Dirt Bikes, Drones, and Other Ways to Fly

by Conrad Wesselhoeft

Winner of the "Reading the West" award for young-adult fiction. Seventeen year-old dirt-bike daredevil Arlo Santiago catches the eye of the U.S. military with his first-place ranking on a video game featuring drone warfare, and must reconcile the work they want him to do with the emotional scars he has suffered following a violent death in his family. ADIOS, NIRVANA author Conrad Wesselhoeft takes readers from the dusty arroyos of New Mexico to the skies over war-torn Pakistan in this young adult novel about daring to live in the wake of unbearable loss.

Genres: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Coming Of Age, Fiction, War, High School, Sports

341 pages, Hardcover

First published April 8, 2014

About the author

Conrad Wesselhoeft worked as a tugboat hand in Singapore and Peace Corps Volunteer in Polynesia before embarking on a career in journalism. He has served on the editorial staffs of five newspapers, including The New York Times. He is the author of ADIOS, NIRVANA (2010) and DIRT BIKES, DRONES, AND OTHER WAYS TO FLY (2014), two contemporary young-adult novels from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. He lives in West Seattle. You can learn more about him at conradwesselhoeft.com.

Reviews

[Justina Esperanza · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was hands down one of the best books I've read in a year. I thought it was going to be your basic male-teen angst story--motorcycles, quarterbacks, etc.--but boy, was I was wrong. It was so much more. The characters are complex and offbeat, yet as recognizable as your own family and friends. The whole cast is great, but some of my favorite characters are four-legged, including a deliriously sex-charged poodle named El Guapo and a trio of brood mares who look after the narrator, Arlo, who's lost his real mother to violence.

Arlo's awakening from grief unfolds slowly, with the help of Lee (the no-nonsense beautiful girl newly arrived from Seattle), and Arlo's best friends Lobo and Cam. Arlo's father and younger sister are also wounded by tragedy.

Tragic as this sounds, it's hilarious as well. The whole thing about "Scooper"--well, I just won't tell you about that.

If a great book is one that puts you there, so that you feel the land around you--in this case, both rural New Mexico and war-torn Pakistan--then "Dirt Bikes, Drones, and Other Ways to Fly" is a great book.

[Conrad Wesselhoeft]

I began making notes for DIRT BIKES, DRONES in 2009 after hearing P.W. Singer interviewed on NPR's Fresh Air. During the interview, Singer--a specialist on 21st Century warfare--told the story of a teenage boy with crazy-mad video game skills—skills that could translate to flying real drones in real war zones.

Singer’s words helped to crystallize my thinking around several themes. One was the idea that violence against the individual is, in fact, violence against society as a whole. As Arlo Santiago (the book's 17-year-old narrator) reflects, “A perfect hit goes beyond a single target. It goes wide. And it goes deep.”

Another theme (shared in my previous novel, ADIOS, NIRVANA) focused on the importance of friendship and family in dealing with grief.

A third centered on the power of the individual to stand up to authority when that individual is empowered by the courage of his or her convictions.

A fourth was the inclination of technology to outpace human wisdom.

And finally, the idea that people possess—inherently, if they open themselves to it—a universal awareness and knowledge that connects them with their fullest potential and place in the universe. Arlo calls this state of awareness “The Drone Zone.”

Please check out conradwesselhoeft.com. I welcome all feedback--rant, rave, or mixed. Best wishes to all on their reading and writing journey.

[Dylan Bremer · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is trash. The story goes literally nowhere. All the characters are trash and have no personality. Siouxsie's only traits are her disease and her name spelling. She would have been the perfect character to kill off. I am only reading this book because our book club didn't have time to choose a book because @markcuison420 sai no to every book and we had to kick him out of ur group. As a male who likes men I do not enjoy books about dirtbikes and the military. Pregnant by my gay stepdaddy by Quan Millz is better than this book.

