"Max and the Gatekeeper" is an exciting book sure to appeal to the young adult fans of really good science fiction. When Max arrives in the town where his grandpa lives he discovers that there are a group of bullies and some strange people living there. Max and his friend Cindy discover the secret that Max's grandpa is involved in something which has information about a secret gateway to other worlds. Dark creatures want this information and it becomes clear that the other worlds have darker and more dangerous creatures. They end up in one of the other worlds chased by the dark creatures there. There are the good people and creatures that are on the side of Max and Cindy.

Want a good science fiction book? "Max and the Gatekeeper" by James Todd Cochrane is a great piece of fantasy that will keep your attention throughout. There are bad guy bullies that get taken care of with a little bit of magic, as well as dangerous people that threaten Max and his new friend Cindy. Max is staying with his grandpa for the summer and he and Cindy discover that grandpa is involved in a form of magic and has a secret doorway called a 'gatekeeper' that can transfer people to other worlds that are inhabited by some good creatures and many really rotten ones that are quite dangerous. Cindy gets stuck in one of the very bad places and Max has to try hard to rescue her. Now things turn really dangerous!

Max Rigdon's father has been killed and he has to spend the summer with his grandpa Joe who he thinks is crazy. Max is angry with his father for dying but he agrees to spend the summer with his grandfather so that his mother has an easier time financially now that she is back to work at a low paying job. Grandpa Joe's house is old and in bad shape, so Max and neighbor Cindy help him begin yard renovations. But there are strange people in black robes that stand outside Grandpa's gate and the neighborhood bullies led by Larry constantly threaten Max and Cindy. Grandpa Joe warns them to be careful as they are in danger living with him in this town. What on earth is going on? Each of the rooms in grandpa's house has a different theme and is filled with books, but the top story of Grandpa's house is off limits to Max and Cindy except when they go there with grandpa. Inside the third story room is a control panel which is a gateway into other worlds where friendly monster Ell and beautiful not quite human Yelka await them. But what else beyond the gateway awaits the two children and Max's grandfather?

"Max and The Gatekeeper: Book One" is a well-written and highly inventive young adult fantasy by author James Todd Cochrane. The characters, human and otherwise, are well-developed and add to the storyline. Allies stand by the main characters, supposed enemies become friends and some friends are actually traitors in this delightful story. The plot line remains true to the basic theme as Max, Cindy, and grandpa team up against forces that mean them harm. "Max and the Gatekeeper" will delight young adult readers everywhere.