Ridley Pearson

Thirteen-year-old Finn Whitman and four other young teens have been transformed into holgorams to be guides for visitors to Disney World. When Finn is unexpectedly transported to the Magic Kingdom in his hologram form, Wayne, an Imagineer, tells him that he and the other guides must save the park from the scheming witch Maleficent and the Overtakers

The kingdom keepers

In this fantastical thriller, five young teens tapped as models for theme park "guides" find themselves pitted against Disney villains and witches that threaten both the future of Walt Disney World and the stability of the world outside its walls. Using a cutting-edge technology called DHI--which stands for both Disney Host Interactive and Daylight Hologram Imaging--Finn Whitman, an Orlando teen, and four other kids are transformed into hologram projections that guide guests through the park. The new technology turns out, however, to have unexpected effects that are both thrilling and scary. Soon Finn finds himself transported in his DHI form into the Magic Kingdom at night. Is it real? Is he dreaming? Finn's confusion only increases when he encounters Wayne, an elderly Imagineer who tells him that the park is in grave danger. Led by the scheming witch, Maleficent, a mysterious group of characters called the Overtakers is plotting to destroy Disney's beloved realm, and maybe more. This gripping high-tech tale will thrill every kid who has ever dreamed of sneaking into Walt Disney World after hours and wondered what happens at night, when the park is closed.

Disney After Dark

Kingdom Keepers

Kayla

I l o v e Disney. I don’t think this book was terrible, but I had pretty high expectations for where this would go and dive into the world of Disney. It just didn’t really deliver for me. It’s an easy read, and wasn’t blatantly bad but it didn’t leave me on the edge of my seat for sure.

Annie

"You can't get any cooler than Disney World" - Kingdom Keepers Disney after Dark by Ridley Pearson

3.5/5 ⭐️ 

Interesting book and very cool plot. It is a middle grade book so the reading level is a little low and the characters are not as defined. However, I generally was interested in what was happening in the book and what the storyline was. You can also tell how much research went into this book. There is a lot of history on the parks, behind the scenes, and on Walt himself. I enjoyed reading this book mainly due to the fact I love Disney and anything that has to do with Disney World and the magic behind it. I do plan on continuing this series during the rest of this year.

Sierra Nichols

I highly recommend Kingdom Keepers. This series is one of favorites, next to Percy Jackson, and Harry Potter.

Douglas E. Welch

Would have liked to seen a bit more depth to the writing. Kids can handle more. Final scenes made for a good ending but I would have liked a little more "story" on the way there.

Tristan Elwell

Power Play

Kingdom Keepers IV

Lokidotter

When Disney comes looking for five teenagers to serve as actors for a new technology-Daylight Hologram Images, or DHIs-there is more to it than meets the eye. Strange things have been happening inside the Florida park: parts from one ride are found mysteriously moved to another; in the Fantasmic! show, the dragon unexplainably triumphs over Mickey; little blips in story lines and "offstage" antics by characters trouble managers. Finn Whitman, a middle-schooler, goes to sleep one night and has the dream of a lifetime: he "wakes up" inside Disney World as his DHI character, a glowing hologram. He meets an old man there, Wayne, who claims to be one of the original Imagineers and explains to Finn that he "and your friends" have a mission to save the park from forces that humans can neither see nor hear. Not believing his dream, but not totally discounting it, Finn, back in real life, sets out to find the four other kids who were chosen to be DHIs and in doing so he learns an eerie fact: he is not alone in this "dream." The others have had similar experiences. What if this is for real?

Faith Collins

Reviewed for www.blueeggbooks.blogspot.com

I was worried about this book when I started reading. It seemed a little too YA for my tastes but I gave it a shot. Honestly, this was a fun read but if it wasn't about Disney, I don't think I would've finished this book. 

The positives first...

Gotta love the "secret world" of Disney after dark! I thought the idea and the plot was really fun! There were some cool, rare facts about Walt Disney World and I enjoyed getting to my "Happy Place" without actually having to go anywhere. 

The plot was original, creative, and moved quickly; it kept me on my toes and truly was a page turner! My issue? It could've been SO much more. Pearson laid the ground work for an awesome story but it never really amounted to much. Again, it was fun but that's really all I can say as far as the positives. 

The bad...

Okay, I know I'm not the target demo for YA books but Pearson's book was just a little too immature and middle grade for my tastes. Like, I'm talking REALLY YA. There was little character development-- I didn't care at all about what happened to the characters. That's not good.

