THE OWL PROWL MYSTERY

A group of burgeoning conservationists discover that someone in their area is baiting owls, endangering the birds.

Fifth grader Miles is back with his friends, the Backyard Rangers, after their success with saving Blanding’s turtles from poachers in 2022’s Trouble at Turtle Pond. A class assignment involving identifying birds spikes the kids’ interest in trying to spot Bella, a barred owl who’s been spotted emerging in daylight and who isn’t intimidated by humans, thus drawing crowds of onlookers. Miles finds owl pellets by his house, and when his class dissects them, they notice white mouse fur, signifying that someone is baiting owls with domesticated mice. The students learn that this practice increases owls’ dependence on people for food and alters their natural behavior. An owl, likely lured by bait to the side of the road, was even recently hit by a car. The Backyard Rangers decide to act before more owls get hurt. Miles’ ADHD is authentically portrayed as both a challenge and a strength; his impulsivity strains his friendships, but his creative thinking and ability to track details make him a great detective. Renn allows her characters to be realistically flawed, portraying them with nuance. Despite references to events of the previous volume, enjoyment of this sequel isn’t dependent on having read it. Miles presents white; there’s ethnic and racial diversity among the supporting cast.

A satisfying environmental mystery in which kids are the problem solvers.