Book Review: The Kingdom Keepers

In case you didn't know, I happen to like Disney. Perhaps it's from growing up a mere 10 minutes for the resort, or watching such gems as Donald in Mathmagic Land in elementary school. Whatever the cause, I sometimes go out of my way to find Disney items, and the book I recently discovered turned out to be quite a bit of fun.

Finn Whitman and four other teenagers have been specially selected to take part in a new Disney venture: Disney Host Interactive. What this means is that holographic images of the five teens will act as hosts in The Magic Kingdom in Orlando, welcoming guests, spouting details about the park and the attractions, and acting as guides. In return, the kids and their families receive lifetime passes, with the condition that they need pre-approval to enter the parks and must be disguised. Sounds like a sweet deal, until Finn wakes up one night to find himself standing in Main Street in his pajamas, his skin lightly glowing. An old man named Wayne tells him that he and the others were chosen to help the Disney Imagineers with some unusual events occurring in the parks. Walt himself understood that the power of peoples' belief in all the fictional characters -- both good and bad -- might one day allow certain dark forces to attempt to break into the real world. Strange events in and around the parks -- rides breaking down inexplicably, break-ins, mysterious noises throughout the parks at night -- lead Wayne to believe that something's brewing, and it's up to Finn and the other four DHIs to figure out a riddle left by Walt that could thwart the impending trouble.

The Kingdom Keepers is the perfect fantasy/adventure for kids, whether or not they enjoy Disney. I mean, what kid wouldn't be interested in wandering around one of the parks after hours, fighting with the pirates or trying to escape the evil clutches of the "it's a small world" dolls. The writing style is definitely geared toward the early teen readers, but even I enjoyed got caught up in the adventure of it all. A fun book that any Disney fan will certainly enjoy.

Image from Keep the Code.