LitPick Review
World soccer superstar El Gato has just won the World Cup; he is at the peak of his career and has been named the world's greatest goalkeeper. Paul Faustino, South America's top football journalist expected a reasonably normal post World Cup interview, but what he got was more than he ever imagined. During the hours of the interview between El Gato and Faustino, the football legend gives an exclusive into his intriguing past. He tells Faustino how the lingering spirit of mysterious Keeper changed his life and how he went from being the struggling son of a poor logger to being thrown into the thrilling world of major league football. The strange life that El Gato lived was not at all what anyone expected and his unusual past was not the only shock he was ready to unleash on the world.
Opinion:
Keeper by Mal Peet is a truly interesting and extraordinary journey through the roller coaster life of a disadvantaged teenager who makes it big. I'm not interested in football at all and when told about this book, I was dubious. By the end of the story, however, I was caught by its reveling excitement and spine tingling mystery. There was definitely no need to be a football fan to enjoy the absorbing story line and enthralling characters. This book was all told by El Gato in first person, in the context of Gato telling his life story to Faustino. There was a bit of football lingo, which was not always clear and entirely understood, but that was made up for by the amount of time that went into telling the story of spirits and ghosts. I am looking forward to the next Paul Faustino installment and continuation of El Gato's story.
