever tell him not to take candy from strangers?! "Oh that stuff made me turn into a forgetful zombie for a second there! Let's trust Crumlin and drink some more!!! Yay!" What a ridiculous idiot. There was actually a part when he was DEFENDING that disgusting hag! You have something wrong with you, Maxwell Unger.
Also, it was COMPLETELY OBVIOUS that that creepy, insane Dr. Tredegar was drugging him with something REALLY CREEPY. It was gloppy and PURPLE!! Does that not raise the alarm that you should at least demand and answer as to what this crap is that he shoots into your arm all the time?!!!!!
MAXWELL UNGER'S ENTIRE LIFE IS A LIE! AND HE COULDN'T EVEN TAKE THE TIME TO FIGURE THAT OUT UNTIL THE MOST INOPPORTUNE MOMENT! WHAT THE HECK?!
To continue, like, TWENTY DANG THINGS in this book had the name 'Silver' in them. SILVER Owls, SILVER Prophesies, SILVERN!! I mean, come ON! Silver is a cool color, and yes, the word sounds all mysterious and interesting. But NOT if you abuse it and use it for every place name, every 'sacred' thingy that you conjure, Christine Brodien-Jones!!!
Furthermore, Maxwell's friend, the girl with spiders crawling in her hair, was GOING FREAKIN' BLIND!! BLIND! And he 'didn't have the heart'to tell her!!! That's just wrong. She deserves to know, you moron! :P
To some up this 'beloved' book, the author is repetitive, the main character is a naive, gullible, jerky, idiotic wimp, and this book bored me to the very end.
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My expression upon reading this book. Why oh why did I even bother?!

[Claudia Marcela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maxwell ha estado recluido en su casa desde hace años. Es alérgico al sol, le han dicho. Su único solaz son sus escapadas nocturnas al bosque cercano, pero incluso eso cambia cuando encuentra a un búho plateado, una criatura que se creía extinta. Y además entra en su vida una niña que le hace pensar por primera vez en su vida que tal vez todo lo que le dicen los adultos no es verdad.

~~~

Empecé a leer este libro creyendo que era una fantasía infantil, y en el transcurso de la lectura descubrí gratamente que va mucho más allá. Es una distopía oscura narrada a través de los ojos de un niño de 11 años.

Maxwell nunca ha conocido un mundo diferente, solo sabe lo que los adultos a su alrededor le dicen. No puede ir a la escuela porque se enfermaría gravemente si lo toca la luz solar, los niños malos van a la prisión infantil, cualquiera que hable en contra del gobierno es un rebelde peligroso, los Sages de antaño y su símbolo, los búhos plateados, son criaturas peligrosas que han sido erradicadas del mundo. Pero a pesar de los programas aleccionadores de la radio, las peroratas incansables de su cuidadora, y el inagotable consejo de sus padres de "portarse bien", Maxwell sabe en lo más profundo de su alma que antes existía un mundo diferente. Su abuela le habló de un mundo de rozagante naturaleza, antes que los científicos quisieran manipular el clima y estropearan todo, antes que un grupo violento derrocara a los Sages y convirtiera todo en un totalitarismo aterrador que exige de sus ciudadanos una ciega obediencia y castiga a todo disidente. Maxwell alcanzó a leer los libros que poseía su abuela, antes que decidieran prohibirlos todos, y se hiciera una gran purga de conocimientos. Pero el golpe más duro fue la muerte de su querida abuela, que lo dejó aislado entre adultos que siguen a ciegas las órdenes y no parecen tener el bienestar del niño entre sus prioridades. Pero entonces lo visita un legendario búho plateado, con un mensaje cifrado, y Maxwell se da cuenta que todas las historias sobre los antiguos sabios son ciertas, y tal vez él pueda ayudar a encontrar al último gran Sage, el Owl Keeper, que terminará con la época oscura en la que viven. De la mano de la temeraria Rose, Maxwell va en busca de su destino.

Es una historia middle grade, así que claramente la narración no es demasiado intrincada, y Maxwell no es ningún héroe de cuentos. Es un niño con inseguridades y miedos, un niño que teme desobedecer a los "adultos responsables", pero que entiende que algo en su mundo está terriblemente mal y que cuando una buena amiga, la única niña con la que ha hablado nunca, le abre los ojos ante las injusticias del gobierno y su posibilidad de lograr un cambio, intenta ser valiente. Creo que es una cualidad formidable de nuestro protagonista el que tema a muchas cosas, pero en cuanto ve que su pequeño búho y su nueva amiga están en peligro, no duda en enfrentarse al peligro. Y Rose es perfecta para equilibrar la timidez de Maxwell, puede parecer una niña demasiado madura para su edad, pero creo que su personalidad es acorde con las circunstancias extremas en las que se encuentra.

