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The Secret Keepers
A New York Times Bestseller! By the author of The Mysterious Benedict Society, this heart-pounding mystery adventure is laced with magic and humor. When Reuben discovers an extraordinary antique watch with a secret power, his life takes an intriguing turn. As one secret leads to another, Reuben finds himself torn between his honest nature and the lure to be a hero. Now he is on a dangerous adventure--full of curious characters, treacherous traps, and hairsbreadth escapes--as he races to solve the mystery before it is too late. With fearless Penny, mighty Jack, and the wise Mrs. Genevieve on his side, can Reuben outwit a sly villain called The Smoke and save the city from a terrible fate? In this ingeniously crafted novel, acclaimed author Trenton Lee Stewart invites readers to join the adventure, decipher the clues, and ask themselves the Is knowing a secret a gift or a curse?
512 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 27, 2016
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10992 people want to read
About the author
Trenton Lee Stewart
27 books4,043 followersTrenton Lee Stewart is the author of the award-winning, bestselling Mysterious Benedict Society series for young readers; The Secret Keepers, also for young readers; and the adult novel Flood Summer. He lives in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Letters to the author may be sent to:
Trenton Lee Stewart
PO Box 251358
Little Rock, AR 72225
Letters to the author may be sent to:
Trenton Lee Stewart
PO Box 251358
Little Rock, AR 72225
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,068 reviews
December 6, 2021
I consider myself very brave.
Sure, I pale in comparison to the adventures and courageous acts undertaken by (checks notes) every eleven year old who's ever populated a middle grade book, but it's important to appreciate yourself.
And I, in the first week of a two month readathon, picked up a five hundred page book I'd been putting off reading for four years.
There's some degree of bravery to that.
But while the protagonist of this book was repaid for his lack of regard for stakes and consequences with a very cool magic item, I received a disappointing reading experience and lateness on my reading-challenge goals for mine.
Alas.
This was an okay book, but I never really felt invested in it. The characters didn't have the charm of the Mysterious Benedict Society. The bad guys (while insanely similar) did not instill the same fear into my very heart. And the plot itself was a bit more of a snooze.
This was still a not-bad read, for me. But that's about all it was.
Bottom line: I'm never trying hard ever again.
------------------
pre-review
well, it's no mysterious benedict society. but it's not bad.
review to come / 2.5 stars
------------------
currently-reading updates
when i've shelved a book as "can't wait to read" four years ago and still haven't read it, that's the real me
clear ur sh*t prompt 2: a book with a journey
follow my progress here
------------------
tbr review
THE AUTHOR OF ONE OF MY FAVORITE SERIES OF ALL TIME HAS ANOTHER MIDDLE GRADE ADVENTURE BOOK OUT?!
how did I not know about this?!
Sure, I pale in comparison to the adventures and courageous acts undertaken by (checks notes) every eleven year old who's ever populated a middle grade book, but it's important to appreciate yourself.
And I, in the first week of a two month readathon, picked up a five hundred page book I'd been putting off reading for four years.
There's some degree of bravery to that.
But while the protagonist of this book was repaid for his lack of regard for stakes and consequences with a very cool magic item, I received a disappointing reading experience and lateness on my reading-challenge goals for mine.
Alas.
This was an okay book, but I never really felt invested in it. The characters didn't have the charm of the Mysterious Benedict Society. The bad guys (while insanely similar) did not instill the same fear into my very heart. And the plot itself was a bit more of a snooze.
This was still a not-bad read, for me. But that's about all it was.
Bottom line: I'm never trying hard ever again.
------------------
pre-review
well, it's no mysterious benedict society. but it's not bad.
review to come / 2.5 stars
------------------
currently-reading updates
when i've shelved a book as "can't wait to read" four years ago and still haven't read it, that's the real me
clear ur sh*t prompt 2: a book with a journey
follow my progress here
------------------
tbr review
THE AUTHOR OF ONE OF MY FAVORITE SERIES OF ALL TIME HAS ANOTHER MIDDLE GRADE ADVENTURE BOOK OUT?!
how did I not know about this?!
December 14, 2016
Trenton Lee Stewart had me charmed with The Mysterious Benedict Society. I fell in love with the quick moving, fluid and well-written story line that unfolded on the pages. To say I had high hopes for The Secret Keepers would be an understatement, which probably contributed to disappointment. This book isn't quite up to bar that I had set for it.
First off, this book is honestly much longer than it should be. It stretches the story out to the point where, quite often, there is nothing actually happening on the pages. I can absolutely forgive a book for starting out slowly, as the background and characters are set in place. This book, however, never actually picks up speed. It meanders along, at a plodding pace, to the point that I skimmed a fair amount of pages per chapter and didn't feel like I'd missed anything. The story line itself is solid, and interesting. It's just bogged down by the length it needs to fill.
I also just never fell in love with our main character. Reuben never felt brave to me, only foolhardy and impulsive. While I could see Stewart trying valiantly to outline the reasons why Reuben behaved as he did, it still never felt truthful to me. I'm absolutely enamored with the idea of a boy who loves his mother so much he'd do anything to protect her. Past that, however, it just fell apart for me. I admit that Penny did increase my interest for a while though. So there's that! She's a little spitfire.
Whenever I read a book that is aimed at the Middle Grade crowd, I always try to think about it from that perspective as well. After working with that age of children for many years, and being an avid reader myself well before that age group, I feel comfortable settling myself back into that mindset. That being said, this book doesn't seem like one that would capture their imaginations. It lacks excitement. It was missing that piece that keeps you riveted, tearing through the pages to find out what happens next. Even the ultimate confrontation, the big climax, didn't really come through. Both Middle Grade Jessica and adult Jessica would have felt that lack of real energy. I'd love to recommend this one, but I really can't. Go forth and get lost in the charming world of The Mysterious Benedict Society instead.
First off, this book is honestly much longer than it should be. It stretches the story out to the point where, quite often, there is nothing actually happening on the pages. I can absolutely forgive a book for starting out slowly, as the background and characters are set in place. This book, however, never actually picks up speed. It meanders along, at a plodding pace, to the point that I skimmed a fair amount of pages per chapter and didn't feel like I'd missed anything. The story line itself is solid, and interesting. It's just bogged down by the length it needs to fill.
I also just never fell in love with our main character. Reuben never felt brave to me, only foolhardy and impulsive. While I could see Stewart trying valiantly to outline the reasons why Reuben behaved as he did, it still never felt truthful to me. I'm absolutely enamored with the idea of a boy who loves his mother so much he'd do anything to protect her. Past that, however, it just fell apart for me. I admit that Penny did increase my interest for a while though. So there's that! She's a little spitfire.
Whenever I read a book that is aimed at the Middle Grade crowd, I always try to think about it from that perspective as well. After working with that age of children for many years, and being an avid reader myself well before that age group, I feel comfortable settling myself back into that mindset. That being said, this book doesn't seem like one that would capture their imaginations. It lacks excitement. It was missing that piece that keeps you riveted, tearing through the pages to find out what happens next. Even the ultimate confrontation, the big climax, didn't really come through. Both Middle Grade Jessica and adult Jessica would have felt that lack of real energy. I'd love to recommend this one, but I really can't. Go forth and get lost in the charming world of The Mysterious Benedict Society instead.
September 21, 2025
3 stars ⭐️ Secular Middle-Grace Fiction (Adventure/Fantasy without magic)
2016 read (4 stars):
This was cute. It definitely wasn't The Mysterious Benedict Society, but it was cute in its own way. It does have the MBS vibe going on, though, with the cover, fabulous illustrations and mostly descriptive plot with not a lot of dialogue. I think that was a bit of a problem for me, the lacking dialogue, since I love dialogue & talking (I'm sure you can find that so hard to believe. ;) ).
Reuben was a sweet/kind/smart kid & I loved seeing his relationship with his mom and his heart for "protecting" her (which at some points might include keeping secrets & lying to his whereabouts to her). Penny was a doll & her actual doll that had a pistol cracked me up. Mrs. Genevieve & Jack were also good characters and had their moments to shine.
The last hundred pages were the best to me, because the story & plot was going strong. I see quite a few reviews about this book being too big, but honestly I don't think I could imagine it shorter--it would ruin the MBS story-line vibe of showing everything and not so much telling. But, I also like big books, so that also might be why I'm okay with this 501 paged story. ;)
2025 reread (3 stars):
Even though I’ve read ‘The Mysterious Benedict Society’ multiple times, I’ve only read this book once when it first released nine years ago. With this reread, I can see why I haven’t reread it before now. It’s not as charming as the MBS series and while Reuben is a likable eleven-year-old, he also lies a lot in order to protect his secret and his mom.
On that note, Reuben and his mom’s humor and teasing reminded me of Hiro and Aunt Cass from Big Hero 6. Reuben’s mom was a really good mom who is trying her best with multiple jobs and trying to keep a roof over their heads. I really liked their relationship and seeing a good mother figure in a middle-grade book.
I will say that I didn’t remember Reuben lying so much to adults and his mom, so that definitely took me back a bit. The large majority of them is because of the watch and trying to 1. find out about it and 2. keep it a secret. I didn’t personally love this element though and I think many parents will feel the same. The end also has an adult lying to authority figures because of the secret of the watch and while none of the lying in this book is for bad reasons, it’s still lying nonetheless.
