Discovering a mysterious box in a curio shop, Horace manifests astounding supernatural powers and partners with talented new friend Chloe against a shadowy adversary with links to a centuries-old conflict. Simultaneous eBook. 125,000 first printing. - (Baker & Taylor)

Experience the fantastic adventure filled with magical objects, secret sects, and life as we know it on the line! Mixing magic and physics, Ted Sanders has created an epic story that has the feel of classic fantasy but twists it into something new and innovative.

From the moment Horace F. Andrews sees the sign from the bus'a sign with his own name on it'everything changes. The sighting leads him underground, to the House of Answers, a hidden warehouse full of mysterious objects. But there, he finds only questions. What is this curious place? Who are the strange, secretive people who entrust him with a rare and immensely powerful gift? And what is he to do with it?

When Horace finds the Box of Promises in the curio shop, he quickly discovers that ordinary-looking objects can hold extraordinary power. From the enormous, sinister man shadowing him to the gradual mastery of his newfound abilities to his encounters with Chloe'a girl who has an astonishing talent of her own'Horace follows a path that puts the pair in the middle of a centuries-old conflict between two warring factions in which every decision they make could have disastrous consequences. 

Experience the fantastic adventure filled with magical objects, secret sects, and life as we know it on the line! Mixing magic and physics, Ted Sanders has created an epic story that has the feel of classic fantasy but twists it into something new and innovative.

From the moment Horace F. Andrews sees the sign from the bus'a sign with his own name on it'everything changes. The sighting leads him underground, to the House of Answers, a hidden warehouse full of mysterious objects. But there, he finds only questions. What is this curious place? Who are the strange, secretive people who entrust him with a rare and immensely powerful gift? And what is he to do with it?

When Horace finds the Box of Promises in the curio shop, he quickly discovers that ordinary-looking objects can hold extraordinary power. From the enormous, sinister man shadowing him to the gradual mastery of his newfound abilities to his encounters with Chloe'a girl who has an astonishing talent of her own'Horace follows a path that puts the pair in the middle of a centuries-old conflict between two warring factions in which every decision they make could have disastrous consequences. 

Experience the fantastic adventure filled with magical objects, secret sects, and life as we know it on the line! Mixing magic and physics, Ted Sanders has created an epic story that has the feel of classic fantasy but twists it into something new and innovative.

From the moment Horace F. Andrews sees the sign from the bus—a sign with his own name on it—everything changes. The sighting leads him underground, to the House of Answers, a hidden warehouse full of mysterious objects. But there, he finds only questions. What is this curious place? Who are the strange, secretive people who entrust him with a rare and immensely powerful gift? And what is he to do with it?

When Horace finds the Box of Promises in the curio shop, he quickly discovers that ordinary-looking objects can hold extraordinary power. From the enormous, sinister man shadowing him to the gradual mastery of his newfound abilities to his encounters with Chloe—a girl who has an astonishing talent of her own—Horace follows a path that puts the pair in the middle of a centuries-old conflict between two warring factions in which every decision they make could have disastrous consequences. 

Experience the fantastic adventure filled with magical objects, secret sects, and life as we know it on the line! Mixing magic and physics, Ted Sanders has created an epic story that has the feel of classic fantasy but twists it into something new and innovative.

From the moment Horace F. Andrews sees the sign from the bus—a sign with his own name on it—everything changes. The sighting leads him underground, to the House of Answers, a hidden warehouse full of mysterious objects. But there, he finds only questions. What is this curious place? Who are the strange, secretive people who entrust him with a rare and immensely powerful gift? And what is he to do with it?

When Horace finds the Box of Promises in the curio shop, he quickly discovers that ordinary-looking objects can hold extraordinary power. From the enormous, sinister man shadowing him to the gradual mastery of his newfound abilities to his encounters with Chloe—a girl who has an astonishing talent of her own—Horace follows a path that puts the pair in the middle of a centuries-old conflict between two warring factions in which every decision they make could have disastrous consequences. 