Pese a la sencillez de la premisa, el mundo está bien construido, y a través de la narración vemos lo oscura que es esta realidad alternativa, con su clima atrofiado, el gobierno totalitario, el adoctrinamiento a través de los medios masivos, la subyugación mental a través de los alimentos, la vigilancia extrema a los ciudadanos y la experimentación genética. Pero la inocencia de Maxwell, lo entrañable de su amistad con Rose y su cruzada por salvar a su querido búho plateado le dan un toque esperanzador a esta historia que de otra forma sería angustiante. La historia mantiene su ritmo pausado pero emocionante, con sus villanos aterradores y sus aliados inesperados y la obligada situación de vida o muerte. El final mantiene la emoción y deja la puerta abierta para futuras entregas... que acabo de revisar y no existen. Es un standalone, lo que decepciona porque creí que todos los hoyos de la trama se resolverían en la secuela, y resulta que no hay segundo libro.

Nivel de Inglés: intermedio

¿Qué Disfruté
Resultó ser una trama más compleja de lo que creía.

¿Qué Prefiero Olvidar?
Hay un par de escenas que son excesivamente ilógicas, considerando que se trata de un par de niños de 11-12 años, y solo son creíbles por su servicio a la trama.

Citas

"Just because there were times you were frightened doesn't mean you weren't brave,"; said Gran, placing a hand on Max's shoulder. "Without doubt, it is the greatest act of courage that is often the most fearful.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eleven-year-old Max Unger lived with his parents in a world of the future, a few decades after the Great Destruction of 2066. Because he was told he had a sun allergy, he stayed indoors in the daytime. At night, he loved to wander in the light of the 2 moons, and dream of caring for owls, who were also creatures of the dark. His special love was silver owls, and he was horrified when he heard that the High Echelon wanted to eliminate all of them. Max's Gran had told him silver owls were special, and would one day fulfill an ancient prophecy and bring their Owl Song back to the world. How could that happen if they all were killed? On one of his moonlight walks, Max meets a mysterious red-headed girl who seems to know a lot about owls. Can they work together to save the last few silver owls on earth?

This dystopian novel is marred by unrealistic dialogue and over-wrought characters -- overworked parents who are too stressed to pay any attention to Max, an unbelievably weird housekeeper who burns every disgusting meal she cooks, and a cruel doctor who makes weekly house calls to give Max injections that have become increasingly painful over the years. Many aspects of the dystopian world do not make sense, or are not explained. For example, The High Echelon announces the Sealed Borders Act. What is that? The High Echelon will assign all children to a field of study or an apprenticeship on their 12th birthday. No explanation. The High Echelon closed libraries, museums, and universities. Why? A climate-damaged city called The Frozen Zone was declared off-limits by the High Echelon. That is all the reader knows, and he is left wondering about many aspects of this story. Now and then the reader can eventually figure it out, but too much time is spent confused about this world. Good writers need to give a clearer picture when writing about dystopian worlds.

The concept of an Owl Keeper to save an endangered owl species is a good one. Having children investigate and find solutions in a world that adults are resigned to is a good idea. But there was no need to have such overblown characterizations for the adults, and the reader is not clear about this future world. Young readers (9-11) might enjoy it more than older ones, who demand more from a story.

[Max · Rating 3 out of 5]

This turned out to be more of a childrens book than I expected, but still was a very pleasant read. The story is nothing out of the ordinary but it is sweet and builds a cool and surprisingly dark world.
Some of the more "action"packed scenes could have profited from a few additional pages, it feels like the book glances over a lot of things, which on the other hand keeps it from ever getting stale. I guess the ending builds up to a to be announced sequel, because otherwise it would indeed take the easy way out of not clarifying what eg happens to max' parents.

[Jeanette · Rating 1 out of 5]

1 1/2 stars. This book had no idea what it wanted to be about.

[Katieb (MundieMoms) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so captivated by the cover. It's beautiful. The illustrations at the beginning of each chapter are just as intriguing. Get ready to be swept away into an amazing world where nothing is what it seems, and as the darkness is taking over the world, the hope of many rests on two eleven and twelve year olds.