As far as content goes, it’s really just all the lying that I would caution for parents, but there is God’s name taken in vain three times by adults and a creepy/threatening adult villain that could be scary for sensitive readers.
I listened to the audiobook for this reread and I don’t think it added to the book, despite the music that would appear in intense moments. The narrator didn’t keep up all the different characters’ voices well, so I ended up reading along with my Kindle when I wasn’t gardening to keep take of who was saying what.
Nine years ago, I said that this book was a good length for this story, but I’ll admit that I found it a little long this time. Perhaps that’s because it took me a week to listen to the audiobook, but I was ready for the story to move a little faster this time around.
Overall, it’s a fun middle-grade story though I would say it doesn’t come close to the perfection that is the MBS series.
Main Content-
At first, Reuben wonders if the watch is magic, but figures out that it’s made with a special metal; When using the watch, Reuben thinks of himself being like a ghost; Reuben thinks of the watch as miraculous and hopes he can work a miracle himself with it.
*Spoilers about the watch* *Major Spoilers*.
A character interrupts a church service for help; Another character says she’s going to “rain holy fire” on the villain.
Mentions of churches & church group (of kids that were being “obnoxious”); Mentions of ghosts (including a story about children who drowned and became ghosts as a warning to children to stay away from a place); Mentions of the rumor that The Smoke is a monster or a ghost; A few mentions of God; A couple mentions of an older woman shaking her fist at the ceiling with complaints; A couple mentions of an island called “The Devil’s Waist”; A couple mentions of fate & destiny.
Reuben often lies to adults (including his mom) and other kids because of the secret watch, finding out about it, & protecting his mom; Some of the times Reuben feels guilt about lying (particularly to his mom), but still continues to lie often because of the secret; He thinks about telling his mom the wholes story a few times, but never does because it will worry her; Reuben tells his mom about a sleepover with a schoolmate for a few days and gains her permission to go, but he actually goes to another town to find out about the watch (which makes him feel guilty, but he is doing it so he can come back to get his mom and they can leave their old area for good); He leaves a letter with someone else to contact his mom if he doesn’t return from the trip in a timely manner; When around a family known for being able to tell if someone is lying, Rueben tries to avoid lying, but the family’s oldest son is known as an “incomparable...accomplished…unrepentant liar” but also an “honest man” (and lies to other adults because of the secret watch; This son says he was “fascinated by all things untrustworthy and dishonest” as a kid because of his family being the opposite).
As Reuben is often left to his own devices during the summer, he explores his neighboring area, but because of his moms boundaries for a close area to their apartment, he keeps his wanderings a secret from her (which he calls an “excessive caution” of his mom, but won’t trade her for another mom); Reuben thinks about being the only person his mom has and how she does everything in her life for Reuben (he particularly notes this when he is doing something his mom would not approve of); Reuben and his mom tease about having to rob a bank to be able to pay bills (later, Reuben thinks that while he’s not the “most shining examples of proper behavior”, he has no interest in becoming a real criminal); Reuben plans to steal an item from the villain for the greater good; He wonders at the end if he is “wicked at heart” because he doesn’t feel bad about wandering outside of his mom’s set boundaries, but does feel guilty when he lies to his mom.
Reuben’s father passed away when he was a baby due to a factory accident & his mother has worked multiple jobs since then to keep a roof over their heads; Rueben’s mother’s multiple jobs and being behind on rent is discussed throughout the book; Reuben recalls seeing his mom crying about missing his father.
Reuben gets himself into precarious situations such as climbing a wall, jumping from one ledge to another, nearly being trapped in a cave, almost drowning and panicking (and imaging he is seeing and hearing ghost children who drowned), sneaking onto a train without paying, sneaking into and exploring someone else’s house, being creeped out from an eerie man, talking to a dangerous man, & lying to adults; The villain threatens Reuben and others with death, not seeing their families again, & being hit and in pain; Nearly all about avoiding/tricking dangerous & scary people.
Reuben steals/“borrows” a key from the community center’s staff so he can go up to the rooftop (which isn’t allowed); Another character (an adult) also “borrows” vehicles from others (which he doesn’t say is stealing but others do); Reuben eavesdrops (on purpose and accidentally; including on a police officer’s phone call); Reuben kicks a phone booth multiple times in a fit of annoyance; Reuben is also a “mischievous” boy and plays a few tricks on others when first discovering the watch’s secret like ding-dong ditch (nothing mean-spirited).
Reuben can come across as slightly sarcastic and belittling himself at times (more so due to thinking that he should have been smarter about something rather than actual negative thoughts about himself); Reuben doesn’t have any friends (which is a concern of his mother’s).
An adult drinks a glass of brandy after a shock.
Language: God’s name is taken in vain three times by adults (“Good God” and My God”); “Oh my—“, “Holy—“, and “What the hey?” are all said once each; A handful of mentions of people cursing (but not written out); Otherwise, words like ‘stupid’ and ‘idiot’ (and calling one’s self both) are said a few times; Eye rolling & Sarcasm.
Mentions of the possibility of deaths (such as from the watch stealing a person’s energy entirely); Mentions of thieves & stealing (and “borrowing” without permission); Mentions of lies, lying, & liars; Mentions of alcohol & drinking; A few mentions of someone killing others to protect his secret & someone believing she will be killed next; A few mentions of fights & fighting; A few mentions of corrupt police officers; A few mentions of bullies & being teased; A few mentions of gambling; A couple mentions of a young girl being concerned about being “too old” to play with dolls; A mention of a rumored suicide; A mention of forbidden topics causing a “great deal” of discussion when children are gathered (because it’s forbidden).
2016 read (4 stars):
This was cute. It definitely wasn't The Mysterious Benedict Society, but it was cute in its own way. It does have the MBS vibe going on, though, with the cover, fabulous illustrations and mostly descriptive plot with not a lot of dialogue. I think that was a bit of a problem for me, the lacking dialogue, since I love dialogue & talking (I'm sure you can find that so hard to believe. ;) ).
Reuben was a sweet/kind/smart kid & I loved seeing his relationship with his mom and his heart for "protecting" her (which at some points might include keeping secrets & lying to his whereabouts to her). Penny was a doll & her actual doll that had a pistol cracked me up. Mrs. Genevieve & Jack were also good characters and had their moments to shine.
The last hundred pages were the best to me, because the story & plot was going strong. I see quite a few reviews about this book being too big, but honestly I don't think I could imagine it shorter--it would ruin the MBS story-line vibe of showing everything and not so much telling. But, I also like big books, so that also might be why I'm okay with this 501 paged story. ;)
2025 reread (3 stars):
Even though I’ve read ‘The Mysterious Benedict Society’ multiple times, I’ve only read this book once when it first released nine years ago. With this reread, I can see why I haven’t reread it before now. It’s not as charming as the MBS series and while Reuben is a likable eleven-year-old, he also lies a lot in order to protect his secret and his mom.
On that note, Reuben and his mom’s humor and teasing reminded me of Hiro and Aunt Cass from Big Hero 6. Reuben’s mom was a really good mom who is trying her best with multiple jobs and trying to keep a roof over their heads. I really liked their relationship and seeing a good mother figure in a middle-grade book.
I will say that I didn’t remember Reuben lying so much to adults and his mom, so that definitely took me back a bit. The large majority of them is because of the watch and trying to 1. find out about it and 2. keep it a secret. I didn’t personally love this element though and I think many parents will feel the same. The end also has an adult lying to authority figures because of the secret of the watch and while none of the lying in this book is for bad reasons, it’s still lying nonetheless.
As far as content goes, it’s really just all the lying that I would caution for parents, but there is God’s name taken in vain three times by adults and a creepy/threatening adult villain that could be scary for sensitive readers.
I listened to the audiobook for this reread and I don’t think it added to the book, despite the music that would appear in intense moments. The narrator didn’t keep up all the different characters’ voices well, so I ended up reading along with my Kindle when I wasn’t gardening to keep take of who was saying what.
Nine years ago, I said that this book was a good length for this story, but I’ll admit that I found it a little long this time. Perhaps that’s because it took me a week to listen to the audiobook, but I was ready for the story to move a little faster this time around.
Overall, it’s a fun middle-grade story though I would say it doesn’t come close to the perfection that is the MBS series.
Main Content-
At first, Reuben wonders if the watch is magic, but figures out that it’s made with a special metal; When using the watch, Reuben thinks of himself being like a ghost; Reuben thinks of the watch as miraculous and hopes he can work a miracle himself with it.
*Spoilers about the watch* *Major Spoilers*.
A character interrupts a church service for help; Another character says she’s going to “rain holy fire” on the villain.
Mentions of churches & church group (of kids that were being “obnoxious”); Mentions of ghosts (including a story about children who drowned and became ghosts as a warning to children to stay away from a place); Mentions of the rumor that The Smoke is a monster or a ghost; A few mentions of God; A couple mentions of an older woman shaking her fist at the ceiling with complaints; A couple mentions of an island called “The Devil’s Waist”; A couple mentions of fate & destiny.
