Sparrow Hawk Red

Written by Ben Mikaelsen

A boy seeks revenge by stealing a plane from a drug cartel, risking everything in a dangerous world.

3.9/5 Goodreads · 389 ratings

200 pages· 42,253 words· Est. 6 hour read

$15.95Save 6%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

Thirteen-year-old Ricky Diaz is driven by vengeance after his mother's murder by drug dealers. When his father refuses a risky mission, Ricky takes matters into his own hands, fleeing to Mexico. Disguised as a homeless child, he navigates the perilous streets, barely surviving until he meets Soledad, a clever ally. Together, they plot to infiltrate the cartel's compound and steal a crucial plane. Will Ricky succeed, or become another victim in the brutal drug war? This gripping tale explores the harsh realities of street life and the unexpected bonds that can form in the face of danger.

From the publisher

When thirteen-year-old Ricky Diaz discovers that his mother was murdered by drug dealers, he’s desperate for revenge. But his father, a former drug enforcement agent, refuses the mission the DEA now offers: to steal an airplane with an American-made radar detector that the cartel uses to smuggle drugs from Mexico.Angry with his father for throwing away to avenge his mother’s death, Ricky decides to take matters into his own hands-he will steal the plane. He runs away to Mexico, disguising himself as one of the many rateros, or homeless children. Life on the streets proves extremely hard and dangerous, and he’s barely surviving when he meets Soledad, a crafty but kindhearted ratera. With her help, he must find a way to get into the drug cartel’s compound and take the plane-or end up as yet another casualty in the raging drug war.In this thrilling novel, author Ben Mikaelsen sheds light on America’s war on drugs and the grittiness of street life while exploring an unexpected friendship and the healing power of family.”Readers who require a fast-paced plot with lots of action, tension, and danger will find everything they want in Mikaelsen’s latest novel….A dynamite story.” -Booklist (starred review)A California Young Readers’ Medal WinnerA Pacific Northwest Library Association Readers’ Choice

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