Sparrow Hawk Red
Grade 6-8-- As in Rescue Josh McGuire (Hyperion, 1991), Mikaelsen aptly describes a 13-year-old boy's emotional response to an appalling event. Ricky Diaz, the son of an ex-Drug Enforcement Agency pilot, vows to avenge the death of his mother, an innocent victim of the international drug war. When he overhears his father refuse a secret mission to confiscate the Skyhawk, a Mexican drug cartel's plane (equipped with radar stolen from the DEA), Ricky decides to do it himself. Spanish-speaking and confident in his ability to fly small aircraft, he heads for the border. Once across, he lives among the rateros (homeless children) and meets Soledad, a streetwise waif who shares not only survival tips, but also strategies for penetrating the high-security cartel compound. Ultimately Ricky accomplishes his goal, but not without the last minute intervention of his father. Although the plot is far-fetched, many aspects of the novel ring true. The characterization is strong, the depiction of street life realistic, and the theme timely. This fast-paced tale should appeal to a varied audience, including reluctant readers. --Pat Katka, San Diego Public LibraryCopyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to theHardcoveredition.