Max and Rose live in a world that has been taken over by The High Echelon. They have destroyed everything that was good in the world, and have killed off most of the animals, altered the weather, which destroyed much of the world and in the year 2066 they are now altering people. Books have all been burned, people go missing, families aren't what they used to be, and people's memories are fading. Now The High Echelon is about to destroy the last hope anyone has to fight the darkness, Max. Except for Max doesn't know that he's the last hope. At least not yet anyway.

Max misses his lovely Gran who unexpectedly died when he was 7. When she died, so did the stories about the Silver Owls, and his favorite story about the Owl Keeper, who'd come in times of darkness and would unite the owls and sages together. He misses their talks about nature and the way the world was before the Destruction, the late night walks through the forest, all of her books and the warmth, love and comfort he felt when he was with her. Now the parents he used to be close to are forced to work 6 days a week in factory and he's guardian Miss Crumlin, a cold lady who's destroyed all but one of his Grandmother's books and treats Max with little regard. There's something that doesn't feel right about Miss Crumlin. She's a cold person, who's always reminding Max how sick he is and giving him medicine, even if he feels fine.

Max's has always loved the night, which is the only time he can go out doors. He's been raised to believe he's allergic to the sun and if the sun touches any part of his skin he can die. Now Max goes out by himself, but only to his Owl Tree. He reminds himself about the stories of the Silver Owls, fierce protectors that no longer exist. The High Echelon has killed them all, or at least that's what they claimed. There tucked up in the high branches of his beloved Owl Tree, Max is hiding his very own Silver Owl. He's keeping the message he found in her beak a secret, along with her existence. One night he meets a mysterious girl under his Owl Tree. She can see his Silver Owl.

It took me just a little bit to get into the book and once I did, I couldn't put it down. The world Christine built is fascinating and only gets more and more intriguing as we go on a journey with Max and Rose to find the Owl Keeper. The beginning of the book builds up to everything Max has been taught his whole life. When Rose enters his life, she'll challenge everything he's been told. Nothing he's been told is the truth. When Rose starts to show him things are not what they seem, he discovers a very dark secret and what his fate is about to be, unless he can change it. Confiding in each other, they both learn they have the mark of the Owl, they're night seers. When The High Echelon come looking for them, they flee. Their journey is to find The Owl Keeper and Max's Silver Owl will lead them to where The Owl Keeper is at.

The Owl Keeper is one of those books that keeps you guessing at who's the bad guy and what's really happening, until you learn the truth. It's full of adventure and wonderful characters set in a fascinating, not so distant time. With the destruction of the world, and all the wonderful things it holds, Max and Rose are the last hope and when they arrive at their destination, only then will they learn what their their true destiny will be. I'm really looking forward to a sequel. I think readers will really love Max and Rose's characters and definitely recommend this book to those 10 yrs old and up.

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written, fantastic story. I will certainly buy more books from this author. Brilliant debut!

(from my blog)
This book was beautifully written. The story was beautiful, the descriptions were beautiful the relationship between Max and his owl and yes, even Rose was beautiful.

This story was also creepy in a way that I was not expecting. Guess what? I stumbled into yet another dystopian novel and didn’t even know it! I was just so happy that my crappy library had this book when none of the stores near me were stocking it! It was one of the first books I added to my Debut Author Challenge list and I couldn’t get my hands on a copy. Imagine my surprise when I was looking through my library’s almost microscopic English sector and found this book. I was beyond thrilled.

I get the feeling this is a middle grade book based on the characters and their dialogue (Max himself is eleven up to the end of the book on his 12th birthday). I am not entirely sure how old Rose is. Maybe a year older than Max?

I thought this book was going to be more of a fantasy novel, not realizing it takes place in the future after the Great Destruction of 2o66 and now the world is ruled by the High Echelon and people are being forced to live in domed communities, all books have been destroyed, there is no television, no libraries and the only books allowed are either comic books about superheros who promote the domed communities or the textbooks issued by the Government.

I have to say this book gave me the shivers more than once. I am not good with this type of scenario, but I was able to keep my creeped out factor to a minimum as I was so enthralled in the building relationship between Max and Rose and their quest to find the Owl Keeper and escape the Echelon.

The little silver owl won my heart quickly as well. And she wasn’t even the main focus. I so totally want a little owl now.

