Every town has a secret. And Brigus in Newfoundland and Labrador is no different. For hundreds of years the Pact of Protection has held, and the seaside fishing town has guarded an ancient and dangerous knowledge. But when business tycoon Mr. Grey begins blasting rock for a tunnel, it’s more than the rock that is blown apart: the pact itself is weakened and bits of the secret begin to slip out.
In their search for hidden pirate treasure, twelve-year-old Alistair and his friends Ben and Sadie stumble into the middle of this mystery. The more they learn about the pact, the more the shrieking song, the unexplained leaks in fishing vessels, and the mystery ship in the harbour begin to make sense.
Partnering with the pact keepers, Alistair, Ben, and Sadie must reinstate the agreement for the benefit of all. If they don’t, a lot more than a few ships will be harmed. Everything the good people of Brigus understand about the sea could be in danger. A magical middle-grade novel full of intrigue and adventure, Keepers of the Pact will inspire bravery in intrepid explorers and mystery seekers everywhere.
Sue’s Review:
Fondly known as a lopsided three-legged stool, Alistair, Ben, and Sadie are generally always together, and despite being the same age, their heights are radically different. The 12-year-old trio live in the historic town of Brigus in Newfoundland and are on the hunt for the Misty Cove Treasure. According to Ben’s Grandmother/ Kiju, pirates visited their cove a hundred years ago, hid their treasure, and were unable to return to get it.
But instead of finding hidden treasure, they stumble upon something straight out of Myths and Legends. Strange shrieks (maybe it’s a dying seagull?), unexplained leaks in the fishing vessels (are they caused by the blasting?), and what was that in the water…? All these mysteries will keep you invested in this story right until the end.
Keepers of the Pact also has you dreaming of what you’d buy with your share of the treasure. Would you be like Ben and want to buy a candy pantry and enjoy Halloween all year round, or would you buy a new skiff like Alistair?
With its attractive cover and fun map at the beginning of the book, Keepers of the Pact is sure to not only engage middle-graders but their teachers as well. With 34 short chapters, this would make a great classroom read-aloud novel. There are even some insightful and thoughtful discussion questions and a writing exercise at the end. The captivating first chapter would also make this the perfect book for first-chapter Fridays.
After reading Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, and The Land of Stories, the author’s son said, “I’ve run out of things to read. Why can’t I find more books about kids my age who love adventure?” So, Karen Kelloway wrote Keepers of the Pact. In her other life, Karen is the Founder/CEO of the Career Story Project. She works with organizations, executives, and entrepreneurs to create a rewarding career path and believes in the power of storytelling to learn life lessons. Karen lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia, with her husband, two teenagers, and their fluffy black-and-white Havanese, Chewie. Find her at karenkelloway.com.
- Publisher : Nimbus Publishing Limited (July 21 2023)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 208 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1774712229
- ISBN-13 : 978-1774712221
