First published 1800
Jack's prized bicycle disappears when a neighbor takes it. The theft turns their existing feud into all-out conflict. Jack gathers the Amigos, his faithful crew, and begins a fierce hunt. They search street by street across their neighborhood, venturing into hazardous areas as Jack won't abandon his mission. The pursuit becomes frantic, carrying them from comfortable home blocks into perilous unknown zones. But during this stubborn chase, Jack experiences an inner shift. The games that previously ruled his existence begin seeming pointless. The conflicts that once drove him appear hollow. Jack starts doubting all his former priorities. Two paths open before him. He can retreat to the untamed, turbulent realm of youth where he has always belonged. Or he can move toward something entirely new and uncertain. The missing bicycle that sparked this entire quest no longer matters much. The true choice centers on who Jack will become.
Genres: fiction, adventure, coming-of-age, contemporary
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Goodlands, Neighborhood
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
Unknown Binding · Scholastic