Artifacts. Miseries. Mysteries . . .

From the moment Horace F. Andrews sees the sign from the bus—a sign with his own name on it—everything changes. The sighting leads him underground, to the House of Answers, a hidden warehouse full of mysterious objects. But there he finds only questions. What is this curious place? Who are the strange, secretive people who entrust him with a rare and immensely powerful gift? And what is he to do with it?

Horace quickly discovers that nothing is ordinary anymore. From the sinister man lurking around every corner to the gradual mastery of his newfound abilities to his encounters with Chloe—a girl who has an astonishing talent of her own—Horace follows a path that puts him in the middle of a centuries-old conflict between two factions.

Horace's journey leads him and Chloe deep into a place where every decision they make could have disastrous consequences. Most important, it links Horace to the Box of Promises and a future he never saw coming.

With an action-packed blend of science fiction and fantasy, Ted Sanders creates a world where everything is more than it seems and where friendship and loyalty have the greatest power of all.

Artifacts. Miseries. Mysteries . . .

From the moment Horace F. Andrews sees the sign from the bus'a sign with his own name on it'everything changes. The sighting leads him underground, to the House of Answers, a hidden warehouse full of mysterious objects. But there he finds only questions. What is this curious place? Who are the strange, secretive people who entrust him with a rare and immensely powerful gift? And what is he to do with it?

Horace quickly discovers that nothing is ordinary anymore. From the sinister man lurking around every corner to the gradual mastery of his newfound abilities to his encounters with Chloe'a girl who has an astonishing talent of her own'Horace follows a path that puts him in the middle of a centuries-old conflict between two factions.

Horace's journey leads him and Chloe deep into a place where every decision they make could have disastrous consequences. Most important, it links Horace to the Box of Promises and a future he never saw coming.

With an action-packed blend of science fiction and fantasy, Ted Sanders creates a world where everything is more than it seems and where friendship and loyalty have the greatest power of all.

Booklist Reviews

Horace becomes the Keeper of a small, magical box that allows him to look into the future. As he explores the range of its powers, he learns of malevolent beings called the Riven, who seek to control the box and the other talismans wielded by the resistance. Horace befriends Chloe, another young Keeper, whose dragonfly talisman gives her the ability to disappear by merging with solid objects. Prickly and fiercely independent but a loyal ally, Chloe reluctantly joins Horace in the resistance and relies on its members' help when the Riven threaten her family. The first volume of many fantasy series involves a good deal of setup for future events, and that's the case here, but Sanders also uses mystery, action, and suspense to intrigue readers throughout the book. Magic is woven into the fabric of the story, but science is an ongoing theme as well. Horace and Chloe are good foils for each other, and while initially enigmatic, their new allies in the Keepers begin to emerge as individuals. A rousing start for the Keepers series. Copyright 2014 Booklist Reviews.

Horn Book Guide Reviews

Horace F. Andrews sees a sign on his way home: "Horace F. Andrews." Investigating, Horace is accosted by a tall, skinny man, and he runs toward the sign (which now says "House of Answers") for safety. There begins his adventures involving a box, a warning, and a gift. Fantasy fans should find this hefty novel appealing. Glos.

