Daniel J. Hale and Matthew LaBrot, Green Streak

Green Streak

Daniel J. Hale and Matthew LaBrot

Top, 2004, 231 pp.

ISBN: 1929976283

Thirteen year old friends Zeke "Sherlock" Armstrong and Richard "Pow Wow" Gao are participating in the Big Apple Inline Skate-Off. Zeke's parents make their way home from overseas and his Uncle Dane is delayed; Pow Wow's parents supervise the two teens. While waiting on a line to buy refreshments, an elderly woman Ms. Natalie talks to the lads about sundry things including taking her medicine.

Not much later, Zeke notices that a guy dressed in all green on inline skates races towards Ms. Natalie. The "Jittery Man" as Zeke calls him knocks the senior citizen down and flees with her purse. While Pow Wow attends to the unconscious Ms. Natalie, Zeke chases after the Jittery Man because he knows that his comatose new acquaintance needs her medicine immediately. Zeke tricks the Jittery Man and his accomplice regaining the medicine bottle, but at the cost of his skates. The thugs come after a recovering Ms. Natalie so that they can steal her fortune, but the two teens stand in their way.

Think Hardy Boys and you have a reasonable indication of Zeke and Pow Wow though the stars of GREEN STREAK are unique in their own manner and Zeke is more a solo sleuth. The story line goes as fast as the guys go on their inline skate, which is at a terrific rate of speed. The sleuthing duo makes a fine refreshing pair as they try to keep Ms. Natalie safe whether it's skating around Manhattan or riding to Roosevelt Island. Young adults will appreciate this wonderful teen thriller and seek other colorful tales like the award winning RED CARD and the upcoming WHITE OUT.

Harriet Klausner