The Owl Prowl Mystery

July 8, 2024
Renn follows Trouble at Turtle Pond with this entertaining mystery featuring, once again, Miles and his Backyard Rangers group of friends—Pia, Luke, and Delaney—as they focus their passion for the environment on a local celebrity barred owl named Bella. When Miles’s dog, Chance, finds an owl pellet in the woods one day, Miles immediately shares it with the Rangers, kickstarting a fascinating foray into how they can protect the local owls nesting in Marsh Hollow. Coincidentally, Miles’s teacher, Ms. Rivera, is hosting a bird identification competition in class at the same time, giving Miles and his pals the perfect opportunity to put their birdwatching skills to the test.
Miles’s classroom contest is the perfect jumping off point for crucial lessons on honesty, healthy competition, and, of course, conservation, as Bella’s presence in Marsh Hollow draws large crowds, putting the town’s wildlife at risk by “disrupting birds’ natural behaviors.” Miles’s desperation to win prompts him to lie about seeing the famous Bella, a choice that sparks unintended consequences for the group, and the Rangers’ problems with being bullied by classmates intensify the situation. Renn depicts those classic middle school hiccups remarkably well, allowing Miles and his friends to test the waters—and navigate some intense moments of conflict—while still empowering them to regroup for a dramatic, collaborative ending.
Perhaps most valuable is Renn’s gentle portrayal of Miles’s ADHD and how it affects his desire to fit in; the book addresses important ADHD-related concepts, including time blindness and coping skills beyond taking medication, delivering a realistic look at a disorder that’s often swept under the rug. Readers will quickly engage with the Rangers’ enthusiasm for nature, the environment, and the animals who exist within it, and the power of friendship goes a long way in helping the book’s main players find positive ways to save an important local species.
Takeaway: Group of friends have to work together to save local wildlife.
Comparable Titles: Amy Sarig King’s Me and Marvin Gardens, Jonathan Case’s Little Monarchs.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

June 15, 2024
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. (author's note) (Mystery. 8-12)

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July 1, 2024
This sequel to Trouble at Turtle Pond finds fifth grader Miles and his friends, the Backyard Rangers, investigating another wildlife mystery. Someone is "baiting" the owls in the nearby forest --feeding the owls white mice to coax them out of hiding -- and the rangers are determined to find out who, and why. The mystery lacks suspense, but readers will learn plenty about owls, including about their habitat and diet; what threatens them; and ways to protect them.

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)