Kingdom Keepers V: Shell Game (Kingdom Keepers, 5)

Have not been able to put this series down. Bought them all at once after my daughter had seen commercial for the newest release on Disney channel. The Keepers are funny, you actually learn tidbits about the characters, films, and parks you may not have known. The Villains are far more dangerous than you would think given they are from animated cartoons and are restricted by the animators. Being alive has really proved their nastiness. If you need to get away from all the Disney history and true-life books about Disney, this is a perfect getaway.

The book itself seems to be a good read, but it is literally falling apart, pages falling out and the binding coming loose. I guess the publisher’s fault? I am not sure it will even stay together long enough for me to finish it.

I am an adult who truly believes that children's/YA books, if they are well-written, should be able to be enjoyed by adults just like any other book. That said, I have read (more like struggled through) the first five KK books, because I'm a big Disney fan and thought they would be fun. I was wrong. What should be fun, action-packed books that immerse you into the world of WDW or, in this case, the Disney cruise line, instead turn out to be plodding, awkwardly-written books that are hard to get through.

This particular installment is FAR too long with far too little happening in it. It could have been, and should have been, condensed into a book half the length. [Spoiler alert: it also has a completely unfinished ending so you're sort of compelled to read the next one if you want to know how things end]. Even if it had been shorter, there is so much mumbo jumbo about servers and LAN networks and whatnot that I just couldn't imagine anyone reading this with any interest. It is SO DULL.

The writing is awkward. The descriptions of the inner workings of the ship are tedious and confusing. I can't explain how many times I would re-read a passage, trying to understand what it was attempting to describe, still not able to visualize it.

Finally, I really find the characterizations of the four Keepers to be a problem. It's like the author is trying so hard to be inclusive by including characters of various ethnicities as well as both girls and boys, but it's so awkwardly done and, I would argue, counterproductive. There's a passage with repeated references to "the two Asian girls" who are passing characters that don't speak or even appear again. Why does their ethnicity need to be pointed out and mentioned repeatedly? It's like he's trying to tick a box for diversity. As for the Keepers themselves, it's just one stereotype after another. Charlene is the hot girl who's also a star gymnast and struggles to be taken seriously. Maybeck is Black and also super athletic (and cocky). Willa is arguably the smartest of them, but the least well-realized and is portrayed in the series as more of a supporting character. Finn and Philby, the two white boys, are, respectively, the leader and the brains of the team. It's pretty embarrassing. If you're going to go out of your way to showcase diversity, don't have the characters conform to gender and racial stereotypes.

The romantic relationships don't ring true either. All of a sudden, in this book, girls are throwing themselves at Finn, everyone has a crush on everyone else, even if they have nothing in common. Again, it all feels forced.

It's just not good at all.

Had to hunt this one down as I could not find it at our two local Barnes and Nobles stores. Daughter was ready for book 5 and Iwas happy to find it in time for Christmas!
This is s great series for anyone who loves Disney and adventure!

It's a Christmas gift will know then

shipping was on time, book was in perfect condition.

My 14 yr old loves these books. They are fun and clean.

Great book series

filled in the collection gap at the library

Back cover damaged