Reuben often lies to adults (including his mom) and other kids because of the secret watch, finding out about it, & protecting his mom; Some of the times Reuben feels guilt about lying (particularly to his mom), but still continues to lie often because of the secret; He thinks about telling his mom the wholes story a few times, but never does because it will worry her; Reuben tells his mom about a sleepover with a schoolmate for a few days and gains her permission to go, but he actually goes to another town to find out about the watch (which makes him feel guilty, but he is doing it so he can come back to get his mom and they can leave their old area for good); He leaves a letter with someone else to contact his mom if he doesn’t return from the trip in a timely manner; When around a family known for being able to tell if someone is lying, Rueben tries to avoid lying, but the family’s oldest son is known as an “incomparable...accomplished…unrepentant liar” but also an “honest man” (and lies to other adults because of the secret watch; This son says he was “fascinated by all things untrustworthy and dishonest” as a kid because of his family being the opposite).
As Reuben is often left to his own devices during the summer, he explores his neighboring area, but because of his moms boundaries for a close area to their apartment, he keeps his wanderings a secret from her (which he calls an “excessive caution” of his mom, but won’t trade her for another mom); Reuben thinks about being the only person his mom has and how she does everything in her life for Reuben (he particularly notes this when he is doing something his mom would not approve of); Reuben and his mom tease about having to rob a bank to be able to pay bills (later, Reuben thinks that while he’s not the “most shining examples of proper behavior”, he has no interest in becoming a real criminal); Reuben plans to steal an item from the villain for the greater good; He wonders at the end if he is “wicked at heart” because he doesn’t feel bad about wandering outside of his mom’s set boundaries, but does feel guilty when he lies to his mom.
Reuben’s father passed away when he was a baby due to a factory accident & his mother has worked multiple jobs since then to keep a roof over their heads; Rueben’s mother’s multiple jobs and being behind on rent is discussed throughout the book; Reuben recalls seeing his mom crying about missing his father.
Reuben gets himself into precarious situations such as climbing a wall, jumping from one ledge to another, nearly being trapped in a cave, almost drowning and panicking (and imaging he is seeing and hearing ghost children who drowned), sneaking onto a train without paying, sneaking into and exploring someone else’s house, being creeped out from an eerie man, talking to a dangerous man, & lying to adults; The villain threatens Reuben and others with death, not seeing their families again, & being hit and in pain; Nearly all about avoiding/tricking dangerous & scary people.
Reuben steals/“borrows” a key from the community center’s staff so he can go up to the rooftop (which isn’t allowed); Another character (an adult) also “borrows” vehicles from others (which he doesn’t say is stealing but others do); Reuben eavesdrops (on purpose and accidentally; including on a police officer’s phone call); Reuben kicks a phone booth multiple times in a fit of annoyance; Reuben is also a “mischievous” boy and plays a few tricks on others when first discovering the watch’s secret like ding-dong ditch (nothing mean-spirited).
Reuben can come across as slightly sarcastic and belittling himself at times (more so due to thinking that he should have been smarter about something rather than actual negative thoughts about himself); Reuben doesn’t have any friends (which is a concern of his mother’s).
An adult drinks a glass of brandy after a shock.
Language: God’s name is taken in vain three times by adults (“Good God” and My God”); “Oh my—“, “Holy—“, and “What the hey?” are all said once each; A handful of mentions of people cursing (but not written out); Otherwise, words like ‘stupid’ and ‘idiot’ (and calling one’s self both) are said a few times; Eye rolling & Sarcasm.
Mentions of the possibility of deaths (such as from the watch stealing a person’s energy entirely); Mentions of thieves & stealing (and “borrowing” without permission); Mentions of lies, lying, & liars; Mentions of alcohol & drinking; A few mentions of someone killing others to protect his secret & someone believing she will be killed next; A few mentions of fights & fighting; A few mentions of corrupt police officers; A few mentions of bullies & being teased; A few mentions of gambling; A couple mentions of a young girl being concerned about being “too old” to play with dolls; A mention of a rumored suicide; A mention of forbidden topics causing a “great deal” of discussion when children are gathered (because it’s forbidden).
July 29, 2020
This book feels like that one kid that shows up at every robot camp and only owns NASA t-shirts.
December 10, 2018
Seven years ago I started reading the "Mysterious Benedict Society" aloud with my kids. We had a ton of fun with the puzzles and adventures laid out in those books. So naturally when I found a new "middle grader" book from the same author I jumped at the chance to read it.
The Secret Keepers centers on the adventures of a young 11-year-old boy named Reuben. He lives in Lower Downs, one of the poorer areas of the city of New Umbra. His father died when he was a baby and his mother has to work 2 jobs to keep them afloat in their tiny little apartment. While his mother works, Reuben spends his days exploring the city and keeping a watch on the various inhabitants of the neighborhoods. As he wanders the city we learn a little bit about the "politics" of the city. A mysterious man (or creature?) known only as "The Smoke" keeps the city under his thumb. Over the years he has accumulated significant influence such that he essentially controls the government, police force, shopkeepers, etc. He has bands of spies/enforcers that Reuben (and others) refer to as "The Directions." These men go out in groups of four, each assigned to always keep watch in a certain direction (forward, behind, left, right) so that as they patrol the streets they always look everywhere. Reuben prides himself on being able to observe the Directions from positions where he can't be seen from them. This is one of his many games. His other is exploring and adventuring places he's never been before.
One morning he finds an alley with two buildings close together and a ledge higher up. He decides to see if he can lean between the two buildings and work himself up to the ledge. After a nerve wracking climb and nearly exhausting his strength, Reuben rests on the ledge and enjoys the view. It is here that he discovers a small box engraved with a name and containing an intriguing watch. He admires the beauty and workmanship of the watch and wonders if perhaps he could sell it to try and help raise his family a little bit out of their poverty. However, as he starts investigating the watch to try and find potential buyers, he learns that the Smoke has been searching for a watch precisely matching this one for many years. Wondering why the Smoke would be interested in the watch, Reuben tinkers with the watch and discovers an unexpected secret...the watch provides the holder with a temporary but amazing power. Somehow the Smoke learns that a boy has found the watch and sends his Directions out to search everywhere to try and find Reuben.
Worried for his safety and not wanting the Smoke to gain the power of the watch, Reuben sets out to find the history of the watch and see what he can learn about its previous owners. His search leads him to the Meyer family who has a multi-generation secret story around the watch and what they need to do if/when it ever finds its way back to them. The youngest member of the family, Penny, becomes a good friend to Reuben and as Reuben determines to continue his adventure, she convinces him to reluctantly bring her along. Her older brother Jack finds out about their plans and attaches himself to the adventure to try and undermine the Smoke and his hold on the city.
Like the Benedict Society books, this novel is a hefty read with over 500 pages. While geared towards middle graders (aged 8-12), it is written with a tone, complexity and style that doesn't talk down to them and as such it might be off-putting for less adept readers such that it might be better for the older side of that age range. When I read the Benedict books to my kids, the youngest was 5 and she enjoyed the stories while not catching the nuances. I suspect the same would be true for younger readers of Secret Keepers. An 8-year-old could likely read the book but might get bogged down and a little bored.
The overall pacing of the story is methodical and builds on itself as the story progresses. The book is split into three "parts" which could have been categorized as novellas (or novels for younger readers) each being about 170 pages. The first focuses on Reuben in the Lower Downs and his search through New Umbra to learn more about the watch. The second involves his trip where he meets the Meyer family and learns the history of the watch and then formulates his plan to take on the Smoke. The final part involves the culmination of his plans and the confrontation with the Smoke. The first part of the book is much slower paced as we get character and world development. The pace picks up as we move into the second part and then it really cranks up once we get into the climactic adventure in part three. Even though the world, characters and story is interesting and engaging, I could see some readers getting bored and bogged down in the early chapters. My advice would be to push through for the heightened suspense and action that builds later in the book. The buildup is worth it.
I found the mechanisms of the plot both unique and familiar at the same time. The world building was both non-descript and realistic. It wasn't set in any specific country location but I could visualize the city, towns and locations quite well. Most of the characterization was pretty high level. Reuben was fairly detailed but I sometimes found myself wondering at his age, physical/mental strength and his fortitude. I acknowledge that he grew up in hard circumstances but his nature and abilities were still a bit surprising. Still, as the protagonist of a children's novel, this is to be expected. The other main characters (Penny and Jack especially) were a lot of fun. I enjoyed the characteristics given to their family as a whole and the way that Penny and Jack were at opposite ends of these character traits. As far as plot development, without presenting any "spoilers" for you let me make what may seem like a very strange comparison...I was reminded a little bit of Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit. I thought about the watch and the Smoke and their relation to the Tolkien plot and his One Ring. It helped flesh out some of the strange motivations of both Reuben and the Smoke. I don't know if those stories were a direct influence or not but it was a fun comparison to run in my mind.
Overall I found this to be an excellent read. I am definitely recommending that my kids pick this up and read it. They're older now so schedules make reading it aloud to them a bit trickier or else I would suggest we renew that tradition. Time has subdued my memory of the Benedict stories but in an initial comparison of my memory, I feel like I loved this book more than the Benedict novels. A re-read of those stories might change my mind but I suspect they are at least equal in enjoyment.
