Miles really cares about the wildlife that lives around his home. He lives next to a wooded area and wildlife refuge that suddenly gets lots of attention for the owls spotted there. But when people flock to the area to get a sighting, they sometimes act in ways that stress the owls and can put them in harm’s way.

Also, by studying owl pellets, Miles and his friends discover that someone may be putting out bait so they can get closer to the birds. Finding out who’s responsible, and helping to inform people about the best way to help, is an adventure for the Backyard Rangers, which is what Miles and his friends call themselves.

The Owl Prowl Mystery by Diana Renn takes readers on a birding adventure where they learn a lot about owls and how to be advocates for them. For instance, Miles is putting up fake spider webs for Halloween when he learns that birds can get caught in the material and have difficulty getting out. And he goes along on a scientific expedition to band saw-whet owls so their movements can be studied.

Miles learns a lot from his teacher, who also recognizes that he sometimes has trouble concentrating on his work or speaking up in class. She helps him find his voice and a way to stay on task when completing assignments.

As Miles and his friends race to uncover the mystery of who might be harming owls, they push the boundaries of what their parents allow them to do on their own. In the process, they discover a lot about themselves and how to talk to their parents about important topics.

The Owl Prowl Mystery is a thoughtful tale that will lead young readers on an adventure while educating them in the process. I recommend it for ages 9 to 12.

The publisher provided a copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.