[Kit Wesselhoeft · Rating 5 out of 5]

Its always interesting reading my fathers books, every time I gasp the hardcover I completely forget my dad is behind the keys of his Mac typing the words, so its safe to say I have no biased. With this being said I thought this book was great, it remedied me of the novel Bless Me, Ultima, but only because of the honest New Mexico feel. Thats something that is hard to capture in a book, an accurate feel of a certain place and time, and I think that is something Wesselhoeft was spot on with.

Congrats on the second publish,
Go Hawks

p.s go M's as well


and while I have the stage,

BRING BACK OUR SONICS

[Hailie Roblyer]

This will be a great addition to our 9th grade book clubs. It appeals to readers into dirtbikes and video games especially, and I can’t say I’ve ready many good YA books that do. It also touches on many important issues that our students grapple with, such as military involvement, family and money problems, coping with loss, and more.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm calling this a guy-book, and I think that's pretty accurate. It will also appeal to girls that are attracted to motorcycles and video games, or at least attracted to guys that are into motorcycles and video games.
I enjoyed it. Can't say I loved it, but it's not a bad book. I will say that I wanted to keep reading, but for me that's setting the bar pretty low. There's quite a bit of "who are you and what are your values and if those are your values should you really be doing this?" preaching, but it's not too in your face.
The special attention and perks Arlo (our hero) gets from the military are a little far-fetched, but of course this book is aimed at teens, and they are likely to be a tad more credulous than I am. I certainly hope so. It would be tragic to have my level of cynicism at such a young age.
Finally, that was a really nice motorcycle, and if it was mine I would have given it its own parachute. Just sayin'.

[Molly Blaisdell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Death and life wrestle in the soul of Arlo Santiago, a daredevil dirt bike rider, budding drone pilot, and broken wing soul, looking for ways to fly. His mother has died a senseless violent death, his sister suffers from an incurable genetic disease, and his father – an unemployed newspaper editor – has imploded, often crawling into a bottle to dull the pain of what was.

Arlo may be a daredevil, loving the surge of life on the edge, but he's no killer, not even in his favorite drone warfare video game. He spares innocents. Yet his daredevil spirit helps him rise to the top of the upper echelons of the game.

In a speculative fiction twist, the military wants to leverage Arlo's daredevil spirit and introduces him to the business of real war. He's sucked into reconnaissance missions, remotely flying drones in the barren lands of Pakistan. He agrees to this as long as he doesn't have to injure anyone, a position that will be tested.

This story is a journey to define Arlo's character.

The poetic rhythm of Wesselhoeft's language brings the intricate movement of the cosmos into this perfect blending of place and plot, reflecting the rhythmic forces that connect everything. The cosmic neighborhood includes a faded homestead with pregnant horses and a broken-down shed filled with the ghosts hulks of motorcycles -- a couple, still breathing hogs.

Expand out a tic in Wesselhoeft's cosmos, and the glory of Southwest football appears, the gravitational force that's the last thing holding together the small town of Clay Alison, a dying star in the New Mexican desert. Expand a tic more, and the view of the cosmos expands to include the military's drone warfare program in Pakistan. The bridge between the cosmic wheels within wheels is the virtual world of the drones that Arlo pilots.

This is a kinetic story that pays homage to recklessness of youth. It's divine comedy and epic tragedy dancing within pages. Add a touch of romance with Seattle girl Lee and her "peach soft", "plum shiny" lips. Finally join Arlo as he reaches out "to touch the face of God" in a climatic end that defies death in the most visceral way. You'll have to read this book to capture that rare air. Highly recommended.

[David Patneaude · Rating 5 out of 5]

One curse of being a writer is the temptation to read other writers' stuff and analyze the hell out of it. Instead of simply enjoying a story, doing that old suspension-of-disbelief thing, you tend to look at its bones--the style, techniques, methods, theme. You isolate the pieces--context, characters, conflict, choices, changes. You look at the balancing act of show versus tell, the word choice, the figurative language, the point of view, the tense, the authenticity of dialogue. You note the amount of research that must've been involved.

But in a way all of that can be a blessing, too. Because when you read something really good, and it transports you into that suspension-of-disbelief zone despite your critical leanings, you KNOW it's good. And when you do peek below for a glimpse at the underpinnings of the story, you appreciate what the author has done, the work that's gone into it.

