THE DIRT BIKE DETECTIVE

An imaginative group of kids tackle interconnected mysteries, in this upper-middle–grade sequel.

Twelve-year-old Oliver Teller has a large birthmark on his face, making him unique and eager for acceptance. He lives in Raven Ridge, Colorado, with his overworked mom and younger brother, Adam. His motley circle of friends—Gio, Eduard, and Chase—love local mysteries involving possible supernatural elements. Oliver’s crush, the lovely and skeptical Jax, tries to keep the boys’ imaginations grounded while investigating cases around town. Also in Oliver’s orbit is Ana Rahela Balenovic, Raven Ridge Academy’s biggest know-it-all. When Oliver’s private journal goes missing from his backpack, an adventure begins that will require each teen’s special skill. Chase’s 16-year-old sister, Aspyn, soon hires them to solve the mystery of a pizza that vanished from the car of her boyfriend, who delivers for Valencia’s Pizza Shop. Additionally, two hikers in Canyon Creek find a severely injured man attacked by something bestial. While these happenings swirl in Oliver’s mind, he harbors feelings for Jax, whom he wants to impress. As ringleader Chase goads everyone into hunting werewolves and ghosts, Oliver is torn between fitting in and growing up. He also shoulders the trickle-down stress of seeing his mother struggle with two jobs, one of them in a bar run by a man who harasses her. When Chase’s cleverness and Jax’s passion for research help the gang advance their cases, true danger appears. Chase also contends with the strange appearances of Odyssey and the Shadow, opposing secret agents pointing toward a wider, weirder conspiracy.

Hoover’s second installment once again merges mystery and heartfelt drama, this time spotlighting the former. The large, diverse cast and small-town environment allow for plot threads to take fabulously odd paths before connecting. Well-honed characters shine even as they help reacquaint readers with prior events; e.g., “I’m Ana Rahela Balenovic! I’m part of the newspaper. I won the national essay contest, and I helped save the President of the United States!” Most of the narrative unfolds via Oliver’s first-person perspective, except for several elaborate fantasy sequences. Oliver’s viewpoint is lush with adolescent vibrancy, which assumes a more colorful world than exists. For example, when Chase explains to the sheriff that “lycanthrope” means werewolf, Oliver notes that his friend is “careful not to show any surprise at the sheriff’s ignorance about such a dangerous creature.” Jax’s concern for the environment against encroaching human populations is one of many excellent themes supporting Hoover’s detailed panorama. Some of the heaviest emotional moments are subdued, like when Adam wants to be included in his brother’s exciting life, but Oliver says, “Why don’t you just entertain yourself for a while?” Oliver is also casually cruel to Ana, who clearly adores him (see The Dirt Bike Detective, 2016). Astute readers will see that he’s passing on the rejection he’s dealt with because of his birthmark, making Oliver’s angst a remarkable, if understated, aspect of the novel. By the end, Raven Ridge keeps numerous secrets, including Chase’s belief that something sinister is happening at the academy.

This crafty, energetic sequel builds beautifully on the previous installment.