This brilliant debut novel is a must-read. It might be a little too dark and creepy for 12 year olds, but I don’t know. Twelve-year olds are a different breed than I was at that age. Even now I had nightmares caused by this book when I wen to bed last night and it was still on my mind when I woke up so I picked up the book and finished it before breakfast! It’s a deep, intricate book that is not dumbed down for kids at all. I even found the dialogue fitting for 11 & 22 year olds who are trying to impress the other by what they know and what they can do. The voices were very real in my mind.

Rose sort of reminded me of Pipi Longstockings at times (in a good way) with her bold, bossy and exaggerating nature. I didn’t think I was going to like her much but she most certainly grew on me as the story unfolded. Max’s caretaker and his doctor scared me to death and I felt suffocated when they were around as if I would never get away from them.

The ending of the novel leads me to believe there may be a sequel in the future, although I don’t know if there will be. It is a rather open ending where you can come to your own conclusions about what happens next, or have a second book to tell you. I’m not sure which I’d rather. I do know that if there is a sequel, I’ll be picking it up right away!

[I Trump · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is from my nine-year-old daughter Mia:

The Owl Keeper is a dystopian book that has fantasy in it.

It was about a boy named Max who can't go out in the light because he's allergic to sun particles. Yet it's mysterious because no one will tell him anything, like what his parents do at their work. Max has started to forget lots of things about his past. He has an owl on a tree outside his house that he sneaks to at night. The government says there are no owls. Max thinks the government lies a bit. He meets a girl named Artemis at the owl tree. Artemis is very mysterious. And suddenly he finds himself in an adventure.

The Owl Keeper is one of my favorite books. The author kept me guessing and surprised me. I am almost felt like I was watching something happen.

[Teeyanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was one of the weirdest books I have ever read in my life! But....................I loved it. I really loved this book. How you didn't know if the two main characters would make a love story,or just a classic friendship one. It was very good. The suspense will eat you up. Especially the parts when you find out something that you never knew. Its a big deal.

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very good book. It was scary in some parts. My favorite part is when they were chased by the Misshapens.

[Jillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pleasant read, as others have said. But, the end is disappointing. It is set up like a sequel was going to be done, but instead there is no sequel and this book ends with a TON of unanswered questions, so it's really dissatisfying. Even though Max (FINALLY) figures out that he is the Owl Keeper and the owls' power is restored, the story ends without us knowing what happened to his parents, what happened to Rose's parents, what happens to the High Echelon, and whether the miraculous return of the owls even means anything in the long run. Either there was supposed to be a sequel and there never was or the author just... lost interest? Didn't think her audience would care about the entire rest of the story or even notice she didn't finish it? Didn't know where to take it next or how to resolve the remaining so she just gave up and quickly ended it? I have no idea.

Also, I agreed with the others who said that Max is underwhelming, wishy-washy, grossly gullible, and had almost no self-awareness. But, as tiresome and annoying as it was I could see younger readers (target audience) not making these connections as easily and needing the added character of Rose to provide that input and help Max grow as he figures out how and why he was lied to his entire life. We also have to remember that this is a brain-washing story, which means that it is arguable that it would be painfully difficult for Max to make these connections over time, if at all.

Oh, and one other thing bothered me. When Max let the "special" skraek go, although I understood that in the long run it would end up saving their lives, my first thought was that, if his owl means so much to him, why did it never occur to him that letting the skraek go would put her in danger? Honestly, I wasn't sure which would happen: that the skraek would serve a purpose in helping Max and Rose later or if he would inadvertently cause the death of his owl. Because he didn't release the skraek that far from the owl and because the sole purpose of skraeks is to destroy things, especially owls and people, it wasn't clear to me why it was never a threat to the owl and this was never addressed.

If the book had gone on to tie up all the loose ends, I might've given it five stars, it really was a fascinating idea and well-written, it's just the end was so abrupt that it dropped a whole star for me.

[Tiffany Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I immediately adored Max and felt for how isolated he was from society. He could only venture out at night, seeing as how he was "allergic to the sun and would die if exposed to sunlight" and secondly, he was a sickly boy. Because he is so isolated, and because he had been raised by his grandmother, who passed away, he hasn't had any real friends so he has a silver owl he's rescued as a friend and that's it. And he has to keep her hidden in the forest, as a secret, since the Government fears these owls and has killed most of them off. This futuristic is super amazing and full of magic and wonder, hope and light vs dark...and the imagination put into this book is truly outstanding. Max ends up befriending a little girl his age, named Rose, and together, they defy the High Echelon government and attempt to save his silver owl...and get her, and themselves, to the Owl Keeper. I don't want to give any spoilers but honestly, this was the coolest book and I cannot recommend it enough. It was a really great statement against "political oppression" as well as more simple themes such as self expression and self confidence. Such a lovely book.

