Naylor develops strong universal themes in The Keeper that will appeal to young adult readers. Being accepted is a strong theme throughout The Keeper.

Nick has moved so frequently he has been unable to develop the closeness in friendships he feels is necessary to "belong." He looks around and sees his classmates in tight-knit groups, talking and eating together in the cafeteria, studying together and meeting each other for after-school activities. He longs to belong to such a group but does not know how to break in. After the phone calls he and Danny, his one friend, make to Karen and Lois, a group seems to come together effortlessly and we see Nick examining this new phenomenon in his life. Nick faces common experiences of adolescence— being in a group, first phone call to a girl, first date, and first girl friend&mdash...