Fiona and the Prince of Wheels

Margaret Bunel Edwards writes novels for young adults. She is the author
of Little Stitch and The Ocean Between.

The mountain bike is hot pink in color and belongs to Fiona’s best
friend, Taralin, who lets her take a ride on it. Joy! But after she
collides with a boy in a wheelchair, P.C., and damages the bike, her
friend won’t speak to her. Adventures continue as she and P.C. try to
find out who is stealing bicycles in the neighborhood. When Taralin’s
bike also disappears, the friendship seems doomed. However, Fiona and
P.C. continue to search for clues. After finding the stolen bicycles in
a vacant garage, Fiona races for help, asking Taralin to get the police.
Before they arrive, she and P.C. prevent the thieves from escaping, and
finally, it’s all over. A satisfying ending, with rewards earned and
friendships restored.

This entertaining book for juniors is full of action and demonstrates
lessons regarding friendship. It is obviously a sequel and suffers a
little when references are made to other adventurous situations
involving the same characters. In the acknowledgments, the author
reveals that careful research went into developing the story’s
background and the psychological concerns of the physically challenged.
Black-and-white sketches illustrate the highlights of the story. The
book’s cover is in eye-catching color. Fiona and the Prince of Wheels
will be popular with children 7 years and older. Recommended.