I whole heartedly recommend this book to middle grade or YA readers and even to adult readers who like "youthful" stories. Be prepared for a methodic buildup with intriguing and engaging twists and turns to take you down both predictable and unpredictable roads and leaving you with a number of thoughtful questions to consider.
*****
4.5 out of 5 stars
The Secret Keepers centers on the adventures of a young 11-year-old boy named Reuben. He lives in Lower Downs, one of the poorer areas of the city of New Umbra. His father died when he was a baby and his mother has to work 2 jobs to keep them afloat in their tiny little apartment. While his mother works, Reuben spends his days exploring the city and keeping a watch on the various inhabitants of the neighborhoods. As he wanders the city we learn a little bit about the "politics" of the city. A mysterious man (or creature?) known only as "The Smoke" keeps the city under his thumb. Over the years he has accumulated significant influence such that he essentially controls the government, police force, shopkeepers, etc. He has bands of spies/enforcers that Reuben (and others) refer to as "The Directions." These men go out in groups of four, each assigned to always keep watch in a certain direction (forward, behind, left, right) so that as they patrol the streets they always look everywhere. Reuben prides himself on being able to observe the Directions from positions where he can't be seen from them. This is one of his many games. His other is exploring and adventuring places he's never been before.
One morning he finds an alley with two buildings close together and a ledge higher up. He decides to see if he can lean between the two buildings and work himself up to the ledge. After a nerve wracking climb and nearly exhausting his strength, Reuben rests on the ledge and enjoys the view. It is here that he discovers a small box engraved with a name and containing an intriguing watch. He admires the beauty and workmanship of the watch and wonders if perhaps he could sell it to try and help raise his family a little bit out of their poverty. However, as he starts investigating the watch to try and find potential buyers, he learns that the Smoke has been searching for a watch precisely matching this one for many years. Wondering why the Smoke would be interested in the watch, Reuben tinkers with the watch and discovers an unexpected secret...the watch provides the holder with a temporary but amazing power. Somehow the Smoke learns that a boy has found the watch and sends his Directions out to search everywhere to try and find Reuben.
Worried for his safety and not wanting the Smoke to gain the power of the watch, Reuben sets out to find the history of the watch and see what he can learn about its previous owners. His search leads him to the Meyer family who has a multi-generation secret story around the watch and what they need to do if/when it ever finds its way back to them. The youngest member of the family, Penny, becomes a good friend to Reuben and as Reuben determines to continue his adventure, she convinces him to reluctantly bring her along. Her older brother Jack finds out about their plans and attaches himself to the adventure to try and undermine the Smoke and his hold on the city.
Like the Benedict Society books, this novel is a hefty read with over 500 pages. While geared towards middle graders (aged 8-12), it is written with a tone, complexity and style that doesn't talk down to them and as such it might be off-putting for less adept readers such that it might be better for the older side of that age range. When I read the Benedict books to my kids, the youngest was 5 and she enjoyed the stories while not catching the nuances. I suspect the same would be true for younger readers of Secret Keepers. An 8-year-old could likely read the book but might get bogged down and a little bored.
The overall pacing of the story is methodical and builds on itself as the story progresses. The book is split into three "parts" which could have been categorized as novellas (or novels for younger readers) each being about 170 pages. The first focuses on Reuben in the Lower Downs and his search through New Umbra to learn more about the watch. The second involves his trip where he meets the Meyer family and learns the history of the watch and then formulates his plan to take on the Smoke. The final part involves the culmination of his plans and the confrontation with the Smoke. The first part of the book is much slower paced as we get character and world development. The pace picks up as we move into the second part and then it really cranks up once we get into the climactic adventure in part three. Even though the world, characters and story is interesting and engaging, I could see some readers getting bored and bogged down in the early chapters. My advice would be to push through for the heightened suspense and action that builds later in the book. The buildup is worth it.
I found the mechanisms of the plot both unique and familiar at the same time. The world building was both non-descript and realistic. It wasn't set in any specific country location but I could visualize the city, towns and locations quite well. Most of the characterization was pretty high level. Reuben was fairly detailed but I sometimes found myself wondering at his age, physical/mental strength and his fortitude. I acknowledge that he grew up in hard circumstances but his nature and abilities were still a bit surprising. Still, as the protagonist of a children's novel, this is to be expected. The other main characters (Penny and Jack especially) were a lot of fun. I enjoyed the characteristics given to their family as a whole and the way that Penny and Jack were at opposite ends of these character traits. As far as plot development, without presenting any "spoilers" for you let me make what may seem like a very strange comparison...I was reminded a little bit of Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit. I thought about the watch and the Smoke and their relation to the Tolkien plot and his One Ring. It helped flesh out some of the strange motivations of both Reuben and the Smoke. I don't know if those stories were a direct influence or not but it was a fun comparison to run in my mind.
Overall I found this to be an excellent read. I am definitely recommending that my kids pick this up and read it. They're older now so schedules make reading it aloud to them a bit trickier or else I would suggest we renew that tradition. Time has subdued my memory of the Benedict stories but in an initial comparison of my memory, I feel like I loved this book more than the Benedict novels. A re-read of those stories might change my mind but I suspect they are at least equal in enjoyment.
I whole heartedly recommend this book to middle grade or YA readers and even to adult readers who like "youthful" stories. Be prepared for a methodic buildup with intriguing and engaging twists and turns to take you down both predictable and unpredictable roads and leaving you with a number of thoughtful questions to consider.
*****
4.5 out of 5 stars
August 16, 2016
Honestly, this book was far too long. Even though The Mysterious Benedict Society was only about a hundred pages shorter than the Secret Keepers, the former managed to zip along without loosing momentum, while the latter plods from setpiece to setpiece. So much of the book is taken up with setup and waiting around, or with bending over backwards in order to explain its characters motivations.
There are elements of a good story here - as ever Stewart has a talent for zany, off the wall world building and for infusing tense scenes with tangible suspense, but as fun as the core ideas of the book are they are drowned out by intermediary situations that are way too drawn out and way too full of tiresome over explanation.
-Angela
There are elements of a good story here - as ever Stewart has a talent for zany, off the wall world building and for infusing tense scenes with tangible suspense, but as fun as the core ideas of the book are they are drowned out by intermediary situations that are way too drawn out and way too full of tiresome over explanation.
-Angela
February 12, 2018
A good, solid read.
August 31, 2019
The Mysterious Benedict Society is better, but only because that one is fantastic. This is a very enjoyable story. Fantasy elements, while central, are pretty light, and this really is more of an Adventure with a bit of Mystery. Set in an imaginary place that's not so different from our own.
As a long time reader of Children's Fantasy, and Sci Fi, I understand the common premise of kids going off adventuring under the noses of caring adults they keep in the dark, and for the most part I think it's a fairly harmless thing (I think kids know the difference between fiction and real life), required to allow children the room to have stories where kids are the adventurers and heroes, but I will say this one had a bit more direct lying to a loving mother than, as an adult, I was strictly comfortable with.
But, over all a good read.
As a long time reader of Children's Fantasy, and Sci Fi, I understand the common premise of kids going off adventuring under the noses of caring adults they keep in the dark, and for the most part I think it's a fairly harmless thing (I think kids know the difference between fiction and real life), required to allow children the room to have stories where kids are the adventurers and heroes, but I will say this one had a bit more direct lying to a loving mother than, as an adult, I was strictly comfortable with.
But, over all a good read.
September 27, 2022
This was a great book!
I would give it five stars if it weren't for two things:
- The beginning dragged. The book was divided into three sections, and the first section was too long and far too little happened in it.
- The book kind of seemed to condone lying. Not really, but one of the main heroes was a huge liar and it certainly didn't say that this was wrong. But this really isn't unusual for modern books.
A very fun book, good for all ages!
I would give it five stars if it weren't for two things:
- The beginning dragged. The book was divided into three sections, and the first section was too long and far too little happened in it.
- The book kind of seemed to condone lying. Not really, but one of the main heroes was a huge liar and it certainly didn't say that this was wrong. But this really isn't unusual for modern books.
A very fun book, good for all ages!
March 23, 2022
3.75⭐️
Vibes of the Dreamhouse kings mixed with the Ascendance Series
This book could’ve been a lot shorter in my opinion, then it would’ve been really good!!
Vibes of the Dreamhouse kings mixed with the Ascendance Series
This book could’ve been a lot shorter in my opinion, then it would’ve been really good!!
February 25, 2017
Having read Stewart's excellent "Mysterious Benedict Society", I couldn't wait to read his newest book, especially after having seen the title and cover, replete with lighthouse, shimmering stars and frothy waves!
While exploring the Lower Downs in New Umbra, Reuben comes across a strange watch sticking out of the upper story of a building. He contemplates it's worth, dreaming of the money he could make to help his single Mom, who is having trouble making ends meet.
Careful to avoid the Directions (four men walking in formation and monitoring all events from each direction), Reuben quickly finds out that the watch has special powers and a mysterious figure known only as the Smoke, is desperately seeking it. With help from the Meyer family and an old legacy of theirs, regarding the watch, Reuben will help to hatch a plan to save New Umbra and the people he cares about.
