Sparrow Hawk Red

<p class=ql-align-justify>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.</p><p class=ql-align-justify><br></p><p class=ql-align-justify>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 <em>rateros</em> 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 <em>ratera</em>. 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.</p><p class=ql-align-justify><br></p><p class=ql-align-justify>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.</p><p class=ql-align-justify><br></p><p class=ql-align-center>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. -<em>Booklis</em>t (starred review)</p><p class=ql-align-center><br></p><p class=ql-align-center>A California Young Readers' Medal Winner</p><p class=ql-align-center><br></p><p class=ql-align-center>A Pacific Northwest Library Association Readers' Choice</p><p><br></p>