[Caly ☯ Crazy Book Lady · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good middle grade book with the bones for a great adult book. The story is simplified and rushed but has great elements. Even a sequel would have made this better. Oh well.

[Lili · Rating 4 out of 5]

With only memories of his Gran, small treasures that were sneaked past Mrs.Cumlin's inspections, Maxwell Unger lives through the night and dark of the High Echelon's world. Getting monthly injections of grotesque liquid was a result of Max's allergy to "sun particles." The stories of silver owls and Silver Prophecies are practically forbidden to speak. So is Max's Gran's death. With the slow deterioration of his memory, Max tries to visit his owl tree and his silver owl every night. One night he finds a girl under his tree. A peculiar one, at that; raggedy clothes, wild dirty hair, and as thin as a chopstick. Crowding an aggressive attitude, Artemis Rose Eccles is like no one Max had ever met before. Speaking almost a foreign language, Rose endears Max with her crazy antics of the liars in the High Echelon. When the slow realization of the truth of Rose's remarks grows to be too much for Max, a slew of adventures and a final journey to the Frozen Zone are the only solutions that sought to defeat the impending Darkness sweeping the land. Will the end result be what Max and Rose were hoping for all along, or will there be too many near-death experiences to get to their destination in time?


The Owl Keeper is the mesmerizing tale of a young, weak boy that blooms into a brave and powerful Night Seer, with the help of Rose--his best friend, his silver owl and some memories of Gran and a better time. Reading through the best friends' adventures in the gloominess of High Echelon territory was entertaining and kept you interested till that final journey to find the Owl Keeper. Reading about all of the crafted, ugly-looking creatures in The Owl Keeper was intricately satisfying because of its detail. Rose and Max learn to appreciate each other in more ways than one; and upon that a very unique friendship. With a poem of a prophecy hanging over there heads, the pair try to break down its meaning in order to end at their desired destination. Through their fantastic views of the forests and chilling woods, you will keep wondering in your mind what will happen next, and will they get through this.
The Owl Keeper was set in Max's point of view of the situations around him, but with one switch I believe that the author could have made this book great in any--and I do mean any, even little Miranda's point of view. However, since I don't ordinarily read MG books, it took me a while to really get into the story. With other readers or frequenters of MG novels, this most likely may not happen; if you don't frequent MG novels, you might experience a little difficulty in the beginning, all there is to do is wait for the good parts, because they are there! Brodien truly knows what she's doing with the her characters, the only mishap is that she needs to work a bit on the magic storytelling. From time to time, the pace and some details of the story made me question the authors choice for choosing such a young male lead. However, I do believe that may be a bit biased since I used to young adult novels. In the end, Max really showed the side of his childishness and bravery all in one. The Owl Keeper really is an enchanted, mystical read that you won't want to miss. I'd love to know what happens to Max after the last page.

Grade: B

[Kari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though this is a middle grade novel with a main character who is 11, close to 12, this book is certainly not written on a elementary level. The writing is strong and the descriptions thorough, giving a great overall image and making it enjoying for readers of all ages. Particularly for this book, the age choice works beautifully, pulling the story in a way it wouldn't otherwise go if the main character was even just a few years older.

Max leads a unique life even in this dystopian setting, confined inside during the daytime because he has an especially rare genetic disease that renders him allergic to sun particles. Any sunlight will kill him, making him a creature of the night and cut off from school and therefore, most friends. As a result, his primary interaction is with his caretaker, seeing his parents only in the evenings after work. Naturally, this effects his personality and his view on things but after the introduction of Rose, a runaway girl about his age who is certainly unique and quarky, Max's eyes begin to open.

This is where his age plays such a central role. Still more boy than teenager and holding a certain level of inherent immaturity, Max has to wrestle with plenty of questions- and any sort of upstart and betrayal will shake his world far more drastically than it would a teenager. Also with this age, however, is a certain desire to be brave and grown up, still harboring some of the childlike drive to grow up too fast yet also lacking the know it all attitude of an early teenager. It is a very refreshing mix, creating a strong central character who a reader of any age will come to like quickly and effectively.

