This second book in the Kingdom Keepers series earned the same rating as the first although I liked it a bit more. What makes this a good book is that it offers more of the same action and suspense of the first book in the series with a slight twist to the plot. The characters are well developed and likeable - you want them to conquer the villains. The setting of a Disney Park cannot be beaten in my opinion - who ever gets tired of Disney? Just like the first book in the series, this one hints at a third installment....bring it on! ( )

Imagine that you are in Disney World and it's after closing. It's like a dream come true! Or a nightmare if you're Finn Whitman and his group of DHI (Disney Host Ineractive) friends. After their last episode (Kingdom Keepers: Disney After Dark), the DHIs are returning to the Magic Kingdom. During a parade celebrating their return, Finn notices two girls in the crowd. It's Amanda and Jez. He's happy to see them, but they don't look so happy.

During the middle of the parade, funny things start to happen. It appears that the Overtakers are back and they aren't going down so easily this time. It's a race against time and the kids seem to be on their own for the majority of this adventure. Can they save the park and themselves?

Kingdom Keepers II was a lot better than the first one. The best part is, Mr. Pearson left the ending open for a third book in the series, and I cannot wait to get a copy in my hands. Be forewarned this series needs to be read in order. ( )

A sequel to Pearson’s Kingdom Keepers, this Modern Fantasy novel takes the reader on an adventure through Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom. In the first novel, we’re introduced to Finn and his four cohosts, teenagers who served as models for Disney’s creation of holographic hosts (tour guides) for the Magic Kingdom. A glitch in the holographic technology allows the teens to cross over into the park after dark, and in doing so they find themselves in a battle against the Overtakers, who are plotting to gain control of the park. In this sequel, the holographic hosts return to battle the not-willing-to-surrender Overtakers, led by Maleficent, who now have their sights set on Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The teens must stay awake or risk falling victim to Maleficent’s Sleeping Beauty Syndrome. If they fail, the world as we know it will change forever.

I enjoyed reading both books in Pearson’s series, and we’re now anxiously awaiting the third installment. Our family frequently vacations at Disney World, so it’s fun to read a book in which we’re able to picture exactly where the scenes are taking place. We read this story during family reading time, and my kids would frequently ask to go to bed earlier than usual so we’d be able to read more than just a chapter or two.

In the classroom I would use this book as a read aloud after lunchtime. I would distribute maps of Disney’s Animal Kingdom and have the students identify the various locations described in the book. This book series offers good illustrations of friendship, teamwork, and the importance of being reliable and doing what you say you will do. This book would also be good to use as an option in a classroom literature circle with an adventure theme. ( )