Kirkus Reviews

In this series opener, the fate of humankind rests in the hands of a mostly pragmatic boy, a sometimes-invisible girl and the magical archives of two secret sects. Twelve-year-old Horace F. Andrews is both curious and logical. On his quotidian commute home, a previously unseen storefront called the House of Answers ignites his inquisitive tendencies. The discovery of the shop coincides with meeting a creepy man who is more insect than human and a spitfire, self-assured 12-year-old girl, Chloe, who appears out of—and disappears into—nowhere. The House proves to be a curated collection of magical objects—Tan'ji—linked to "keepers." Chloe is one such, and Horace becomes another when he's linked to the Box of Promises. Only in the hand of a keeper can the Tan'ji's power be fully realized, so it's up to Horace, Chloe and a small group of keepers to keep it from villains of the more-insect-than-human variety. Though set in contemporary Chicago, the story has a from-another-era charm. A sizable novel, its length alone is geared toward future Throners but shouldn't deter readers accustomed to a lighter load. The touching message of self-discovery is sometimes too blatant ("I want to see you continuing to become the person I know you are"), but this doesn't unduly mar the overall narrative. An epic adventure of self-discovery, magic, tragedy and blurred lines of loyalty for middle-grade lovers of fantasy. (glossary) (Fantasy. 9-12) Copyright Kirkus 2014 Kirkus/BPI Communications.All rights reserved.

Publishers Weekly Reviews

After stumbling into a mysterious building called the House of Answers, 12-year-old Horace F. Andrew's life becomes strange and wondrous. He leaves with a gleaming oval box, which he eventually discovers has the ability to send things forward in time, while letting him glimpse the future. At the same time, Horace meets Chloe, an enigmatic girl whose dragonfly talisman lets her walk through walls. Together, they learn that they have become Keepers of the Tan'ji, ancient artifacts as magical as they are scientific. As they attempt to keep the Tan'ji away from the malevolent Riven, Horace and Chloe are drawn into a perilous struggle of good versus evil. While Sanders (No Animals We Could Name) presents a gripping story full of neat ideas, and the chemistry between Horace and Chloe is sweet, some of the temporal hijinks overcomplicate an already convoluted plot (at one point, Horace has to fake a note from Chloe in order to satisfy a vision he's seen, for instance). Even so, this is an entertaining offering, and a fine start to the Keepers series. Ages 8–12. Author's agent: Miriam Altshuler, Miriam Altshuler Literary Agency. (Mar.)

PW Annex Reviews

After stumbling into a mysterious building called the House of Answers, 12-year-old Horace F. Andrew's life becomes strange and wondrous. He leaves with a gleaming oval box, which he eventually discovers has the ability to send things forward in time, while letting him glimpse the future. At the same time, Horace meets Chloe, an enigmatic girl whose dragonfly talisman lets her walk through walls. Together, they learn that they have become Keepers of the Tan'ji, ancient artifacts as magical as they are scientific. As they attempt to keep the Tan'ji away from the malevolent Riven, Horace and Chloe are drawn into a perilous struggle of good versus evil. While Sanders (No Animals We Could Name) presents a gripping story full of neat ideas, and the chemistry between Horace and Chloe is sweet, some of the temporal hijinks overcomplicate an already convoluted plot (at one point, Horace has to fake a note from Chloe in order to satisfy a vision he's seen, for instance). Even so, this is an entertaining offering, and a fine start to the Keepers series. Ages 8–12. Author's agent: Miriam Altshuler, Miriam Altshuler Literary Agency. (Mar.)

School Library Journal Reviews

Gr 4–6—Who wouldn't be intrigued by a sign with their name on it? Unfortunately, the sign middle schooler Horace F. Andrews sees from the bus window really says "House of Answers," and it leads to a place filled with precious few of those. What he finds are mysteries galore, including a glass box with very special powers that he seems destined to control. Horace becomes caught up in a centuries-long battle between the Makers and the Keepers, groups with very different ideas about who should control the magical artifacts called Tanu. Along the way he befriends Chloe, headstrong and breathtakingly brave, who has been dealing with magic by herself since she was a young child. Together, they join the fight to save Chloe's father and destroy one particular nest of evil, run by Dr. Jericho and his golem. Refreshingly, our hero comes from a healthy and happy home (though Mom has a few mysteries of her own). At just over 600 pages, this brick of a book starts slowly and gets a bit bogged down in vocabulary. Supporting characters add interest, and the magical world is full of detail and wonder. Fans of Harry Potter and Gregor the Overlander will find this one entertaining.—Mara Alpert, Los Angeles Public Library