Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Evil Star: Book Two of the Gatekeepers
Fiction Series
For ages 14 and up
Scholastic, 2009 ISBN: 978-0439680080
Now that the Raven's Gate has been closed, Matt hopes that he will be able to have a 'normal' life which does not involve the Old Ones, magic, and terrifying adventures. He is living in York with his journalist friend Richard, and he is going to a private school. Unfortunately, he is not happy at the school. Having joined the school late in the term, Matt finds that he does not fit in and he is being picked on. His relationship with Richard is also not going very well.
Then Matt is contacted by the Nexus, the organization that is doing its best to make sure that the Old Ones are not allowed back into the world. The members of the Nexus ask Matt for his help. Apparently there is another gate that could soon be opened, and Matt still has a role to play in saving the world from the Old Ones. At first Matt refuses to get involved, not wanting to have anything to do with the Nexus. After all, all he wants is a normal life. However, he soon sees that he is not destined for such a life and he agrees to do what he can to assist the organization.
At first all they need him to do is to arrange for the purchase of a valuable diary. When the man who is selling the diary is killed and the diary is stolen, the situation changes and the Nexus asks Matt to take on a much bigger job. They need him to go to Peru where he can hopefully find out where and when the next gate opening is going take place.
Matt has barely arrived when he meets Pedro, a street boy, and he soon realises that Pedro, like him, is one of the five children which the prophesy says will one day defeat the Old Ones for good. The question is, can he and Pedro find the second gate here in Peru before their enemies open it?
In this second book in the Gatekeepers series, readers will quickly find themselves getting caught up in a superbly crafted and thrilling story which is completely engrossing. As they join Matt and Richard in their adventures, readers will learn more about the prophecy, the five children in the prophecy, and the Matt's own untapped powers, which are constantly growing.
Anthony Horowitz is, without a doubt, a master of his craft, and his ability to take his readers on fascinating and sometimes terrifying adventures, is without parallel.
