Magical Twists and Turns in Trenton Lee Stewart’s The Secret Keepers

Well, anyone that is, until he finds a very unique and magical watch that suddenly lands him on the radar of the Directions, the dangerous men who work for the Smoke—the mysterious and deadly unspoken leader of the city. Reuben soon finds out that the watch has a mate, in the Smoke’s possession, and when they’re together the watches unlock the key to everlasting life for whomever holds them. Reuben’s watch also gives him the ability to be temporarily invisible—something that comes very in handy when being pursued by weapon-wielding baddies.
But Reuben doesn’t go about his adventure on his own. The inscription on his watch leads him to Penny and Jack, siblings who are connected to the magical timepiece through their own family history. Together the trio must escape from the Smoke and the Directions, and find a way to not only save themselves and their families—but also the city, whose citizens are at risk of losing the last bit of freedom they have.
Having made a name for himself with the critically acclaimed The Mysterious Benedict Society series, Stewart takes the reader on a fast-paced journey with puzzles, dilemmas, and astounding twists and turns that make this whopping 512 page novel speed by in the blink of an eye.

Split into three sections that include black and white illustrations, in between scenes filled with action and adventure, the book challenges the reader to think about the choices they might make when faced with different moral and ethical dilemmas. Would they lie to their mother to save her? Would they put their life at risk for another? Could one person, let alone a child, save an entire city? It’s also a book that will make readers question the role the concept of “time” truly has in a person’s life. But it manages to do so in a way that a middle grade reader will understand (and want to talk more about).
Reuben’s story is just as interesting as that of the evil leader, the Smoke, as well as the entertainingly dark characters that make up the mafia-like Directions. The lightness of Penny and Jack helps balance the darkness of their enemies. Through it all, you are left wondering what twist the author has up his sleeve and what will happen next to this fascinating cast of characters.
Don’t be put off by the length of this book. It’s worth it. And if you are anything like me, you’ll be wishing there were more as you turn the very last page.
The Secret Keepers is on B&N bookshelves September 27. Don’t miss out on being part of this unique and magical adventure.