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Title details for The Keeper by Tananarive Due - Available

The Keeper

by Tananarive Due
Steven Barnes
ebook
1 of 1 copy available
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1 of 1 copy available
A young Black girl finds herself trapped between desperation and her family's dark history in this horror graphic novel
Aisha has suffered a devastating loss. Her parents were killed in a car crash, and now she must move to decrepit and derelict Detroit to live with her ailing grandmother. However, shortly after moving in, Aisha's grandmother's health rapidly deteriorates. With her dying breath, she summons the dark spirit that has protected their family for generations to watch over Aisha.
At first it seems that this spirit, whom Aisha refers to as the Keeper, is truly doing as her grandmother asked, caring for Aisha and keeping her safe; however, it soon becomes clear that this being can only sustain itself by stealing life from others. As the Keeper begins to prey on the apartment building's other residents, Aisha and her friends must come together to destroy it . . . or die trying.
Written by masters of horror Tananarive Due and Steven Barnes and illustrated by Marco Finnegan, The Keeper reflects on the horror Black Americans face every day, while still staying true to the genre.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    September 27, 2022

  • Formats

    • Kindle Book

    • OverDrive Read

      • ISBN: 9781647008543
    Kindle restrictions

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      September 5, 2022
      This timely horror fantasy written by Due (The Living Blood) and Barnes (Lion’s Blood) and drawn by Finnegan (the Nick Travers graphic novel series) unfurls a tale of survival and sacrifice set in an unassuming Detroit apartment building. After the parents of Aisha, a young Black girl, are killed in a car accident, she goes to live with her grandma, who warns her that “I can’t sugarcoat the real world” but does her best to keep her granddaughter out of the foster care system. Exploring her grandmother’s building with her friend Darnell, Aisha uncovers its connection to her family, its history of violence steeped in racial injustice, and the existence of the Keeper, a supernatural presence that “builds a nest inside you” and provides protection at a price. When Aisha’s grandma is no longer able to look out for her, Aisha summons her own power as well as the menacing Keeper to carry on. Finnegan’s sturdy, naturalistic art is workmanlike but holds a down-to-earth simplicity suited to a script that weaves volatile magic into the fabric of everyday life. Fans of smart horror will snap up this fresh, sharp take on the haunted house trope. Agent: Jack Jones, Jack Jones Literary Arts

    • Booklist

      September 15, 2022
      Preteen Aisha has lost her parents in a car accident. As a result, she is put into the custody of her feeble and infirm grandmother, who lives in a small, one-bedroom apartment in the same building in which she grew up. When Aisha finds an abandoned apartment upstairs, she learns about "the Keeper," a person or entity who took care of a baby after a tragedy there. When Grandma dies soon after Aisha joins her, Aisha tries to hide the death. What she doesn't count on is help from the Keeper. Cowritten by Due and Barnes, this story focuses on intergenerational caregiving and trauma in the Black community. The Keeper is a complex entity, keeping its charge alive while requiring a living being to survive, and Aisha is sympathetic as she grieves her many losses and tries to hide her secrets. Finnegan's use of shadows in his artwork highlights not only the darkness of the situation but also the secrets lurking within the apartment building. This graphic novel is relatively short, so it might be a good introduction to horror or graphic novels for those seeking an intriguing entry point.

      COPYRIGHT(2022) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Formats

  • Kindle Book
  • OverDrive Read
Kindle restrictions

subjects

Languages

  • English

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