Bee reviewed Daredevils by Rob Buyea
Review of 'Daredevils' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
The DareDevils is a middle grade book told from the perspectives of twins Loretta and Waylon. Loretta who is a child who prefers to act before asking and is fiercely protective of her 'little' brother and Waylon, who is quiet and creative and all too used to Loretta fighting his battles for him (even if he may not want her too) and isn't quite as helpless as his sister thinks, even if he doesn't have a lot of muscle!
The story takes place during the summer holidays before they prepare to attend Middle school and face a prospect of time apart as their new school is bigger and there's more children than they're both used to. Something that neither twin has ever experienced before.
The DareDevils is a tale of the magic of summer of discovery and a sense of magic found in imagination.
I love that the twins are …
The DareDevils is a middle grade book told from the perspectives of twins Loretta and Waylon. Loretta who is a child who prefers to act before asking and is fiercely protective of her 'little' brother and Waylon, who is quiet and creative and all too used to Loretta fighting his battles for him (even if he may not want her too) and isn't quite as helpless as his sister thinks, even if he doesn't have a lot of muscle!
The story takes place during the summer holidays before they prepare to attend Middle school and face a prospect of time apart as their new school is bigger and there's more children than they're both used to. Something that neither twin has ever experienced before.
The DareDevils is a tale of the magic of summer of discovery and a sense of magic found in imagination.
I love that the twins are so different in their personalities and viewpoints of so much of their lives but have a fierce loyalty and love for one another. It's evident that no-one can come between them; even if Loretta especially fears that when her quiet brother starts to come out of his shell. (Or her shadow..)
With forest spirits and the Force guiding the two of them and their new friend, Louie in their adventures? The trio have to overcome fears they never knew they had, discover secrets from the past and take on an adult who acts more like he's also in middle-grade (think Biff Tannen in Back to the Future, something Loretta the cinemaphile would agree on).
The DareDevils is a wonderfully engaging book that draws you in, no matter your age, the characters are relatable and Rob Buyea's successfully incorporated the childish wonder of adventure, their need to grow and become their own self alongside more serious subject matters like grief, depression and the loss of a parent and sibling. All the more serious subjects are still seen through the eyes of the children primarily but it is done with such care that it isn't overwhelming for a young reader and can successfully enable conversation with an adult to take place.
I loved every moment of reading The DareDevils and was hooked on wanting to see if Loretta, Waylon and Louis would succeed in their adventures and self discovery. This I think, will also be a really good read-along book in schools as well as wonderful audio book for children to listen to as you're drawn into the twins unplanned moments of chaos from the first chapter to the last. There isn't a wasted moment or perspective which will ensure a good read for midldegrade are children who will no doubt relate to the sudden change to being surrounded by lots of children as they grow.