This was a delightful book, great for readers who are getting ready to enter Middle School. The story covers a mystery, but it also covers navigating social situations, friendships, and doing the right thing. It also has a realistic depiction of what it's like to have ADHD, so any child with ADHD who would like to see themselves in a book in a way that isn't portrayed as 'squirrel!!' will enjoy The Owl Prowl Mystery.

Thanks to Fitzroy Books and NetGalley for the digital ARC of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book is the second in a series, which I really wish NetGalley would designate when offering a copy for review. As with most children’s series books, you don’t have to have read the first book in the series to enjoy this book, but the first book is referenced a few times with explanations.

I found it kind of gross that a kid is walking around with owl throw-up (called pellets) in a baggie, but then again, kids do a lot of gross things, don’t they. The information about owls and habitats is interspersed throughout the book so it doesn’t feel like one big info-dump. The mystery was good for a middle grade book. I did find it weird that the first adult they encountered didn’t have a name and was only referred to as “the birder,” which I found comical after a while.

I appreciated the author weaving a subplot involving one of the kids having ADHD and having to take medication for it, and another kid having to be treated for scoliosis. And I loved that the main character had screen limits!

If you’ve got a kid that’s passionate about environmental issues and loves nature, they might like this book. I’m going to go back and read the first book in the series, which is about turtles.

Bella, the barned owl is the real star of The Owl Prowl Mystery.
Another book in the instalment, and this time we are in owl territory.

Miles’ instincts lead everyone in the right direction: the owls are baited.
While dealing with other relatable issues, our characters try to solve a mystery.

Amazing themes and I appreciate the focus on conservation and respect for nature.

This is a good MG book - a tad longer than the core story’s potential in my opinion - a bit stretched (not in plot but moreso in its writing style; a bit wordy/crowded).

3,5 rounded up - +0.5 due to being such an inclusive book about important themes and messages.

I really enjoyed this book and I liked how they all cared so much for animals.
It started off with only one of them really liking birds but by the end all of the friends loved birds, especially owls!

This was such a heartwarming, loveable read. Miles was such a relatable character for so many children, and I love that this book will inspire kids to help protect their wildlife and pay attention to the nature around them that they may not have noticed before. This book also covers such an important topic within the wildlife world, owl baiting and the importance of proximity to wild animals. It highlights these in a way that is engaging to the younger audience, with a mystery. I overall absolutely loved this book and have a few people in my life I know I will be recommending this to!

Miles and the Backyard Rangers are setting out to save the owls. Of course, since this is a mystery, they must figure out who is bating the owls as well as ways to save them. There's the usual drama of school relationships and minor bullying.

Honestly, this wasn't my favorite book. I spent a long time coming up with excuses not to read it. I did think the ADHD representation was good. That's probably the best part of the book.

The Owl Prowl Mystery is a heartwarming fun mystery adventure book! Miles is a fun & likable character that the kids will be able to relate to! It's a very realistic story & it brings up some topics that a few kids will be able to relate to!

Backyard Rangers is a group of four middle grade students who has concern for wildlife protections. After rescuing turtles in the previous adventure, now they are back with another fun project involving owls.

Bella is the new celebrity barred owl in Marsh Hollow, where the kids live. Birdwatchers and wildlife photographers from neighboring towns come rushing to meet the super friendly owl who, so friendly it seems to be, that it often appears near human beings apparently without fear. But Miles, one of the rangers, found clues which led them to believe that someone has actually baited the owls - a practice which endangered them. It is now up to these four kids to bring the crime into spotlight, and save the owls' wildlife future.

The birds, birdwatching, and everything around birding are aplenty in this novel, but they're not all. There's the real personal struggle in each character, to balance with their eco-sleuthing. Their studies is one thing, but there are mentions of health problem (Delaney suffers from scoliosis), personal disability (Miles with his ADHD), family problem, and others. Other than wildlife conservation idea, this book also warns us that appearances can be misleading - in animals as well as human beings.

Diana Renn's The Owl Prowl Mystery is the second book about the Backyard Rangers and their efforts to save wildlife in their neighborhood. This edition followed Miles and his friends as they learn about the owls that roam the Marsh Hollow at night, how they can protect them, and sharing this all with others. Besides this charge, Miles has been struggling with his schoolwork and focusing which causes a strained relationship with his parents and teacher, who wish to help him succeed. Miles and the Backyard Rangers discover owl pellets in a nearby lot that has white mouse fur leading them to determine someone is baiting the owls - but for what reason? They work with other birders, local rehabbers, and their teacher to discover the culprit and rally the community to protect their owls.

It's a heartwarming story that is sure to get any reader interested in owls in their own area. The struggles that Miles and his friends face and overcome are important for growing kids who may find parallels in their lives. I love the environmental aspects to this book and the cast of owls and life history information that was incorporated in this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Fitzroy Books for the ARC.

Book 2 in the Backyard Rangers' series will grip MG readers with its thrilling eco mystery about saving owls from being baited and trapped. Will the young group be able to protect them? A winner!

Well this book was quite an enjoyable and relaxing break from other books I have read recently.
I found the storyline to hold some ground and it was entertaining. I may not be the main audience for this book but Inwould recommended my sister, or cousin to be reading it.
It was filled with both important messages and an interesting storyline. The main caracther had enough depth but also not deep so a younger brain can follow along.
The author did not get stuck on small details but rather let the challenges and personal problems the protagonist had just be there.

It was an enjoyable book that I recommend for others to read aswell

I loved TROUBLE AT TURTLE POND so I was excited to see this new book. This is another terrific middle grade mystery with ecological/environmental themes. You can tell that Diana Renn really knows her audience. There are fascinating facts strewn throughout the story and the plot really shines with just enough tension and excitement. I like the message of working together to accomplish positive change.

Highly recommended for fans of MG fiction.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance e-galley; all opinions in this review are completely my own.