About the book
Seventeen year-old dirt-bike-riding daredevil Arlo Santiago catches the eye of the U.S. military with his first-place ranking on a video game featuring drone warfare, and must reconcile the work they want him to do with the emotional scars he has suffered following a violent death in his family. Adios, Nirvana author Conrad Wesselhoeft, takes readers from the skies over war-torn Pakistan to the dusty arroyos of New Mexico's outback in this young adult novel about daring to live in the wake of unbearable loss.
For Arlo, the line between the game and reality is starting to blur.
- A Reluctant Hero: Arlo Santiago is a gaming champion and a daredevil on a dirt bike, but when the U.S. Air Force comes calling, he’s not sure he has what it takes to fly a real drone.
- Grief and Loss: Still reeling from the violent death of his mother, Arlo struggles to hold his family together, especially with his younger sister Siouxsie facing a difficult diagnosis.
- Moral Dilemmas: What feels like a game in the New Mexico desert becomes terrifyingly real over the skies of Pakistan, forcing Arlo to question the mission and his role in it.
- Coming of Age Story: A powerful novel about finding the courage to fly—on a bike, in a drone, and through unbearable loss.
Editions of Dirt Bikes, Drones, and Other Ways to Fly
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780544542617
- EBook
- ISBN 9780544289659
Read an Excerpt
Seventeen year-old dirt-bike-riding daredevil Arlo Santiago catches the eye of the U.S. military with his first-place ranking on a video game featuring drone warfare, and must reconcile the work they want him to do with the emotional scars he has suffered following a violent death in his family. Adios, Nirvana author Conrad Wesselhoeft, takes readers from the skies over war-torn Pakistan to the dusty arroyos of New Mexico's outback in this young adult novel about daring to live in the wake of unbearable loss.
For Arlo, the line between the game and reality is starting to blur.
- A Reluctant Hero: Arlo Santiago is a gaming champion and a daredevil on a dirt bike, but when the U.S. Air Force comes calling, he’s not sure he has what it takes to fly a real drone.
- Grief and Loss: Still reeling from the violent death of his mother, Arlo struggles to hold his family together, especially with his younger sister Siouxsie facing a difficult diagnosis.
- Moral Dilemmas: What feels like a game in the New Mexico desert becomes terrifyingly real over the skies of Pakistan, forcing Arlo to question the mission and his role in it.
- Coming of Age Story: A powerful novel about finding the courage to fly—on a bike, in a drone, and through unbearable loss.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Dirt Bikes, Drones, and Other Ways to Fly about?
Seventeen year-old dirt-bike-riding daredevil Arlo Santiago catches the eye of the U.S. military with his first-place ranking on a video game featuring drone warfare, and must reconcile the work they want him to do with the emotional scars he has suffered following a violent death in his family. Adios, Nirvana author Conrad Wesselhoeft, takes readers from the skies over war-torn Pakistan to the dusty arroyos of New Mexico's outback in this young adult novel about daring to live in the wake of unbearable loss.
For Arlo, the line between the game and reality is starting to blur.
- A Reluctant Hero: Arlo Santiago is a gaming champion and a daredevil on a dirt bike, but when the U.S. Air Force comes calling, he’s not sure he has what it takes to fly a real drone.
- Grief and Loss: Still reeling from the violent death of his mother, Arlo struggles to hold his family together, especially with his younger sister Siouxsie facing a difficult diagnosis.
- Moral Dilemmas: What feels like a game in the New Mexico desert becomes terrifyingly real over the skies of Pakistan, forcing Arlo to question the mission and his role in it.
- Coming of Age Story: A powerful novel about finding the courage to fly—on a bike, in a drone, and through unbearable loss.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Dirt Bikes, Drones, and Other Ways to Fly?
Children’s, Teenage and Educational > Children’s / Teenage fiction and true stories > Children’s / Teenage fiction: Action and adventure stories > Children’s / Teenage fiction: Crime and mystery fiction
Where can I read a sample of Dirt Bikes, Drones, and Other Ways to Fly?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780544542617
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Dirt Bikes, Drones, and Other Ways to Fly?
Conrad Wesselhoeft
Who is the Publisher of the book Dirt Bikes, Drones, and Other Ways to Fly?
HarperCollins
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Dirt Bikes, Drones, and Other Ways to Fly is available as paperback(ISBN 9780544542617) and ebook(ISBN 9780544289659)
Where can I buy Dirt Bikes, Drones, and Other Ways to Fly online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Dirt Bikes, Drones, and Other Ways to Fly from below
Where can I buy Dirt Bikes, Drones, and Other Ways to Fly?