Keeper

By: Mal Peet

Narrated by: Christopher Lane

It was darker now, and the city below Faustino's office was a jazzy dance of neon signs and traffic. The big man went to the window and looked down at it all, spreading his large hands on the glass. "No," he said. "It found me."

When Paul Faustino of LA NACION flips on his tape recorder for an exclusive Interview with El Gato - the phenomenal goalkeeper who single-handedly brought his team the World Cup - the seasoned reporter quickly learns that this will be no ordinary story. Instead, the legendary El Gato ("The Cat") quietly narrates a spellbinding tale that begins in a mythic corner of the South American rain forest, where a ghostly but very real mentor, the Keeper, emerges to teach the gangly boy the most thrilling secrets of the game. Combining vivid imagery and heart-stopping action, this evocative, strikingly ethereal novel about loyalty, passion, and magic will haunt readers, regardless of their love for soccer, long after the story is ended.

An enthralling story of a poor and gawky kid who mysteriously becomes the world's greatest goalkeeper - a seamless blend of magic realism and exhilarating soccer action.

©2004 Mal Peet (P)2011 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

great story; weird accent for narration

Excellent story. Narrator was easy to understand but the accent sounded vaguely Indian which I'm sure was not the intention given the South American setting and characters.

Engaging

It is not easy to find books for male teenagers, however, I believe Keeper is going to engage my students. I have no interest in soccer and was totally captivated.