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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."And you found it, this thing you were looking for?"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.
Hardcover: 225 pages
Publisher: Candlewick; 1st edition (August 9, 2005)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0763627496
ISBN-13: 978-0763627492
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.9 x 8 inches
Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #625,568 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #23 in Books > Teens > Literature & Fiction > Sports > Soccer #98 in Books > Teens > Historical Fiction > Biographical #1902 in Books > Teens > Mysteries & Thrillers > Mystery & Detective
I bought this book for my nephew who loves soccer. The cover was so interesting that I had to read it myself before giving it to him. This is a gripping story of a boy who starts off playing soccer in a remote logging camp in the middle of the jungle and his rise to become one of the greatest goal keepers in the world and a hero in the World Cup.Peet weaves magic and mystery into a story that avoids most stereotypes typical of the genre. This book also has a strong environmentalist message that shoudl appeal to many children.
On the surface, Keeper is a soccer story. Goalie extraordinaire El Gato sits in a small hotel room recounting not only how he's just won the World Cup, but also how he came to be the keeper he is today.What follows though is a story filled with mystery and magic - yes, magic. We learn that as a boy, El Gato discovered a ghostly presence in the jungle outside his small South American village, a ghost that taunt him with almost desperate authority how to be the best goalie (keeper) in the world. It's an odd premise, but the story unfolds in startling and endearing ways, eventually encompassing issues as big as deforestation and as small as leaving family and home for good.For me, this is the ultimate kind of sports book. It escapes the cookie-cutter realm of "team is disorganized, team becomes organized, team overcomes odds to win big game." Even winning the World Cup isn't so important that we have to re-live every moment of the "big game." It's the consequences of the game, and the keeper's development as a person and a goalie, that are far more important in the long run.By focusing on the boy and the greater issues he resolves through his keeping skills, this story transcends its own genre. It's a fantastic book to put in the hands of any boy who's ever played youth soccer, or just any boy who ever sought his place in the world on a playing field.
I loved this book. Peet is phenomenal when it comes to bringing things to life with this novel. I found myself actually getting goose bumps from this book. Truly a good read, I highly recommend to anyone.
I read this book for the schools summer reading program. I am a teacher and a former soccer player and coach. Even though the story as elements of fantasy and the supernatural, and is a sports story, it is, at its core, a story of family, of struggle, of growing up, and of giving back.The story is told as an interview between the world's best goalkeeper and a reporter. Through a long night of questions and answers, of fantastic stories and life growing up in the rain forest, the man who just helped his country win the biggest game in soccer, the World Cup final, tells the reporter, and US, the readers, what is truly important.A must read for soccer fans and sports fan. But also a great read for anyone who enjoys a story with a message.
The author shares his love and knowledge of this sport in a fantasy about a poor boy who is groomed to be the best Keeper in the world. The writing is so well done that even if you don't know soccer, you can picture the action and cheer for the saves! Imbedded in the story is a political cry to save the Rainforest. That message is effectively delivered but never gets in the way of an exciting story.
wow!!! what an amazing book!! I just can't put this book down!! I got this book yesterday and I have not put it down since, this is without a doubt the BEST BOOK I HAVE EVER READ!!! wow!!! This is an amazing book!! I would recomend to buy it!! This was required for my school, but if I had not ever heard of this and had to buy it, I would have thought it was nothing!! I recomend this for all young adults like middle schoolers 6-8 and also it could be just a fun book to read for adults too!! BUY THIS BOOK!!!
As you can probably tell from the cover art, this book is about soccer. But don't let that turn you off (no offense, soccer players). Keeper is about so much more than just a sport...it is a gripping story that will keep you longing for more. Mal Peet has an amazing ability to put into words the undescribable. I don't particularly like soccer, but I found myself caught up in his outstanding play-by-play. If I was a reviwer at a well known newspaper, I would have no choice but to be cliche and be quoted that this book is "the summmer's must read!" Seriously though, read this book.
This is not just for young adults as the back of the book implies. My son is a 16 year old select soccer player on a top ten team in the state of Washington and he loved it. So my wife read it and she liked it as well. So I read it and was surprised at how entertaining the story was. The mystical, or fantasy element wound around a very realistic story made for a great read. For those who actually play keeper (also called goalie or goalkeeper), the detailed scenes explaining how the keeper "reads" the leaning tendencies of the kicker as he shoots are incredible and actually taught my son, a midfielder, some things about shooting so as not to give away the direction of the shot. Keepers would get the same insights about shooters. And for those not into the esoterics of soccer you will surely enjoy the wonderful storyline of the underdog fighting through adversity.
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