As the story progresses, the full extent of the world Brodien-Jones has created is slowly developed and exposed, blindsiding the reader sometimes as strongly as Max himself. Secrets are kept, being revealed to the reader sometimes at the same time as the characters, showing Brodien-Jones' strong writing and crafting skills are. The owl aspect of this book is especially intriguing, as it makes the entire world incredibly unique. While some elements can be seen in other novels and the other idea of an overcontrolling government is common, the reasons and motivation behind this particular government's action is refreshing and original.

Though owls have shown up in books before, they play a different role in this book and the entire interaction and connection throughout keeps the reader involved. Max and Rose face some very unsettling situations, instilling fear in them both and though Max was relatively whiny, it is certainly to be expected in an 11 year old thrust into some of these scenarios. Brodien-Jones did a fantastic job creating a young character that was bold and brave but still true to an 11/12 year old.

With stunning takes and variations on elements present in modern times, strong and well crafted writing, and a young but fantastically developed main character, Brodien-Jones has made an amazing addition to the dystopian genre. She certainly raises many questions and shifts frames of mind throughout the book, keeping the mystery and intrigue strong right until the last page.

[Nikki (Wicked Awesome Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Years in the future, the world we all know has been transformed and the High Echelon is in charge of everything. The citizens are assigned to jobs and lives and the once beautiful land and wildlife is nonexistent. The silver owls that once roamed the skies are said to be extinct and both their song and their magic is gone. Max Unger is an often scared, frail eleven year old boy who has lived much of his life in the dark. Max is told that he is allergic to sun particles, so the majority of his time is spent indoors. His nights give him freedom and he roams the land around his home. One night, Max discovers a beautiful silver owl. Several nights later, a bossy, wild-looking girl by the name of Rose comes into Max’s life and changes it forever. Max and Rose set out on an adventure that tests their character and hope.

The Owl Keeper is an exquisite story of the hope that children can cling to. The start is a little slow, but once I hit page 70 or so, the action was non-stop and I couldn’t even put the book down. The beginning really builds the story and since there is so much to know about this world that Max is living in and the mythology surrounding it, the build up is necessary. Once the lore is set in place, we begin to see the cracks in the High Echelon's society turn into fissures. Max quickly realizes that maybe all is not as it seems and he begins to blossom as a character. It is impossible not to love Max and I was completely devoted to everything he is going through. When Max was younger, he did everything with his grandmother and that’s how he discovered his love for the night. He used to go exploring with his Gran and spend hours learning about the silver owls, but when Max is 7, his Gran dies and everything changes. Little things remind Max of his Gran and you can really feel that loss and despair radiating off of him.

Rose is the complete opposite of Max. She’s fearless and outspoken and a rough and tumble kind of girl. She drives Max crazy, but he still adores her and the reader will too. Their friendship grows so much throughout the novel and their layers are peeled away perfectly. The world of The Owl Keeper is expertly crafted with so many interesting creatures and places. Christine Brodien-Jones has created an entirely new world with mythological creature and prophecies. It is absolutely absorbing and a refreshing dystopian novel. I will say that it feels much more like a MG novel than a YA novel, but I still loved it. The ending leaves it open for a sequel, but could also be an open ending that lets the reader imagine what could follow.

Opening line: “When Max first saw the girl that night, standing beneath the owl tree, he thought she was ghost or a vision, or maybe a comic-book character come to life.” ~ pg. 1

Favorite line: “Absolute Dark, he realized, was here.” ~ pg. 117

[Alyssa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a little skeptical about this one, mostly because of the dystopian type setting, however I persevered and read it through to the end! :) I would really shoot more for a 3.5 star rating, but not as far as 4 stars. Don't get me wrong this is a great book! (Before I get too in-depth, remember this is my personal opinion only, you may completely disagree with my entire review, but you should still read the book, despite what my or any review says!) :)

Now, first the cover is absolutely beautiful and the story neatly placed inside, is just as amazing! However, here are the things that tilted me more towards a less extravagant rating: #1) I didn't really like her writing style. It was hard for me to engross myself in and get lost in the pages. Which, probably had more to do with her choice of sentence structure. #2) Miss/Ms./Mrs. Brodien-Jones did not make it as believable, and by that I mean at times in the book (Especially close to the climax and falling action) there were just cheesy moments I didn't really like. The characters (Max and Rose) sometimes stated unnecessary and obvious dialogue. Which encompasses #3) I don't think she used enough imagery. She stated things instead of showing them through the words and that's not really my cup of tea.

