Keeper Chance and the Conundrum of Chaos is an enchanting story filled with intrigue, drama, trouble, and redemption. Keeper, Toby, the villains of Chapter 626, and Y are enjoyable. The situations they find themselves in are unique. There is plenty of action. A wholly fun read for teens and adults.

There was a lot I loved and some I didn't. I loved the story and the characters. But the writing dragged and the book could've used some cuts. And even with all that length I'm annoyed that one of the main questions was never answered. 😕

A well written enjoyable read. Keeper chance has a special talent and Chaos from the E.V.I.L. organization and Sensei also wants him for his dojo and has his daughter trying to bring him in the fold. Lots of interesting characters and good versus evil. Who is really bad and who is not. This is the beginning of what may be a well-loved series for young readers. Thanks #Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

What worked:
The most interesting part of the book is watching Keeper join a criminal organization called E.V.I.L. even though he’s not really an evil person. It turns out Chaos has been monitoring his development since birth due to Keeper’s family heritage. Keeper lives with his grandmother and she cannot be described as a sweet, old lady. She verbally abuses him so Keeper feels some justification for hiding a stinky fish carcass under the mat inside her car. He’s an inventive boy with a kind heart and it’s surprising when he’s drawn to the thieves in Chapter 626 of E.V.I.L. Well, he likes everyone there except Tsunami.
Each villain has a special talent although they may not be what readers expect. Keeper’s fellow recruit named Toby has super sensitive smelling and hearing but one of the villain’s talents is talking people into selling their products at lower prices. Keeper is unaware of his own specialty but Chaos thinks it’s worth the effort to keep an eye on him. Could luck or finding things be Keeper’s special talent or might it be something he can actually control? Could it be the Force like in Star Wars? A young girl named Y is also watching Keeper and she’s the dissatisfied daughter of a sensei. Her father happens to be the nemesis of E.V.I.L. so Y’s actions and interest in Keeper add intrigue to the plot.
Readers may find themselves questioning the identity of the protagonists and antagonists. The members of E.V.I.L. will not be what readers expect when they hear Chaos talk about their rules and missions. The first rule is that members will not harm people or animals. The villains become very upset and angry when Cookie Maven stops making their favorite treats. On the other hand, the sensei uses questionable tactics as he tries to convince Keeper to join his dojo. Y doesn’t think it’s in Keeper’s best interests to do that and she thinks he’ll be better off with E.V.I.L. This will make readers wonder, who are the good guys and who are the bad?
What didn’t work as well:
The story could easily work with younger characters so it’s unclear why high school students are used in a middle-grade novel. The kids are around sixteen years old which unnecessarily makes them different from younger readers. It’s not like they behave more maturely and there’s no violence or sexuality that might be inappropriate. It’s not wrong to have sixteen-year-old main characters but it doesn’t work as well as it might.
The final verdict:
This humorous adventure will amuse young readers as they follow Keeper’s journey to find his place in the world. The colorful characters and unusual plot create hilarious situations that will challenge what readers are used to. I recommend you give this book a shot!

I received a free eARC of this book. Thank you for the opportunity to read it and review it.

Keeper Chance has a major problem. His grandmother, who doesn't really want him to do anything, or have an interesting life. He maintains his exactly 75% average (could get 100%, but why invite attention) and fliesunder the radar...

Until he's invited to join EVIL. Who turn out to...well, not be so evil, as is shown when Keeper (and his fellow apprentice in EVIL, Toby)'s initiation turns up a much bigger plan.

A fun adventure novel that will definitely appeal to MG boys who like Percy Jackson...or potty humor. This book would be welcome in libraries and classroom collections, although it probably won't make it on the core curriculum list any time soon.

Is it the most consequential book ever? No. Does it do the job of likely making kids want to read? Yes. Does it have the potential to be a well loved series, yes.

Keeper Chance and the Conundrum of Chaos by Alex Evanovich is a fast-paced, action adventure teen novel where the villains are the good guys and the good guys are… a little bit scary!

Sixteen-year-old Keeper Chance has a problem-- his nana. She’s mean, she doesn’t allow anything resembling junk food, she won’t buy Keeper new clothes, and worst of all, she will only pay for college if Keeper agrees to major in accounting. Keeper doesn’t want to be an accountant; he wants to be an inventor. There is no winning against Nana, so Keeper shows up to his meeting with State College-- the only Nana-approved choice of schools-- with no idea that his entire life is about to change. Keeper finds himself face-to-face not with a college rep, but a villain of E.V.I.L. who is bent on recruiting him. Keeper isn’t sure if he is EVIL material, but one thing is for sure-- he doesn’t have a lot to lose. Keeper’s introduction to Chapter 626 of E.V.I.L. is nothing like he expects. It turns out, these “bad guys” aren’t actually all bad. Unfortunately for Keeper, they are also not the only ones looking to recruit him. If Keeper wants to join Chapter 626 and keep his new friends safe, he will need all of his skills, including one very special one he doesn’t yet understand or have a name for.

Keeper Chance is at its best when it is focused on the friendship between Keeper, Toby, and Y. The banter between the trio of friends is witty and charming, and the friendship that blossoms between them is nothing short of heartwarming. All three characters are easy to root for, providing ample fuel for rising tension and suspense in the middle of the book. Evanovich also peppers in a few delightful secondary characters, including Toby’s ever-supportive mom who is always there for anything from ice cream money to car keys. It is the adult E.V.I.L. characters Evanovich seems to struggle with, most of them doing little more than complaining and getting bested by an antagonist who at times feels a little too successful for his abilities and resources.

Overall, the storytelling is good, but the writing can be uneven. I imagine the follow-up books will be stronger. Keeper Chance doesn’t stand out as particularly innovative or unique, but it is a quickly paced story with plenty of action that might just capture the interests of some reluctant middle and early high school students.