The characters were charming and the story (while borrowing a bit from other classics, such as Lord of the Rings and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) was enjoyable, with some great imagery. It was also SO LONG.
The book really could have used some serious editing to cut down on all of the rehash and rumination that visited nearly every scene. It wasn't until page 161 that we're introduced to the mighty lighthouse on the book cover and the adventurous and loyal Meyer family (my favorite characters in the book).
Overall, a fun read. 3.5 stars.
While exploring the Lower Downs in New Umbra, Reuben comes across a strange watch sticking out of the upper story of a building. He contemplates it's worth, dreaming of the money he could make to help his single Mom, who is having trouble making ends meet.
Careful to avoid the Directions (four men walking in formation and monitoring all events from each direction), Reuben quickly finds out that the watch has special powers and a mysterious figure known only as the Smoke, is desperately seeking it. With help from the Meyer family and an old legacy of theirs, regarding the watch, Reuben will help to hatch a plan to save New Umbra and the people he cares about.
The characters were charming and the story (while borrowing a bit from other classics, such as Lord of the Rings and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) was enjoyable, with some great imagery. It was also SO LONG.
The book really could have used some serious editing to cut down on all of the rehash and rumination that visited nearly every scene. It wasn't until page 161 that we're introduced to the mighty lighthouse on the book cover and the adventurous and loyal Meyer family (my favorite characters in the book).
Overall, a fun read. 3.5 stars.
December 6, 2017
This is my favorite of the Trenton Lee Stewart books I've read — though I also thoroughly enjoyed his Mysterious Benedict Society. The protagonists, and the book as a whole, feels a little older and more mature that MBS, and the mystery itself — while more fantastical — felt a bit more realistic.
I really loved Ruben, our protagonist, an his relationship with his mother made me tear up a few times it was so refreshingly sweet and supportive. The rest of the supporting cast was equally vivid and endearing, too.
The mystery was intriguing, and it kept me guessing. I appreciated how the kids managed their heroics in ways that were fitting, and yet still didn't always achieve success without the help of others (including other adults), especially given the antagonist they were facing.
I think my only "complaint" is that the story (while still good!) felt very different at the beginning and then took a turn once Reuben goes to the island. It wasn't a turn for the worse, but the momentum (at least for me) kind of came to a halt at that point and it took a while for all the threads to come back together. (I guess this was the only issue I had overall with the book — I love that it's long and detailed, as I think a lot of kids can appreciate long books like this. But the pacing was a tad slow in some places, or the story just felt a little repetitive building up to the final act. But, it wasn't enough that it would keep me from recommending the book).
And mostly I love the messages (that are beautifully woven into the story, as opposed to hitting you over the head with it) about love, loyalty, and friendship, but also the potent value of honesty and trust, as well as hints at liberty and dangers of a tyrannical government.
I will definitely keep an eye out for future Trenton Lee Stewart books!
I really loved Ruben, our protagonist, an his relationship with his mother made me tear up a few times it was so refreshingly sweet and supportive. The rest of the supporting cast was equally vivid and endearing, too.
The mystery was intriguing, and it kept me guessing. I appreciated how the kids managed their heroics in ways that were fitting, and yet still didn't always achieve success without the help of others (including other adults), especially given the antagonist they were facing.
I think my only "complaint" is that the story (while still good!) felt very different at the beginning and then took a turn once Reuben goes to the island. It wasn't a turn for the worse, but the momentum (at least for me) kind of came to a halt at that point and it took a while for all the threads to come back together. (I guess this was the only issue I had overall with the book — I love that it's long and detailed, as I think a lot of kids can appreciate long books like this. But the pacing was a tad slow in some places, or the story just felt a little repetitive building up to the final act. But, it wasn't enough that it would keep me from recommending the book).
And mostly I love the messages (that are beautifully woven into the story, as opposed to hitting you over the head with it) about love, loyalty, and friendship, but also the potent value of honesty and trust, as well as hints at liberty and dangers of a tyrannical government.
I will definitely keep an eye out for future Trenton Lee Stewart books!
January 5, 2021
re-read January 2021: mkay, I liked it. This isn’t an enduring favorite, but it was fun!
previous review:
I . . . like it? Maybe even love it? One thing's for certain, though . . NO MORE TRENTON LEE STEWART FOR ME. He's impossible to put down, and at 500 pages a piece, that is not a good thing, especially since I now have six hours to finish my Archaeology paper.
Humbug.
previous review:
I . . . like it? Maybe even love it? One thing's for certain, though . . NO MORE TRENTON LEE STEWART FOR ME. He's impossible to put down, and at 500 pages a piece, that is not a good thing, especially since I now have six hours to finish my Archaeology paper.
Humbug.
September 5, 2024
4.5 stars.
I know I was a child when I read this but how did I not see the obvious twists the first time around? That being said, it was still fun to read now older and I think anyone could enjoy this for some quick entertainment. The audiobook VA was really good, and so was the sound design.
I know I was a child when I read this but how did I not see the obvious twists the first time around? That being said, it was still fun to read now older and I think anyone could enjoy this for some quick entertainment. The audiobook VA was really good, and so was the sound design.
January 12, 2025
So many twists and turns. I loved it! Such great characters. I especially loved Reuben’s mom, I loved her spunk!
January 4, 2021
Die Zeit der Späher ist gekommen…
*Leider ist der Klappentext zu inhaltlich*
Als großer Fan von spannenden Geschichten für jüngere Lesende war ich sehr neugierig auf Secret Keepers. Ich fand die Idee, dass eine Stadt von einem mysteriösen Schatten-Mann beherrscht wird total spannend. Und wer möchte nicht gerne einen Gegenstand finden, mit dem man plötzlich unsichtbar sein kann? Ich war jedenfalls nach dem Lesen des Klappentextes wirklich gespannt, was mich in der Geschichte so erwarten würde.
Ich kam mit dem Schreibstil nach einer kurzen Einfindungsphase ziemlich gut zurecht und fand die Stadt New Umbra sehr atmosphärisch beschrieben, sodass ich sie mir gut vorstellen konnte. Auch mit dem Protagonisten Ruben kam ich an sich gut zurecht. Womit ich allerdings insgesamt Probleme hatte, war die fehlende Tiefe, sowohl beim World Building, als auch bei den Figuren. Als Lesende habe ich bis zum Ende die Welt, in der Ruben sich bewegt, nicht wirklich begreifen können. Der Schattenmann und die Umstände, warum es in New Umbra jetzt so ist, wie es ist, wurden nicht wirklich erläutert.
Auch der Protagonist Ruben war für mich durchweg ein sehr blasser Charakter, den ich zwar während der Geschichte begleitet, aber nicht wirklich kennengelernt habe. Er war mir nicht sonderlich sympathisch, sodass sich bei mir das mitfiebern in Grenzen hielt. Zumal es auch leider nicht wirklich viel zum mitfiebern gab. Das ist die größte Kritik, die ich an dieser Geschichte habe. Es passiert zum einen über eine sehr lange Zeit nur sehr wenig, sodass sich das Lesen als ziemlich langatmig gestaltete und zum anderen kannte ich die Handlung bereits zu einem erheblichen Teil aus dem Klappentext. Das hat mich wirklich enttäuscht, da ich keinerlei Überraschungen erlebt habe und das erwarte ich bei einem Jugendbuch schon irgendwie.
Was mich dann ganz zum Schluss noch einmal recht sprachlos gemacht hat, war das Ende, das komplett in der Mitte von der gerade erst entstandenen Handlung lag. So etwas habe ich vorher bei einem Buch noch nicht erlebt. Also Cliffhanger ja, aber dann ist dem auch immer eine Menge Spannung und Handlung vorangegangen und nicht, wenn vorher einfach fast gar nichts passiert ist.
Mein Fazit:
Die grundlegende Idee sowie der Schreibstil haben mir bei dieser Geschichte sehr gut gefallen. Inhaltlich war die Handlung mir persönlich allerdings leider viel zu undynamisch, zu blass und oberflächlich und an vielen Stellen zu langatmig. Auch der spoilerhafte Klappentext und das gewählte Ende mitten in der Geschichte fand ich sehr unglücklich, sodass mich dieses Buch leider nicht von sich überzeugen konnte.
Ich vergebe 2 von 5 möglichen Sternen!
Lest fleißig,
eure Sabrina
*Leider ist der Klappentext zu inhaltlich*
Als großer Fan von spannenden Geschichten für jüngere Lesende war ich sehr neugierig auf Secret Keepers. Ich fand die Idee, dass eine Stadt von einem mysteriösen Schatten-Mann beherrscht wird total spannend. Und wer möchte nicht gerne einen Gegenstand finden, mit dem man plötzlich unsichtbar sein kann? Ich war jedenfalls nach dem Lesen des Klappentextes wirklich gespannt, was mich in der Geschichte so erwarten würde.
Ich kam mit dem Schreibstil nach einer kurzen Einfindungsphase ziemlich gut zurecht und fand die Stadt New Umbra sehr atmosphärisch beschrieben, sodass ich sie mir gut vorstellen konnte. Auch mit dem Protagonisten Ruben kam ich an sich gut zurecht. Womit ich allerdings insgesamt Probleme hatte, war die fehlende Tiefe, sowohl beim World Building, als auch bei den Figuren. Als Lesende habe ich bis zum Ende die Welt, in der Ruben sich bewegt, nicht wirklich begreifen können. Der Schattenmann und die Umstände, warum es in New Umbra jetzt so ist, wie es ist, wurden nicht wirklich erläutert.
