The Owl Keeper Book Review

Book Title: The Owl Keeper

Author: Christine Brodien-Jones

Publish Date: 2010
Publisher: Scholastic

Series: 

The Owl Keeper by Christine Brodien-Jones

Suggested Grade: 6th and 7th grade, advanced 5th grade

Suggested Format: Independent reading

Synopsis: 
Maxwell Unger loves the night, mostly because he is allergic to sunlight. At night, the world seems right, unlike during the day, when everything seems strange and slightly off. He also loves owls, especially silver owls, because his grandmother used to tell him so many wonderful things about them. In this post-apocalyptic story, Max finds himself making an unusual friend, Rose, who is unlike anyone he has ever known. She causes him to begin to question who he really is, and what is going on around him. When they discover that the government has been working on a secret weapon, Max has to be brave to save both of his new friends -- Rose, and the silver owl that the government says is extinct. 

Teacher's Notes: 
As far as post-apocalyptic stories go, this one is not your run-of-the mill Zombie apocalypse. With the exception of Max and Rose, everyone is buying into the rhetoric that the government is preaching, and truly believe that the government is keeping them safe and providing a better life. This story is a fun read that leaves you guessing. I recommend it to my adult friends all the time, even though it's a YA read. Max learns courage, and also learns the importance of thinking for yourself and being unique.

Extra Activities: You can find an author-created discussion guide here.

Overall: 10/10

How I Got the Book: Purchased for my own collection

Suggested Interests: Fantasy, Post-Apocalyptic, Fiction