DIRT BIKES, DRONES, AND OTHER WAYS TO FLY is one of those books. Conrad Wesselhoeft doesn't live in rural New Mexico. He isn't seventeen. He isn't trying to figure out seventeen-year-old girls. He doesn't converse regularly with seventeen-year-old friends or members of a national security team. He doesn't fly drones over Pakistan. He isn't a world champion gamer. He doesn't spend hours riding a dirt bike through the desert or jumping it from suicidal heights or diving from airplanes. He's not a kid dealing with the death of a parent and a sister's terminal illness and a shattered family.

But he makes you believe all these things. Which is the mark of a writer who's done the work and the homework. The research. The writing. The revising. He's done the teamwork thing--listening to critique, listening to your agent, listening to your editor.

I appreciated everything Conrad accomplished in DIRT BIKES. But more importantly, I ENJOYED it.

[Nina O'Daniels · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love when I read a book and want to go hunt down the characters and be friends with them. That’s how I feel about Arlo and his friends. It’s because they are good people, plain and simple. They have their flaws but their hearts are big and open. Bonus points to Wesselhoeft for including a great family and best friends in this story. Love when that happens!

Arlo is a daredevil. He can’t help it, it's in his blood. He rides fast, plays hard and takes big risks that, at times, get him into trouble. After the sudden and tragic death of his mother, he and his father are left grieving in solitary ways. What they don’t notice is that Siouxsie, sister and daughter, is wanting more. On top of that, she is struggling to deal with her Huntington’s Disease diagnosis. What Arlo does know, is the higher he is the better. Higher as in jumping on his dirt bike. See, in New Mexico, a dirt bike is a necessity and Arlo takes his very seriously. On top of that, he is the master at playing the video game Drone Pilot. Not just around his high school, but the best in the world. Because of this, he gets noticed by the government and is enlisted to assist with drone missions in the Middle East. Flying drones is another way Arlo gets to be dangerous and live on the edge. That and his family could really use the money.

Arlo’s need for speed and height land him in some dangerous and morally complicated situations but, thankfully, he still keeps his wits about him. Mostly. His story, coupled with the vivid images of the New Mexico scenery, sets the tone for this wonderful story of family, love, and a lot of growing up.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

The beauty of New Mexico, powerfully described by Conrad Wesselhoeft, is the perfect setting for a story with compelling themes of family, friendship, community, and small town values. The strong, eccentric characters fit seamlessly into the rugged high desert environment and blue collar town. Arlo Santiago is a normal teen trying to survive high school and figure out his future. He is also an adrenaline junkie. His friends and neighbors tell him he is courageous, but Arlo is not motivated by bravery. Arlo is depressed and grieving. Speed, excitement and danger are his way of stuffing the feelings he is not ready to deal with. As his grief and negativity grow, so does his super-focus and talent for surviving life threatening stunts. When the Defense Department comes calling with a job offer, he sees it as an opportunity to do what he loves and help his financially destitute family. He does not think about the moral implications of flying drones to find and target people for assassination. But Dirt Bikes, Drones and Other Ways to Fly isn't really about drones or fighting terrorism. It is mostly the story of a loving family that fell apart after two heartbreaking tragedies and can't find a way back to each other. Luckily for Arlo, and his family, their friends do not give up on them.

[David Mullings · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amidst the sorrowed aftermath of a family tragedy and a cloud of rural economic malaise, "Drones, Dirt Bikes and Other Ways to Fly" reads true to its title. It soars, and not just in the literal, motorbike jumping ways of its irrepressible protagonist, young Arlo Santiago. The narrative, which takes place on the beautiful, mesa-ringed landscape of northeastern New Mexico (memo to jacket designer: it ain’t red-rock Navajo country), moves at a fast pace, with quirky plot twists, three-dimensional characters and witty, realistic dialogue. Wesselhoeft invents improbable events and spins them as real and possible; the "wow" meter jumps frequently. Real, too, is the story of humans coping with loss and the challenge of a new day with old scars, and yes, ultimately finding other ways to fly. Lastly, the book invites a political dialogue, courtesy of Arlo’s world-class video game acumen, which lands him a drone pilot’s job with the U.S. military. Is the United States’ techno-new way of war, flying unmanned machines from the other side of the globe and anonymously blasting up people (the bad ones, we hope), morally defensible? Young Arlo finds the answer in this touching, wondrously adventurous saga.