Auch der Protagonist Ruben war für mich durchweg ein sehr blasser Charakter, den ich zwar während der Geschichte begleitet, aber nicht wirklich kennengelernt habe. Er war mir nicht sonderlich sympathisch, sodass sich bei mir das mitfiebern in Grenzen hielt. Zumal es auch leider nicht wirklich viel zum mitfiebern gab. Das ist die größte Kritik, die ich an dieser Geschichte habe. Es passiert zum einen über eine sehr lange Zeit nur sehr wenig, sodass sich das Lesen als ziemlich langatmig gestaltete und zum anderen kannte ich die Handlung bereits zu einem erheblichen Teil aus dem Klappentext. Das hat mich wirklich enttäuscht, da ich keinerlei Überraschungen erlebt habe und das erwarte ich bei einem Jugendbuch schon irgendwie.
Was mich dann ganz zum Schluss noch einmal recht sprachlos gemacht hat, war das Ende, das komplett in der Mitte von der gerade erst entstandenen Handlung lag. So etwas habe ich vorher bei einem Buch noch nicht erlebt. Also Cliffhanger ja, aber dann ist dem auch immer eine Menge Spannung und Handlung vorangegangen und nicht, wenn vorher einfach fast gar nichts passiert ist.
Mein Fazit:
Die grundlegende Idee sowie der Schreibstil haben mir bei dieser Geschichte sehr gut gefallen. Inhaltlich war die Handlung mir persönlich allerdings leider viel zu undynamisch, zu blass und oberflächlich und an vielen Stellen zu langatmig. Auch der spoilerhafte Klappentext und das gewählte Ende mitten in der Geschichte fand ich sehr unglücklich, sodass mich dieses Buch leider nicht von sich überzeugen konnte.
Ich vergebe 2 von 5 möglichen Sternen!
Lest fleißig,
eure Sabrina
February 15, 2017
Reuben is a city explorer, poking his nose into deserted alleys, climbing rooftops, and discovered hidden places. He finds a mysterious hidden clockwatch that leads him into adventure and danger. Reuben is hunted by the criminal mastermind, The Smoke, who is searching for the clock. Reuben must find out the secrets of the clockwatch and its origins before The Smoke and his henchmen, The Directions, find him and steal the clock.
Such a wonderful plot! I was interested to see how the mystery of the clockwatch played out, and I loved all the twists and turns. A couple of plot things were a little obvious, but I still loved it! The pacing of the writing, and the way the story moves along is just perfect. The city/country setting made a good backdrop for the story, and pushed the narrative along as though the city were its own character. I was pulled into the suspense, and I laughed and chuckled. The book really drew me into the world.
I adore all the characters! Reuben is a delightful main character. He's curious and bold and independent. I especially loved his relationship with his mother, and how those two are such good friends and look out for each other.
I liked the fragile Mrs. Genevive, the clockmaker, and how she immediately becomes a grandmotherly figure in Reuben's life.
I loved the wild and carefree Penny, with her flaming red hair and freckles. Her joyful spirit just flies off the page!
And I fell in love with the deliciously sly Jack! He is such an enigma, but I love how commanding he is without being bossy, how brave he is without being stupid, and how he always manages to be a rogue without being a jerk. He's so dashing and wild!
Such a wonderful plot! I was interested to see how the mystery of the clockwatch played out, and I loved all the twists and turns. A couple of plot things were a little obvious, but I still loved it! The pacing of the writing, and the way the story moves along is just perfect. The city/country setting made a good backdrop for the story, and pushed the narrative along as though the city were its own character. I was pulled into the suspense, and I laughed and chuckled. The book really drew me into the world.
I adore all the characters! Reuben is a delightful main character. He's curious and bold and independent. I especially loved his relationship with his mother, and how those two are such good friends and look out for each other.
I liked the fragile Mrs. Genevive, the clockmaker, and how she immediately becomes a grandmotherly figure in Reuben's life.
I loved the wild and carefree Penny, with her flaming red hair and freckles. Her joyful spirit just flies off the page!
And I fell in love with the deliciously sly Jack! He is such an enigma, but I love how commanding he is without being bossy, how brave he is without being stupid, and how he always manages to be a rogue without being a jerk. He's so dashing and wild!
March 21, 2018
Delightful. My 10yo loved this and insisted I had to read it; I finally picked it up and didn't want to put it down. I enjoyed it every bit as much as The Mysterious Benedict Society. Will definitely look forward to more from this author!
October 5, 2018
It's interesting but didn't attract my attention enough to enjoy it. However, full review will be out soon.
August 26, 2019
This sounded like exactly my kind of book, but I put off reading it for ages due to the size. At over 500 pages, it seemed a bit intimidating as an adult reader and, unfortunately, I could see many of my pupils being similarly overwhelmed. The story itself has lots of good things about it - I adored how Reuben and his mother are portrayed so lovingly as a family who are struggling with money but full of love, I loved the Meyer family and their traditions passed down through the family line and the mansion full of traps to protect an eccentric old man's secret. Yet, something just kept me from loving it, partly because of how long it took things to happen.
An enjoyable middle-grade adventure!
An enjoyable middle-grade adventure!
February 24, 2018
This book follows the kid named Reuben as he finds a watch that allows him to become invisible when he winds it up. This is a good, solid children's mystery full of many unexpected twists and turns that keep you turning the pages. It was really well written, and really well put together. I was absolutely fascinated with the characters. They were deep, funny and real. The only problem I had with this book was the fact that it was a bit long, but it did keep me engaged the whole way through. Overall, it was a delight to read.
February 23, 2017
Attention all would-be audiobook narrators - If you cannot pronounce the following words, you are not eligible for work: familiar (not "fermiliar"), second (not "secont"), tumult (not "tummult"), and for God's sake, mischievous (not "mischievious"). There are more. Yes, Mr. Bowen, I am looking at you. You are dismissed.
I am finding that the author does not have a superior command of the language. So much of the writing is dull (and one does not get "only a glance" of something. It should be a glimpse) . The story is fine, but how it is related is lackluster. I find the mother-son interactions to be inane. There also seems to be reliance on coincidence (the toy box, the phone, the bus, an old school report, etc.) to move the plot forward, which is anathema to me. Stewart, however seems to revel in it "He had yet to be wrong about anything." Oh come on, that's just ridiculous. In fights, people avoid blows "instinctively" - same thing: laziness on the part of the writer.
The characters are wooden - actually, they're more cartoonish: the one who seems to be a cross between a hardboiled detective and Indiana Jones (everything is "Hey, kid...."), the little old foreign woman, and the bad guys especially. So very two-dimensional.
The further I get, the less I like Stewart's writing. So much of it could be improved by a qualified editor. Readers would be much better served by spending time with Joan Aiken. This book tries to incorporate lots of things that have been done before - and better. There are some routine literary escapades that are presented poorly. There are also elements of this tale that come right out of The Lord of the Rings. Supposedly grand missions are launched without any real planning or reconnaissance or intelligence-gathering. There's a few minutes discussion and, boom - let's go. It's just not believable, even for a story of this kind. Another disappointment was that the big reveal was very predictable. And there are at least two long drawn-out sequences of acrobatic climbing that are numbing and tedious in their excruciating detail - the opposite of their intent, surely. There are some similarities to Over Sea, Under Stone, but this is nowhere near as good. The climax is weak and not believable, and the denouement is especially bad. Things are resolved through cronyism, not through hard work. This is the message we want to send to kids? Which brings me to a major concern.
One recurring aspect I very much dislike is how readily these children lie to their parents. They think about it, they rationalize it, and they do it. Even the child who is set up to be very upright, from a very good family, etc. The message is that parents won't do the job right, and so the kids have to usurp their authority. Reuben, in particular, is spectacularly naive and yet does not learn anything from his earlier missteps and continues to believe that he (somehow) knows the right thing to do and that he is capable of doing it. And it isn't just to the parents - these kids lie to the person who is helping them, who has unselfishly put herself at risk for Reuben. And it's no big deal, just "the ends justify the means" kind of thinking. Lie to your enemies, OK - I get that. But here it's lie to your friends and family too. Lie to the police and government. Just do it because you selfishly want to do what you want, because kids know best. And then these characters have the gall to talk about "promises" and being "trustworthy" - it's all situational where I'll promise my parents one thing, then I'll break that promise in order to promise someone else something. Very amoral in the guise of being righteous. This is addressed somewhat and there is blather about honesty, but it's not resolved. Instead we get praise for being "an incomparable liar" and more nonsense about how one can be a liar and still be honest. I would really not want to give this to kids.
I am finding that the author does not have a superior command of the language. So much of the writing is dull (and one does not get "only a glance" of something. It should be a glimpse) . The story is fine, but how it is related is lackluster. I find the mother-son interactions to be inane. There also seems to be reliance on coincidence (the toy box, the phone, the bus, an old school report, etc.) to move the plot forward, which is anathema to me. Stewart, however seems to revel in it "He had yet to be wrong about anything." Oh come on, that's just ridiculous. In fights, people avoid blows "instinctively" - same thing: laziness on the part of the writer.
