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Clarion

Dirt Bikes, Drones, and Other Ways to Fly

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Arrives Sunday, Sep 27
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Description

Seventeen-year-old Arlo Santiago lives for the “Drone Zone”—that free, joyful, anti-gravity feeling. He achieves the Zone with risky motorcycle stunts on New Mexico roads, or while playing his favorite video game, Drone Pilot. His gaming skills are so off-the-charts, he’s recruited by the U.S. Air Force to remotely operate real-life drones in Pakistan. How can he refuse the paycheck when his little sister’s health is at stake? This pull-no-punches novel soars, with poetic style, focus on friends and family, philosophical life-and-death musings, and vividly drawn setting of a land “at the intersection of mesa dust and tractor rust.” But when the video game missions become real-life military operations, where does the game end and the war begin? Video Gamer Recruited by Military: Arlo Santiago is the number one ranked player in the combat game Drone Pilot. Now the Air Force wants him to fly the real thing, targeting enemies in Pakistan from a screen in New Mexico.High-Stakes Moral Dilemma: What starts as a paycheck to help his sick sister quickly becomes a series of life-and-death choices where the line between right and wrong is blurred by distance.Complex Family Drama: In the shadow of his mother’s recent death, Arlo must navigate his relationship with his struggling single father and his fierce loyalty to his sister, Siouxsie.Action-Packed Teen Adventure: Filled with daredevil motorcycle stunts, fast-paced action, and the vividly drawn landscape of the New Mexico high desert. Read more

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Clarion Books


Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 15, 2015


Edition ‏ : ‎ Reprint


Language ‏ : ‎ English


Print length ‏ : ‎ 352 pages


ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0544542614


ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 17


Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.5 ounces


Reading age ‏ : ‎ 12 years and up


Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.93 x 8.25 inches


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Top Amazon Reviews

    • Son loves it
Format: Paperback
This book was one of the choices on my son's summer reading list this year and of course none of the libraries near us had it. It's usually really hard to get him to do the summer reading and of course this year was no different. That is until he started the book. He couldn't put it down and had it done in less than 24 hours! He's glad I bought it because he said he will be reading it again that's how good it was. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on September 9, 2023 by Nicole Strzalkowski
    • Excellent Read.
Format: Kindle
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book; I am from the area where the majority of the story takes place and the author has definitely captured the essence of the "Land of Enchantment." The characters and the landscape have a strong connection, and even though the characters are mostly young adults they were relatable and interesting. (I think I would have really enjoyed reading this when I was in high school as well.) The drone action and the motorcycle parts makes the story exciting and relevant and make you want to see what happens next. My favorite part is the layered nature of the book; the subtle moral underpinnings of the character's motivations are what drive the book, and ultimately make it a heartfelt, conquering, and enjoyable read. I would recommend this book specifically to young adults, anyone who has ever lived in the southwest, and anyone who needs the inspiration to take the bull by the horns and not merely survive this life, but thrive. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2014 by KC
    • Wonderful characters and stunning prose
Format: Hardcover
Wonderful characters and stunning prose! This book is by turns warm, chilling, funny, and heart breaking. The writing, the hard, real choices faced by Arlo, and the perfectly painted setting of northeastern New Mexico are all perfect. A really great read!
Reviewed in the United States on July 5, 2014 by Jeannette Tanaka
    • Fly High and Don't Look Back
Format: Hardcover
Arlo Santiago likes to feel free and the way he most likes feeling free is by flying: drones, dirt bikes, and skydiving. He's so good at a video game called Drone Pilot that the U.S. military invites him out to White Sands for a test and if he's good enough, they might just have a job offer for him. Conrad Wesselhoeft crafts a story in which living on the edge can have huge rewards but Arlo has to decide just how much he's willing to risk for those rewards. You might think that Arlo is just an adrenaline junkie, but the real charm of this book is that Wesselhoeft creates a main character who is smart, witty, an adrenaline junkie, and not hateable. In fact, Arlo's struggles are pretty normal in a way even when they are a bit on the extreme end. His family life has basically fallen apart and he's trying to put that back together. There are a few characters who go mostly unexplored which is too bad and some plot elements seem a bit far fetched. However, the faults of Arlo's narrative are often counteracted by his ability to feel like a fairly normal person with normal person problems throughout. If you're looking for a book in the YA genre that both genders will like, especially if they're into alternative sports, Dirt Bikes, Drones, and Other Ways to Fly is solid. A few hangups here and there, but this book truly flies and is worth the price of admission. Note: ARC received via Amazon Vine program in exchange for an honest review. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on November 19, 2014 by JwP
    • the idea is nice. A poor boy who is amazing at a ...
Format: Paperback
After hearing the description of the story, I was excited to read it. But once I read about half of the book, I still wasn't that intrigued by it. Don't get me wrong, the idea is nice. A poor boy who is amazing at a drone flying game is recruited by the army to fly a real one. But I thought the story was kind of boring and a little dull. I read books because they describe a fictional world that's a lot more interesting than the real one. But this book just described the life of a boy whos life is a little abnormal. It's too normal and doesn't satisfy me. I would've enjoyed it more if there was maybe a little bit more action included in the plot. I'm definitely not saying it was a bad book. Everyone has different tastes and this one just didn't appeal to me. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2016 by Quinn__
    • Felt 17 again
Format: Paperback
Great read and topic. It was a fun book to relax and feel 17 again. Innocent yet a mysterious.
Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2019 by kim players
    • Five Stars
Format: Paperback
Great novel for boys about video games, air force, sky-diving, thrill seeking behavior and family.
Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2015 by Amy Heno
    • Five Stars
Format: Paperback
Yes thank you, will be a Christmas gift for a 12 yr old
Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2016 by K. Kirsling

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