Keeper of the Night
(2003, Fiction - Family life, Written by Kimberly Willis Holt)
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Is it age appropriate?
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Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Girl's story following mother's suicide.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 12 and Up
The good stuff
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Keeper of the Night was written by Matt Berman
Parents need to know that despite the subject matter, this is not a wrenching book -- poignant, but not devastating. The idea of parent suicide will be disturbing to some children, and discussion with a parent is recommended.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about the relationship between Isabel and Mary Kelly. How do their cultural backgrounds influence who they are? How are they similar?
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More on Keeper of the Night
Book Summary
Is It Any Good?
In a series of short chapters, Isabel tells of the months following her mother's suicide. It's left to Isabel to take care of her disturbed siblings and to try to understand why her mother didn't want to live. Lest this sound like all gloom and doom, though, Isabel's difficulties weave through a life that, while not exotic, is different enough to be fascinating. Kimberly Willis Holt details the rituals, family relationships, foods, and festivals of small-town Guam, and Isabel befriends an American girl whose life and attitudes are contrasted with Isabel's.
Holt's gentle prose, along with the somewhat dark and affecting subject matter, will not be to every young reader's taste. There's little action, and though the writing is simple, direct, and clear, the short, journal-like chapters make keeping track of the narrative a challenge for inexperienced readers. But children with a taste for stepping into another world will find Isabel a sympathetic character, and the setting unique and vivid.
Publisher’s Details
Publisher: Henry Holt & Company, Inc., Publication date: 5/1/2003
Number of pages: 308, Price: $16.95 (hardcover)
Read Alone: 11+
Number of pages: 308, Price: $16.95 (hardcover)
Read Alone: 11+
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Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it
Bland and harmless
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I rate this title on and give it
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I rate this title on and give it
A great read!
I just finished this book and i think its a GREAT read!!! I am also a native from Guam (born and raised!) and Kimberly H. just captures the life of it. Not only does she tell true stories/myths from Guam but she shows the everyday life of ppl there--how they talk, eat, act, the places, the tourists.. I was so amazed by this book! i dont know--if you are from Guam, read this book and you'll understand what im talking about!
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