Review: The Keepers of the Light by Trevor A. Dutcher

A coming-of-age adventure shining a light on the goodness and grace that makes the world go round, The Keepers of the Light by Trevor A. Dutcher is a riveting new YA read, and an entertaining first book in the Logan LeVec series.

Logan LeVec is navigating all the perils of sixth-grade life, from persistent bullies and paralyzing crushes on his neighbor to clumsy lunchroom disasters and embarrassing oral reports, but his seemingly normal life is about to change in ways he never expected. Though Logan’s parents would never believe or approve, the wild stories that his grandfather has been telling him for years are actually true, and more importantly, Logan has an unbelievable destiny to fulfill.

Soon he is following a befuddling toolbox troll through a gateway to Cameria, the Land of Light, although if the denizens of this mystical realm aren’t able to stop the encroaching darkness, their world may not be the only one to fall. As a Keeper of the Light, Logan is tasked to bring balance back to Cameria, with the help of a new generation of Keepers, to ensure that the goodness of the world is not dimmed by the sinister scheme of Karma. In this world of shapeshifters, scheming politicians, godly artifacts, Avians, and Angelics, Logan must harness his gifts and prove himself as a legendary defender of Cameria.

Though the book has similarities to other young adult works with parallel worlds, this story is wide-ranging in its scope, carving out its own niche in the genre. Thematically, the story mirrors current events in some thought-provoking ways, particularly for young people coming into a broader understanding of the world. The idea of the Light being used up or depleted at an unsustainable rate sounds like an echo of our own planet’s resource extraction and overuse, while the Cameria Council’s internal conflict over Karma’s evil actions is a carnival mirror of contemporary politics.

Within this creative and epic plot, Dutcher also weaves moments of genuine connection, compassion, friendship, and belonging into the narrative, making for some of the strongest elements of the prose. The narrative patiently explores the bond between Ginny and Logan as it develops in an organic and age-appropriate way, and boldly digs into Logan’s process of grieving and growing after he loses his best friend in the world. The eye-opening revelations of Cameria are another catalyst for his maturity, yet he never loses his pure heart, making him a balanced and engaging character. Novels for this age range often address serious themes in metaphors and allegories, but this novel dissects emotion seamlessly and authentically, avoiding heavy-handed scenes of sudden enlightenment.

From a technical perspective, there are some flaws in the execution, such as the author’s tendency to repeat ideas more than once in slightly different forms, and to get stuck in certain vocabulary ruts, with the same word being repeated five or six times in a short space. There are also occasional streams of dialogue that feel a bit too scripted and profound for the characters speaking them, but these issues are minor in the scheme of the overall story.

Aside from some easy-to-overlook stumbles, this is a smart, original, and enticing introduction to a YA series, establishing a fascinating world for readers to explore, and a relatable and inspiring lead character.