Gertie Milk and the Keeper of Lost Things by Simon Van Booy - OPTIONAL

Gertie Milk and the Keeper of Lost Things by Simon Van Booy, 248 pages.  Razorbill (Penguin), 2017, $17.

Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: G; Violence G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Gertie Milk finds herself washed up on an unusual island with no memories except that she has her name sewn onto her clothes.  She discovers that she is a Keeper of Lost Things, someone who helps return lost items to people at critical times in history.  Together with the only other keeper, a man named Kolt, twelve-year old Gertie begins her tasks by time traveling with artifacts she needs to return. She has some great adventures doing so until she runs into some Losers, who think that humans are not responsible enough to use knowledge wisely. Losers are trying to keep humans under their control and are trying to thwart the Keepers. 

While this is a fun premise, it’s never explained why children are the Keepers or how they are chosen.  The story gets a little bizarre, and sometimes feels like it is trying too hard. The ending is a cliff-hanger, so hopefully you like the story enough to continue reading.  

Michelle in the Middle, Teacher