Now, after picking at her writing style, I will move on to the actual story! I really liked the story itself. Trying not to include too many spoilers here, but I just love the characters! One is so kind and brave (Even if he doesn't believe that) and the other is a strong, confident female protagonist (Yay for girl power!) How the love of owls and hope for a better future is woven into this story is just amazing! Overall I'm glad this was chosen as one of the Winter Books to read. (*Cough* Not to name any names, but that goes to you Kat) ;) This was a great choice! I would recommend it! Thank you! :) -Kudos to the author.-


Fellow book readers,
I bid you good day. ~Alyssa H. ♥

[Julie · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was an exercise in frustration. The main character, a 12 year old boy, was unbelievably dumb; and I felt an insult to all 12 year old boys. The main themes were beyond a fantasy distopia. Do you really want themes of all government is evil; and don't trust your baby sitter-she's drugging you, for 10 year old kids? I was offended too that the main character's parents were "too tired from working all day in the chocolate factory" to notice that the baby sitter was evil?! Owls are hugely popular right now--and this story was a publisher's attempt to take advantage of that. And as a bonus--clearly this is meant to be the first in a series--since the story line was unresolved, and stopped abruptly. If you've read this review--consider yourself forewarned.

[Celestarius · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kind of a contemporary fantasy, kind of a post-apoc dystopia. What a strange yet inventive mix! There are ancient prophecies about silver owls and Sages, and there are weird government-run genetic experiments and futuristic dome cities. And it all somehow works. The dialogue isn't the most natural-feeling and a lot of the plot elements are pretty superficial, but they're okay for a middle grade book. There is some pretty creepy and dark stuff but probably nothing beyond Roald Dahl-level. I wasn't blown away but with so many fantasy and dystopia books following simple formulas, I was impressed with the creative way they're combined here.

[Sharon Huether · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Owl Keeper by Christine Brodien -Jones The year in the future 2066. Max always loved Owls and visits one at night when he is able to outside. He soon learns all that people have told him about himself is lies. He is fortunate to have a special friend, who helps and encourages him find himself,leave his past and travel to a place where he is reunited with his grandmother and becomes the keeper of the Owls. This book was exciting to read.

[Rebwin Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I honestly dived into this book, only knowing that it's dystopian, mystery, fantasy, and aimed at middle grade or young readers.

I liked:
-The cover. It was really the first thing that got my attention.
-Friendship of Rose and Max. They were different from one another. Max being shy and quiet while Rose is more straightforward and a risk taker. I liked the fact that their friendship is loyal and innocent.
-Thrilling chapters. There were some great parts wherein they would sneak out, investigate, and have to escape to find out more information about the High Echelon.
-Message of the book. After finishing it, I came to realize that this book shows how much older people often underestimate kids and youngsters. Some like to think of us young people that we have no knowledge, always have to follow, and can't have a say. But Max and Rose fought that and showed that even though they're really young, they are aware of how corrupt the government can be and have a grasp on who is evil and not.

I didn't like:
-World building. It wasn't really explained what happened to their world. All I picked up was that: silver owls (which are claimed to be extinct) are being hunted, books were banned, Misshapens are weird experimented beings, and that nature isn't lively anymore.
-Obvious and Predictable. When it was revealed that Max had a silver owl, I immediately had a hunch that he is the Owl Keeper. I knew that Mrs. Crumlin and Dr. had evil secrets.
-Ending. It felt like a cliffhanger. It wasn't really explained what happened to Max's parents and the High Echelon after the owls sang and the Sages came.

This book didn't really stick with me. I read it, thought about it for a few days and that's it. Overall, it has some issues but is still a good read. This is those books that you have to read to find out if you'll like it or not.

[Clover Laurel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is frustrating. The language is extremely unimaginative, and you can’t use the excuse that it is a children’s book because even books written for younger audiences have better prose. I counted the use of the word “owl” eighteen times within the first twenty or so pages. Now, I love owls, which is why I picked up this book, but the main character just seems a little too obsessed with them. Maybe they were meant to symbolize his connection with his dead grandmother, who used to tell him stories about them? If so, it was not made clear.
Let’s talk about his grandmother. He’s fixated on her, but we don’t see what makes their bond so deep. We only know that she used to tell him stories. Okay? Is that enough for people to form an attachment?