The writing wasn't great and the dialogue felt pretty forced. Things felt choppy and situations with Finn's mother as well as some of his friends seemed a little unbelievable. Again, I know this stems back to the whole "hey-this-book-isn't-for-people-your-age" thing but I'm not convinced it would be all too moving for a middle schooler either.


My biggest issue? This book could've been SO much more. It's such an awesome concept, has an original story, and it really seems like Pearson did his Disney research but then... it just fell flat. It was disappointing and just not that great, honestly. Now, I do know it is part of a series. I plan on reading the remaining books in hopes that Pearson really gets to the "meat" of this series. 


Overall, this book was average. It was a fun, light read but I just felt disappointed in general. Again, if it wasn't about Walt Disney World I don't think I would've finished. I'd recommend it to middle schoolers, some high schoolers, and Disney lovers who can ignore the negative aspects and just enjoy the magic of Disney.

Rebecca Light

I can't get over the reference to Fantasmics. FANTASMICS? This is a Disney-sanctioned book, yeah? What's with the plural there? Overall it was a fun read for a Disney fan. There are some inconsistencies in the world-building, like how can they eat ice cream when they're holograms but they can't hold a pen? If you get past those, it's fun. I will admit to a slight knee-jerk reaction, a slight prickle of the hairs on the back of my neck, at the way they talked about Walt. I'm used to him being approached with more reverence from a Disney perspective. For example, no one should be allowed to sleep in his apartment. I know it's the World, not the Land, so it's different, but this book is actually a testament to how much more precious Disneyland is than Disney World. Also it's kind of weird that these kids were subjected to this situation without their consent and against their will, and by Imagineers no less. Like, that's effed up. And it's ever explained or justified. All in all it's a quick read, a fun tour of the Magic Kingdom, but does not quite live up to Disney storytelling magic for me.

Sarah Hamrick

Sydney Brownlow 

Milea Webb

It's supposed to be a happy day at the Magic Kingdom—the return of the teenaged holographic hosts. But things go very wrong when a sudden lightning storm disrupts the celebration, and Amanda's mysterious sister, Jez, disappears. The only clue is the sighting of a wild monkey in the Magic Kingdom during the storm. The mystery deepens as Finn is contacted by Wayne, an old man he hasn't heard from in months. Wayne tells Finn that there's trouble at the Animal Kingdom: the evil Overtakers have gained control of one of the computer servers that will be used to operate Daylight Holographic Imaging there. That means that if any of the holographic hosts fall asleep, they will go into comas—permanently. Filled with action and brimming with the same meticulous detail as The Kingdom Keepers: Disney After Dark, this second book in the series—Disney at Dawn—is the result of hands-on research behind the scenes at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park. Young and older readers alike will get a glimpse into a second Disney kingdom. The wild rides have only just begun; and the clock is ticking. How long can the teens keep themselves awake in their quest to find their friend—and what happens if they fail?

Disney at Dawn

Kingdom Keepers II

LilacsBookEmporium

Zachary Cleek

Grace Winningham

Kiley Hamby

Colin

Alice Hewitt

Nicole Dykeman

The Kingdom Keepers' senior year in high school is almost over. For more than three years, things have been quiet. Their battles are long behind them, they agree, the threat to the Disney realm silenced albeit at great cost. But inside the catacombs of the Aztec temple where Finn Whitman faced down his nemesis, the monstrous Chernabog, a new threat brews. Deception and betrayal rock the Kingdom Keepers as the merciless group of Disney villains known as the Overtakers stage an unexpected comeback. But a discovery by the Keepers provides them with one hope of victory-a lost icon. It was believed to be gone forever. The Keepers have one last chance to preserve the heart of the Kingdom-Disneyland-from a terrifying destruction decades in the making.

The Insider

Kingdom Keepers VII

jess

The five Kingdom Keepers and their core friends have uncovered a startling truth: Maleficent and the Overtakers (Disney villains) are plotting a catastrophic event that could have repercussions far beyond the world of Disney. Aboard the Disney Cruise Line's inaugural passage through the new Panama Canal, the Keepers and their holograms uncover a puzzle hidden within the pages of a stolen journal. The point of that puzzle will reveal itself in the caves of Aruba, the zip lines of Costa Rica, and the jungles of Mexico. A destructive force, dormant for decades, is about to be unleashed. The five Kingdom Keepers are to be its first victims.

The kingdom keepers

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