[Anonymous · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dirt Bikes, Drones, and Other Ways to Fly by Conrad Wesselhoeft is my favorite book by far out of any YA novel I have read (The Outsiders by SE Hinton coming in close second). I will just state what I loved about this book in short: It's ORIGINAL (unlike so many YA fiction), it's REALISTIC (it doesn't have vampires and imprinting werewolves). There is finally – for once – a boy protagonist who isn't a sarcastic creep who only thinks about doing the hanky-panky with some girl he's been fantasizing about all through High School. And... because it has some funny parts with a poodle named El Guapo, who humps anything and grins at everything.

At first I thought this story would be like Deadline (by Chris Crutcher) with a boy who spends the rest of his life (literally) being a High School football player and scoring the girl. Sure, this story has a sport: Dirt Bike riding, but it also has a storyline that focuses on a grieving family over the loss of a mother and wife. And a boy who loves to fly. And a dog who loves to hump. And a few kisses here and there between city girl Lee and Arlo. And of course – there was real, true frienship between all the characters.

5 stars out of 5 stars.
I recommend this story.

[Erin Moulton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was tricked by the cover. I don't have a ton of interest in dirt bikes, so I had, initially, passed this one by. But, boy, am I glad I picked it up.

Dirt Bikes, Drones, and Other Ways to Fly is a book with a heartbeat.

Arlo Santiago loves his family, but ever since his mother died, they are struggling. His sister, Siouxsie, struggles with grief, as well as new diagnosis of Huntington's. His father, struggles with his grief and with being an unemployed writer. And Arlo struggles with his grief, escaping through riding dirt bikes (in reality) and drones (via video games). He likes to escape into the "drone zone," a place of hyper-focus. His gaming skills are noticed by the military, and before long he is doing test runs and then missions. This opportunity, after all, could save his family from the brink. But Arlo is a pacifist, so when his operations become more than just recon, he has to make a choice.

Wesselhoeft has a special way with words. Flight scenes--via drones or dirt bikes--are beautifully poetical, and the focus on family and characterization pull it all into a wonderful package.

[Mrs. Strudthoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel received very good review this year; and after reading it, I know why.

Wouldn't it be cool to be so good at video games--like number one in the world--that the military takes notice and hires you to fly secret drone missions for them? That's what happened to Arlo--and at just the right time, too. His sister Siouxie has Huntington's disease, the medical bills are piling up, and his dad just lost his job as a newspaper editor. So the money that Arlo makes from these secret missions comes in handy. And the money could become REALLY big money if Arlo agrees to the military's request.

In addition to flying drones, Arlo also loves to perform daring tricks on his dirt bike. The freedom he feels when he's flying through the air helps him deal with the death of his mother as well as his father's troubles and sister's illness. His dirt bike skills leads to an exciting opportunity on a reality daredevil show. Arlo could make more money than he is by flying drones for the military--but he'll risk his life to perform the trick.

Page-turning and thought-provoking. Loved it.

[Ina Zajac · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading "Dirt Bikes, Drones, and Other Ways to Fly" and I loved it. Last month I read Wesselhoeft's "Adios Nirvana" which is about a Seattle teenager (Jonathan) a guitar-playing poet grieving the loss of his twin brother. I'm a big music fan who lives in Seattle, so (no surprise) I thoroughly enjoyed it.

At first glance, "Dirt Bikes" isn't something I'd pick. It's about a 17-year-old who lives in a small town in New Mexico. He's a brilliant video gamer. Like Jonathan, he is grieving. Because "Adios Nirvana" was so well done, I wanted to read "Dirt Bikes" even though I'm not into dirt bikes or video games.

I think Wesselhoeft's writing is exceptionally powerful. This story really got to me. I know I'll be thinking about Arlo's adventures for a long time. He not only reaffirms my faith in today's teens, but makes me want to be a better person.

