• Age: 9 to 12
• Grade: 4 to 7
• Reading age: 9 to 12

Josh knows he's riding recklessly when he knocks down the old man he suspects is the hermit of Loggerman Creek.

Josh is shocked when the hermit walks into the forest with his bike after the accident. Being without his beloved bike for a week motivates him to hike into the woods and confront the crazy old man. The hermit, Jonathan, has fixed Josh's bike, and Josh learns that he has more in common with the old man than he ever imagined. When Jonathan needs help, Josh has to respect the old man's choices in order to save his life.

This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for middle-grade readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read!

No one has a clearer view of Atlantic Canada's literary endeavours over the past twenty years than Lesley Choyce. He is the founder of the literary journal Pottersfield Portfolio, and the publisher of Pottersfield Press. He has edited several fiction anthologies and has been the in-house editor of many books from Pottersfield Press including Making Waves, a collection of stories by emerging authors from Atlantic Canada. He is the author of more than fifty books in genres ranging from poetry and essays to autobiography, history and fiction for adults, young adults, and children. Among his recent books are the novels The Republic of Nothing, World Enough, and Cold Clear Morning, and the story collection Dance the Rocks Ashore. Choyce is the writer, host, and co-producer of the popular literary show television program, Off the Page with Lesley Choyce, which is broadcast across the country on Vision TV. He also teaches in the English department of Dalhousie University in Halifax and is leader of the rock band The Surf Poets.

Lesley Choyce's profile page

• Commended, CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens
• Commended, Resource Links, The Year's Best Books

"Reckless offers its audience a world perfectly suited for a dirt bike and a haunted mind. Its fast pace and suspenseful chapters make it a must read for adolescents and teens interested in extreme sports...Teen readers will appreciate that his embodiment of the rebelliousness his age group is renowned for is complemented by his resourcefulness...Recommended."

CM: Canadian Review of Materials

"Josh's need to be his own person and the familiar difficulties will resonate with the audience...[Choyce] is convincing in his portrayal of the versatility of teenagers and their ability to succeed in stressful situations."

Resource Links

"Choyce crafts an unvarnished tale around two loners of different generations, featuring the requisite bully, plenty of dirt-bike action, a suspenseful climax, and a happy ending. The lack of complications will make this particularly appealing fare to offer younger or reluctant readers."

Booklist

"I absolutely loved this book…It is appropriate for the very topics we have been covering in my reading class about survival. This is definitely an author I will look for in the future. A nice, clean simple read that lifted my spirits."

The Musings of a Book Addict

"A fast-paced read…The book twists and turns like a tricky dirt-bike track and flows just as quickly. One doesn't need a special interest in the vehicles to get pulled in, but a passion for them will enhance the story."

School Library Journal (SLJ)