The characters are wooden - actually, they're more cartoonish: the one who seems to be a cross between a hardboiled detective and Indiana Jones (everything is "Hey, kid...."), the little old foreign woman, and the bad guys especially. So very two-dimensional.
The further I get, the less I like Stewart's writing. So much of it could be improved by a qualified editor. Readers would be much better served by spending time with Joan Aiken. This book tries to incorporate lots of things that have been done before - and better. There are some routine literary escapades that are presented poorly. There are also elements of this tale that come right out of The Lord of the Rings. Supposedly grand missions are launched without any real planning or reconnaissance or intelligence-gathering. There's a few minutes discussion and, boom - let's go. It's just not believable, even for a story of this kind. Another disappointment was that the big reveal was very predictable. And there are at least two long drawn-out sequences of acrobatic climbing that are numbing and tedious in their excruciating detail - the opposite of their intent, surely. There are some similarities to Over Sea, Under Stone, but this is nowhere near as good. The climax is weak and not believable, and the denouement is especially bad. Things are resolved through cronyism, not through hard work. This is the message we want to send to kids? Which brings me to a major concern.
One recurring aspect I very much dislike is how readily these children lie to their parents. They think about it, they rationalize it, and they do it. Even the child who is set up to be very upright, from a very good family, etc. The message is that parents won't do the job right, and so the kids have to usurp their authority. Reuben, in particular, is spectacularly naive and yet does not learn anything from his earlier missteps and continues to believe that he (somehow) knows the right thing to do and that he is capable of doing it. And it isn't just to the parents - these kids lie to the person who is helping them, who has unselfishly put herself at risk for Reuben. And it's no big deal, just "the ends justify the means" kind of thinking. Lie to your enemies, OK - I get that. But here it's lie to your friends and family too. Lie to the police and government. Just do it because you selfishly want to do what you want, because kids know best. And then these characters have the gall to talk about "promises" and being "trustworthy" - it's all situational where I'll promise my parents one thing, then I'll break that promise in order to promise someone else something. Very amoral in the guise of being righteous. This is addressed somewhat and there is blather about honesty, but it's not resolved. Instead we get praise for being "an incomparable liar" and more nonsense about how one can be a liar and still be honest. I would really not want to give this to kids.
May 15, 2021
Die Zeit der Späher ist gekommen…
*Leider ist der Klappentext zu inhaltlich*
Als großer Fan von spannenden Geschichten für jüngere Lesende war ich sehr neugierig auf Secret Keepers. Ich fand die Idee, dass eine Stadt von einem mysteriösen Schatten-Mann beherrscht wird total spannend. Und wer möchte nicht gerne einen Gegenstand finden, mit dem man plötzlich unsichtbar sein kann? Ich war jedenfalls nach dem Lesen des Klappentextes wirklich gespannt, was mich in der Geschichte so erwarten würde.
Ich kam mit dem Schreibstil nach einer kurzen Einfindungsphase ziemlich gut zurecht und fand die Stadt New Umbra sehr atmosphärisch beschrieben, sodass ich sie mir gut vorstellen konnte. Auch mit dem Protagonisten Ruben kam ich an sich gut zurecht. Womit ich allerdings insgesamt Probleme hatte, war die fehlende Tiefe, sowohl beim World Building, als auch bei den Figuren. Als Lesende habe ich bis zum Ende die Welt, in der Ruben sich bewegt, nicht wirklich begreifen können. Der Schattenmann und die Umstände, warum es in New Umbra jetzt so ist, wie es ist, wurden nicht wirklich erläutert.
Auch der Protagonist Ruben war für mich durchweg ein sehr blasser Charakter, den ich zwar während der Geschichte begleitet, aber nicht wirklich kennengelernt habe. Er war mir nicht sonderlich sympathisch, sodass sich bei mir das mitfiebern in Grenzen hielt. Zumal es auch leider nicht wirklich viel zum mitfiebern gab. Das ist die größte Kritik, die ich an dieser Geschichte habe. Es passiert zum einen über eine sehr lange Zeit nur sehr wenig, sodass sich das Lesen als ziemlich langatmig gestaltete und zum anderen kannte ich die Handlung bereits zu einem erheblichen Teil aus dem Klappentext. Das hat mich wirklich enttäuscht, da ich keinerlei Überraschungen erlebt habe und das erwarte ich bei einem Jugendbuch schon irgendwie.
Was mich dann ganz zum Schluss noch einmal recht sprachlos gemacht hat, war das Ende, das komplett in der Mitte von der gerade erst entstandenen Handlung lag. So etwas habe ich vorher bei einem Buch noch nicht erlebt. Also Cliffhanger ja, aber dann ist dem auch immer eine Menge Spannung und Handlung vorangegangen und nicht, wenn vorher einfach fast gar nichts passiert ist.
Mein Fazit:
Die grundlegende Idee sowie der Schreibstil haben mir bei dieser Geschichte sehr gut gefallen. Inhaltlich war die Handlung mir persönlich allerdings leider viel zu undynamisch, zu blass und oberflächlich und an vielen Stellen zu langatmig. Auch der spoilerhafte Klappentext und das gewählte Ende mitten in der Geschichte fand ich sehr unglücklich, sodass mich dieses Buch leider nicht von sich überzeugen konnte.
Ich vergebe 2 von 5 möglichen Sternen!
Lest fleißig,
eure Sabrina
*Leider ist der Klappentext zu inhaltlich*
Als großer Fan von spannenden Geschichten für jüngere Lesende war ich sehr neugierig auf Secret Keepers. Ich fand die Idee, dass eine Stadt von einem mysteriösen Schatten-Mann beherrscht wird total spannend. Und wer möchte nicht gerne einen Gegenstand finden, mit dem man plötzlich unsichtbar sein kann? Ich war jedenfalls nach dem Lesen des Klappentextes wirklich gespannt, was mich in der Geschichte so erwarten würde.
Ich kam mit dem Schreibstil nach einer kurzen Einfindungsphase ziemlich gut zurecht und fand die Stadt New Umbra sehr atmosphärisch beschrieben, sodass ich sie mir gut vorstellen konnte. Auch mit dem Protagonisten Ruben kam ich an sich gut zurecht. Womit ich allerdings insgesamt Probleme hatte, war die fehlende Tiefe, sowohl beim World Building, als auch bei den Figuren. Als Lesende habe ich bis zum Ende die Welt, in der Ruben sich bewegt, nicht wirklich begreifen können. Der Schattenmann und die Umstände, warum es in New Umbra jetzt so ist, wie es ist, wurden nicht wirklich erläutert.
Auch der Protagonist Ruben war für mich durchweg ein sehr blasser Charakter, den ich zwar während der Geschichte begleitet, aber nicht wirklich kennengelernt habe. Er war mir nicht sonderlich sympathisch, sodass sich bei mir das mitfiebern in Grenzen hielt. Zumal es auch leider nicht wirklich viel zum mitfiebern gab. Das ist die größte Kritik, die ich an dieser Geschichte habe. Es passiert zum einen über eine sehr lange Zeit nur sehr wenig, sodass sich das Lesen als ziemlich langatmig gestaltete und zum anderen kannte ich die Handlung bereits zu einem erheblichen Teil aus dem Klappentext. Das hat mich wirklich enttäuscht, da ich keinerlei Überraschungen erlebt habe und das erwarte ich bei einem Jugendbuch schon irgendwie.
Was mich dann ganz zum Schluss noch einmal recht sprachlos gemacht hat, war das Ende, das komplett in der Mitte von der gerade erst entstandenen Handlung lag. So etwas habe ich vorher bei einem Buch noch nicht erlebt. Also Cliffhanger ja, aber dann ist dem auch immer eine Menge Spannung und Handlung vorangegangen und nicht, wenn vorher einfach fast gar nichts passiert ist.
Mein Fazit:
Die grundlegende Idee sowie der Schreibstil haben mir bei dieser Geschichte sehr gut gefallen. Inhaltlich war die Handlung mir persönlich allerdings leider viel zu undynamisch, zu blass und oberflächlich und an vielen Stellen zu langatmig. Auch der spoilerhafte Klappentext und das gewählte Ende mitten in der Geschichte fand ich sehr unglücklich, sodass mich dieses Buch leider nicht von sich überzeugen konnte.
Ich vergebe 2 von 5 möglichen Sternen!
Lest fleißig,
eure Sabrina
January 25, 2017
When this book finally appeared at our local library, I snapped it up. I've been wanting to read it for ages, but... wow. I wasn't expecting it to even come close to the glory of the Mysterious Benedict Society, but I was very pleasantly surprised.
Things I loved:
The plot! Trenton Lee Stewart is so good at plot twists. Generally I can predict every twist in the book that I'm reading - but with this one, it actually caught me off guard a couple of times. Fantastic!
The cast of characters was great, as usual. I felt like Rueben, Jack, and Penny were all very unique to the book, and it didn't feel like it was taking from the Mysterious Benedict Society.
