Another beautifully crafted adventure in the Misewa Saga, David A. Robertson continues to thrill readers with the journey of Morgan, Eli & Emily in The Portal Keeper. Fans long awaiting this fourth installment in the series, it has been well worth your patience. In this story, we get to know more of Morgan and Eli's backstories and Indigenous roots as they both work to uncover their own pasts and family secrets. As always, we meet new pisiskowak (animal villagers from Aski, The Other World), revisit old friends, and face challenges that will force growth and new ways of thinking.

In this book, I especially appreciate the gentleness with which the author writes about the relationships between Morgan, Eli and their Indigenous families - especially that of Morgan and her mother, Jenny. The 60's Scoop, and the disproportionate number of Indigenous children in foster care across Canada still today, continue to be an issue not often spoken of or written about, especially in kidlit. Yet here, Roberston does so with grace and straightforwardness that gives readers the opportunity to be seen and/or learn/unlearn and sit in allyship (should they choose to do so) with empathy. Woven throughout the narrative are numerous examples of how Indigenous lives are impacted by colonialism and othering, sometimes explicitly and other times quietly in metaphor. This is the genius of Roberston's writing for a middle-grade audience. They get it and he knows it.

Like many others, I can't wait for #5! Mîkwec, David!

+A digital advanced reader copy was provided, and I am leaving this review of my own accord.+

I can’t rave about the Misewa Saga enough, and book four: The Portal Keeper by David A. Robertson keeps building on the magic. This book is not only a continuation of the existing story but also begins laying the foundation for what is to come in the future. Although on earth, not a lot of time has passed, Eli and Morgan have formed an incredible bond based on their time in Misewa together. This book is really a book in two parts: the first continues the story of Morgan and her Mother and introduces us to her Grandmother along with Eli’s experiences with his family, and the second is exploring Eli’s portal-finding abilities. Together with Morgan’s girlfriend Emily, the trio find themselves exploring more of World’s End and a new village: Ministik, where the animals are incredibly mistrustful of the new arrivals as many of the animals have recently gone missing at the hands of other humans. It is only when then return to earth, that the trio realize what is really happening. As a reader from Thunder Bay, home to the Sleeping Giant, Nanabijou, I was once again intrigued by the legends in this book and really enjoyed learning that the Sleeping Giant I know, is not the only giant, though the legend of concealment and protection are very similar. I eagerly await the next installment in this series. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I received an e-galley of The Portal Keeper by David A. Robertson from Penguin Random House Canada via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I'm a huge fan of The Misewa Saga by David A. Robertson and so I was ready to dive back into this fourth book in this series. After the events of the third book, The Stone Child, Eli and Morgan are discovering more secrets of Aski and their connections to it. Concerned about whether they are able to return to their friends, Eli, Morgan, and Emily are able to slowly figure out Eli's new ability to create portals back into the world. But on their return, they find themselves drawn to the problems of a new village.

I truly love that these adventures continue as Eli and Morgan both grow and mature. I feel quite fond of the pair now and cannot wait to continue reading more of their adventures.

Eli, Morgan and Emily have travelled with Katie to spend some time with Morgan's kokum Eleanor . They also plan to open a portal and spend some time in Misewa.

After arriving in Misewa, they're horrified to learn that villages have been ransacked and beings kidnapped. The kids have their own violent encounter with the perpetrators, who are targeting the talking animals, and taking them to some unknown location.

The story closes with a surprising revelation, and with a large task ahead of the trio: rescue the kidnapped animals and somehow prevent more from being taken and exploited.

This story continues to be great. I love Eli and Morgan, and Emily joining the siblings to visit Morgan's kokum and for a sojourn in Misewa is great. I also particularly liked how author David A. Robertson enlightened Katie and Eleanor about Misewa and the siblings' travels there. And how important this other world and their friends there is to them.

The storytelling remains great, with a nice balance of action, character moments and social commentary about Canada's dark history with the indigenous population. The tone is soothing and calm, despite the terrible fate of the Misewa residents, and the new, terrible threat to their world. And that revelation right at the end! Loved it!

I am very eager to find out what happens next.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Penguin Random House Canada for this ARC in exchange for my review.

Eli and Morgan's fantasy and human worlds collide in disastrous ways in this latest middle grade fantasy book perfect for fans of Narnia and the Pax series. The two Indigenous tweens face new foes, new powers and learn t rely on both their animal friends and foster family as they race to save the day once again. Full of empowering messages about learning to control your emotions, deal with trauma and be brave. This was great on audio and another fantastic read from one of my fav authors! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

I requested access to this ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Disclosure: I've met David A. Robertson through work and he is a lovely fellow. I'm excited to see what he does as the editorial director of an Indigenous-authored imprint at Penguin Random House Canada.

I'm so delighted that the Misewa Saga continues! I love that Indigenous authors are breaking into genre fiction -- publishing is not just looking for trauma narratives!

I liked the shift in pov to Eli for this part of the series (Morgan was really the central focus of the first three novels in the series). I feel like Robertson has really found his groove in terms of a middle grade voice. There is a gentleness to the reminders of the ongoing impacts of colonization, residential schools, the 60s Scoop on Indigenous families that feels appropriate for a middle grade audience.

I'd highly recommend checking out this series. Especially if you are a fan of portal fantasy, a fan of Narnia, or a fan of Rick Riordan mythology retellings.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun and exciting middle grade fantasy. I really enjoyed the world this book took place in. I look forward to more from this world.

"The Portal Keeper" is the fourth volume in Robertson's award-winning middle-grade Misewa Saga. Unlike the previous three books, this one is focalized by Eli, the younger foster brother of Morgan (the central character of the first three volumes of the saga). I must say "The Portal Keeper" is my favorite part of the series! It is well-written, captivating, and answers some of the questions I had while reading the previous books. I particularly enjoyed the liminal character of Robertson's chronotope and the subtle (but poignant) references to the actual experiences of Canada's Indigenous Peoples, such as the residential schools and police brutality. Highly recommended.

I loved this continuation of The Misewa Saga! The perspective has shifted to Eli as the second "half" of the series begins. Eli, Morgan, and Emily have found a new portal to visit Askí, but this time they travel to World's End, meeting new challenges, new friends - and new enemies.
That's all I want to say without spoiling anything! I have enjoyed every one of these books, but this one really had me on the edge of my seat! I'm already looking forward to reading book 5!

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC!

I’m glad the Misewa Saga series has continued to be just as strong as the other three books in the series. I enjoyed how good the fantasy elements were going and thought the Indigenous elements worked perfectly. The characters had everything that I was looking for and I’m glad I got to read this.