The main character is the most insufferable. He has a case of “not like other kids” and shares his dead grandmother’s opinions on the dystopian government. For the grandmother, it makes sense because she grew up in the time before it was the norm. Shouldn’t the main character be normalized to this world? Why does he have the opinions he does? Just because his grandmother told him stories about what it was like before? He also contradicts himself constantly and makes stupid decisions. For example, he’s trying to hide an owl because the government will kill her, but he reveals to owl to a girl he just met. Maybe he’s naive, but you don’t know that girl’s intentions. She could snitch on you.
I just found the reading experience to be unpleasant, and I ended up not finishing the book. It’s sad when you have to DNF a children’s book, but I’m not going to waste my time on a bad book.

[Netanella · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Owl Keeper is an engaging fantasy novel for middle grade readers, but obviously it worked for me quite well. The story is set in a dystopian future where the world has been polluted by the Great Echelon, the enemy-state who has created a propaganda campaign against just about everything and uses mind control, poisonous chocolate, nanny spies, and mutagenic injections to control people's behaviors. Most animals are extinct, or will be shortly, especially the most magical of animals, the silver owl, who can create magic with their OwlSong.

The world-building is swift and fun, both scary and cozy. As owls are nocturnal creatures, the symbols of the Great Echelon are fierce yellow suns, which they use as tattoos to cover the owl birthmarks on Night Seers, humans who are born with special powers over nature. Max Unger, our young hero protagonist, is born with such a birthmark, and a covering yellow sun tattoo. As is his friend Rose, a rambunctious girl who somehow reminds me of Ramona Quimby from the Beverly Cleary novels of my youth.

I really enjoyed this book, and the magical land that it depicts. Recommended for fantasy fans.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Max is a Night Seer, which means he can't go out in the daytime. Unfortunately, everyone else would rather live in a domes where there is light all the time. But Max loves nighttime, and sneaks out from the watchful eye of Mrs. Crumlin to visit a tree where he has befriended a silver owl. One night a strange girl, Rose, shows up, and she turns everything Max knows on his head. What are those awful injections he's forced to get? And why isn't anyone allowed to read books?

Max's world has a bit of climate change going on, even though I got this fifteen years ago, before "cli-fi" was a thing. The fantasy elements of owls that can communicate blended with an extinction narrative, and there was the added threat of genetic mutation. It was a bit of a stretch to imagine that Max had never questioned anything about his world before meeting Rose, since he was already defying rules, but he also didn't have much contact with anyone. The ending felt like it was leaving room for a sequel even though everything wrapped up well enough for Max and Rose.

[Gabriela Teixeira · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must admit I came across this book sort of by chance, but not really.
I love owls and one day I decided to search the Library catalog by the keyword Owl, just to see if I could find a cool book featuring an owl.
I didn't want non-fiction about the life cycle of owls. I also don't really like when animals speak and act like humans, so guardians of ga-hoole was not really an option. So a fantasy book with human characters that had owls as a centerpiece sounded perfect.
I found this book and OMG, it's sooo good.
I read it in only a couple of days (being a weekend helped!) and absolutely loved it.
I love Max and Rose, and liked how his character grew along the story.
I also liked how the book never got slow, with something always happening.
Now I want more.... Will try Christine's other books for sure (no owls in the others, but that's ok, the owl ended up serving to make me get to know her work, and I'm thankful for that.)

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5 stars) Maxwell loves to go out at night and greatly misses the rambles he used to take with his grandmother and her stories about the silver owls and the Owl Keeper who would come in times of darkness to fight and bring back the light. He mistrusts the housekeeper/sitter and his parents seem indifferent to anything but work. He has been told he has a condition that does not allow him to be out in sunlight. One night he meets Rose, a girl who claims her father is part of the rebellion and is acting as a spy. The two find themselves on the run and battling against a government that is intent on destroying the natural world, and in particular the symbol of the rebellion, the silver owls. The two find clues that Maxwell’s grandmother has left for them and take on a perilous journey to find the rebels and hopefully save what may be the last silver owl.

[Melissa T · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an entertaining story.

The main character, Max is a bit of a scaredy cat. It doesn't really seem to fit well, given what he's being groomed for/injected with.

There are some neat plot wrap ups, where there should have been a bit more conflict. And less questioning on Max's part when their should have been more. It also felt sometimes like Rose and Max were competing for MC status.

I do like the spin on the dystopian element, and the creatures that are being bred/experimented on were new to me, so I give the book points for creativity.

I feel that given more time and plot expansion, this could have been drawn out into a really enticing series.

I liked the owls being central to the book, as it's just not something you see often.

Definitely worth the time spent reading.