The Big Sting

Leo, 11, and his younger sister Lizzie are spending four days on British Columbia’s Heron Island with their recently widowed (and seemingly perpetually grumpy) grandfather while their parents take a spa vacation on a nearby island. Cautious Leo is a little unnerved by how potentially dangerous things are on the island: Grandpa drives much too quickly, has no qualms about hitchhiking, and sees nothing wrong with trespassing on his neighbours’ property. Lizzie, on the other hand, is enamored with a feral kitten (which she appropriately names Mayhem) and is always up for a new adventure. When Grandma’s beehives are stolen, Grandpa is both bereft and enraged, but also determined to get them back. What follows is an action-packed, riotous quest to solve the mystery of the missing hives, a quest which finds the characters tramping through muddy woods, searching suspects’ properties after dark, and confronting a wild pig and her young, among other adventures.

Delaney’s memorable cast of characters will strike a chord with tweens. Each possesses a key trait that masks their true complexity: curmudgeonly Grandpa is, in fact, a kind animal lover looking for a relationship with his grandchildren and a path forward after his wife’s death; rule-follower Leo (privately incensed that his father has decreed that he is most suited to a future as a paper-pushing actuary) secretly yearns for a just a little excitement; and intrepid feline whisperer Lizzie comes to accept that there are limits to how far one can push one’s parents. The kids’ adventures also hit just the right PG-danger note, particularly the hilariously ironic hitchhiking scene in which Leo and Lizzie get picked up by their parents. The inclusion of numerous groan-worthy puns (including HIVE A NICE DAY, which plays a central role in solving the mystery), references to computer adventure games (Applewood Acres 3: What’s the Buzz?), and plenty of BC island local colour add to the appeal of The Big Sting. Delaney has a proven track record in popular fiction; buy multiple copies if you can.