As I got to the end, I couldn't stop reading. I was completely and totally swallowed into Rueben's world, and I was living and breathing beside him. It's not often that a book does that to me. And the end itself was great.
A quick word here about the antagonist... I was surprised that he wasn't reminiscent of Mr. Curtain from the Mysterious Benedict Society. Instead, he was a villain in his own right, perfect for the story and perfect for Rueben.
Things I didn't love:
The main issue I had with this book was the lying. Rueben lies to his mother about where he goes during the day while she's at work, and eventually the lies grow and he's lying to her about where he is. He tells her he's at a sleepover, when he's really off discovering dark secrets and solving mysteries. Although the lying is looked down upon by at least one other main character and a number of minor ones, there are really no consequences for Rueben (spoiler alert!) because his mom is so happy to have him back.
A character takes the Lord's name in vain twice, I believe. (I may have overlooked other times.)
The length of this book is over 500 pages, which might be a little intimidating for some eleven-year-olds (the age it's targeted for). However, I think it would be great for more advanced readers.
The only other problem I had with this book was the fact that it starts off slow, and has some lengthy descriptive passages all throughout that could have been done away with, although I think this is just Mr. Stewart's writing style. It takes a chapter or two to really get into it.
In summary:
This was another great read by Trenton Lee Stewart, although I didn't appreciate the excessive lying. My actual rating would be four and a half stars.
See more reviews on my blog: www.simpleimpossibilities.com
Things I loved:
The plot! Trenton Lee Stewart is so good at plot twists. Generally I can predict every twist in the book that I'm reading - but with this one, it actually caught me off guard a couple of times. Fantastic!
The cast of characters was great, as usual. I felt like Rueben, Jack, and Penny were all very unique to the book, and it didn't feel like it was taking from the Mysterious Benedict Society.
As I got to the end, I couldn't stop reading. I was completely and totally swallowed into Rueben's world, and I was living and breathing beside him. It's not often that a book does that to me. And the end itself was great.
A quick word here about the antagonist... I was surprised that he wasn't reminiscent of Mr. Curtain from the Mysterious Benedict Society. Instead, he was a villain in his own right, perfect for the story and perfect for Rueben.
Things I didn't love:
The main issue I had with this book was the lying. Rueben lies to his mother about where he goes during the day while she's at work, and eventually the lies grow and he's lying to her about where he is. He tells her he's at a sleepover, when he's really off discovering dark secrets and solving mysteries. Although the lying is looked down upon by at least one other main character and a number of minor ones, there are really no consequences for Rueben (spoiler alert!) because his mom is so happy to have him back.
A character takes the Lord's name in vain twice, I believe. (I may have overlooked other times.)
The length of this book is over 500 pages, which might be a little intimidating for some eleven-year-olds (the age it's targeted for). However, I think it would be great for more advanced readers.
The only other problem I had with this book was the fact that it starts off slow, and has some lengthy descriptive passages all throughout that could have been done away with, although I think this is just Mr. Stewart's writing style. It takes a chapter or two to really get into it.
In summary:
This was another great read by Trenton Lee Stewart, although I didn't appreciate the excessive lying. My actual rating would be four and a half stars.
See more reviews on my blog: www.simpleimpossibilities.com
September 18, 2016
The Secret Keepers is a good book with good morals and good characters, it's just
way too long
. It's not like it's a difficult book to read; it's meant for ages 8 through 12, and that's obvious. Still, I realized after about a third of the way through the book that I could gloss over a great many of the descriptions and not miss anything essential to the plot. There were times when I skipped three pages just because it was pure description.
That being said, I did enjoy the plot itself. It had the perfect amount of mystery and action. Middle grade books sometimes seem a little too childish to me (my mother was allowing me to read Stephen King at the tender age of 12) and this definitely lands on that spectrum, but not enough for me to say it isn't worthwhile.
That being said, I did enjoy the plot itself. It had the perfect amount of mystery and action. Middle grade books sometimes seem a little too childish to me (my mother was allowing me to read Stephen King at the tender age of 12) and this definitely lands on that spectrum, but not enough for me to say it isn't worthwhile.
December 6, 2017
By his own admission, Reuben (the MC) though "not exactly the most shining example of behavior, Reuben had no interest in becoming a real criminal." But that isn't to say he's got a clean slate. He lies, he disobeys, and he's sneaky and tricky. Armed with a ring-of-Sauron type of object, he faces many a battle and danger... and secret.
Penny, coming in about half-way through the book is the opposite. She's honest to a fault, cheerful and discerning. They balance each other out well. Though the book starts out slow and 'quietly' (despite the many adventures and misadventures interspersed throughout the pages), things really liven up once Reuben meets the Myers. That's when everything clicks, and you realize just how complicated everything has become without you even realizing it. That's when you see what the author has used everything that comes before to build to.
Jack is my favorite character. I'm not sure quite why, and I originally disliked him. But he really brings the whole thing together and makes it plausible.
Also, though Ms. Genevieve was a great character from the beginning, I loved her part in the end.
Overall, though perhaps not the wonderful Mysterious Benedict Society books, this was still a fun read, one that I'll probably come back to. :)
Penny, coming in about half-way through the book is the opposite. She's honest to a fault, cheerful and discerning. They balance each other out well. Though the book starts out slow and 'quietly' (despite the many adventures and misadventures interspersed throughout the pages), things really liven up once Reuben meets the Myers. That's when everything clicks, and you realize just how complicated everything has become without you even realizing it. That's when you see what the author has used everything that comes before to build to.
Jack is my favorite character. I'm not sure quite why, and I originally disliked him. But he really brings the whole thing together and makes it plausible.
Also, though Ms. Genevieve was a great character from the beginning, I loved her part in the end.
Overall, though perhaps not the wonderful Mysterious Benedict Society books, this was still a fun read, one that I'll probably come back to. :)
August 22, 2020
Littles gave it 5 stars!
They liked the story and the bad guy.
It was a LONG book. 501 pages! We alternated with reading and listening (on double speed).
For fans of The Benedict Society. It reminded me alot of that series. Fast action packed plot. Loveable characters. Mystery they kept you guessing.
They liked the story and the bad guy.
It was a LONG book. 501 pages! We alternated with reading and listening (on double speed).
For fans of The Benedict Society. It reminded me alot of that series. Fast action packed plot. Loveable characters. Mystery they kept you guessing.
April 10, 2018
The city of New Umbra is controlled by a mysterious man known only as "The Smoke." Through his right-hand man "The Counselor" and his enforcers, known by various names including The Directions, he keeps New Umbra under his proverbial thumb, extracting payment from business owners and leaving the city's police force powerless.
Reuben is just a quiet, friendless boy, living in the poorest part of the city with his mother who works several jobs. Until one day, he finds a mysterious watch, a watch that "The Smoke" wants. And suddenly Reuben's quiet life is forever changed, as he tries to uncover the history of the watch, makes unexpected friends, and hustles to stay out of the clutches of The Directions and The Smoke.
This is in the same vein as The Mysterious Benedict Society, with puzzles, a likable crew of diverse heroes, ominous villains, and just a tiny bit of magic.
Reuben is just a quiet, friendless boy, living in the poorest part of the city with his mother who works several jobs. Until one day, he finds a mysterious watch, a watch that "The Smoke" wants. And suddenly Reuben's quiet life is forever changed, as he tries to uncover the history of the watch, makes unexpected friends, and hustles to stay out of the clutches of The Directions and The Smoke.
This is in the same vein as The Mysterious Benedict Society, with puzzles, a likable crew of diverse heroes, ominous villains, and just a tiny bit of magic.
January 29, 2018
Trenton Lee Stewart is one of those authors I can’t
wait
to read with my kids when they get older. I loved The Mysterious Benedict Society and I loved this one. Different plot, obviously, but some similarity in that children do most of the heavy lifting with some help from supportive adults. My favorite part of The Secret Keepers is Reuben’s relationship with his mom. His mom is just wonderful, and he knows it.
And the sheer cleverness that permeates this book makes my nerdy little brain rejoice. Just like MBC, there are riddles galore, especially in . I just love how Trenton Lee Stewart’s mind works.
And the sheer cleverness that permeates this book makes my nerdy little brain rejoice. Just like MBC, there are riddles galore, especially in . I just love how Trenton Lee Stewart’s mind works.
July 8, 2019
If I'm honest, this book surprised me. While not nearly as complex or mind-gamey as the brilliant Mysterious Benedict Society, there was a depth to this book I wasn't expecting. Throughout the long and complicated journey Reuben takes, there is constantly an inner struggle we see within him. The struggle between right and wrong, selfish or selfless, now or later, kept me captivated throughout the novel. While the climax and/or resolution wasn't necessarily epic, what moved me was Reuben's final decisions, proving that yes, he can be the bigger person, even if his future is uncertain.
I also loved the idea that we are all Secret Keepers--we all know something we don't want anyone else to know--but whether those secrets are worth keeping or not is the question we must each answer for ourselves.
Side note: The illustrations throughout this novel are just so perfect.
I also loved the idea that we are all Secret Keepers--we all know something we don't want anyone else to know--but whether those secrets are worth keeping or not is the question we must each answer for ourselves.
Side note: The illustrations throughout this novel are just so perfect.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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