[Miss Simmons · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. I felt like, while reading I learned so much about the military, and about the world of dirt bikes in New Mexico. I love finding out things about our country that I never knew, like about how great mesa's are for dirt bike jumps. I also really like the discussion of how people deal with grief. The main character, Arlo, has lost his mother. His father deals with this by drinking and pretending to be fine, while Arlo and his sister have to figure out how to deal on their own.

My favorite character in this book was Lee's aunt. She seems like such a great person to have in your life, but I also see a lot of myself in her. She likes to be alone, and she refuses to marry for anything but true love. If you are at all into motocross, or the army you should check out this book!

[Mari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Conrad Wesselhoeft must be a really cool guy. How else would he know how to write novels from a teenage guy's perspective with eerie accuracy? Whether he's writing about music, video games, insane stunts, girls or homies - it's always spot-on. It never sounds like he's trying too hard to be hip.

I loved how Dirt Bikes, Drones, and Other Ways to Fly was both gritty and entertaining. Arlo is an amazing main character who's stuck in grief and whose only release is the fearlessness he experiences when he's on his dirt bikes or when he's flying drones. His journey to acceptance and finding himself again was an absolute joy to read.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored Conrad Wesselhoeft's previous book, ADIOS NIRVANA, and I feel the same way about this one. The plot, about a young man in New Mexico who is dealing with his mother's death and sister's illness, as well as being faced with a dilemma between making life better for his family and being loyal to his principles, is engaging, but what really makes this book sing is the voice of the main character, Arlo. Wesselhoeft's prose is succinct and quirky, his dialogue authentic, and his descriptions of New Mexico evocative and clear.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A definite surprise. I thought this was going to be a typical boy raging against the world type of book, but it was so much more than that. I was really drawn into the life Arlo was leading. His issues, and his way of coping with the issues were really intriguing and realistic (the dirt biking, not so much the working for the government flying drones). The drone flying still didn’t take away from or make you not believe what Arlo was going through however. A great coming of age story for not just boys, girls as well.

[Tiny Octopus · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing. The writing is taught and gritty; makes you feel just like you are in the dusty desert with the characters. The premise is a little far fetched - I'm pretty sure the military doesn't use underage resources, but what do I know - however the narrative crackles along and does a really good job of getting in the head of a teenaged boy, a viewpoint we don't often see (done well, anyway). I honestly couldn't put this one down.

[Jeannie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a stunning book. Wesselhoeft is a master of prose, every word and phrase exactly right for the moment. He perfectly captured the gritty beauty of northeastern New Mexico, perfectly captured the emotions of a young man dealing with tough issues so much bigger than him, yet still living the trivialities of high school life. Everything about this book drew me in and held me there until I finished the last page. So, so good!

[Ashley Sherburne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this with my 6-7-8 class recently and it was wonderful. I loved it and the kids loved it even more. Profound, fun, and totally captivating. Arlo is a protagonist anyone could fall in love with, and the book's focus on place really resonated with me and the kids, as we live in a rural town in Montana--different scenery, but similar connection to our homeland. I would recommend this to any pre-teen, teen, or adult.

[Lindsey Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

You remember Sherman Alexie's True Stories of a Part Time Indian? You remember that fresh, honest voice? Conrad Wesselhoeft uses that same voice in Dirt Bikes, Drones and Other Ways to Fly. It soars. It takes you you deep inside a boy's soul. It works. I love this book.

[Joshua McCune · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poetic, poignant, and bombing with pace and voice. Drink the wild air, Arlo!

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a stunning combination of action and poetry. Imagine a literary, realistic, contemporary version of Ender's Game.

If this isn't on a ton of award lists next year, I'll be shocked.

[Jeanne · Rating 1 out of 5]

I finished it, but I just couldn't get into it. The cover is appealing and maybe high school boys will like it better than I did.

[Hunter Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is phenomenal and is a great read for somebody who likes to read military books as well as dare devil and moto sports books as well. Arlo is a well shaped character who takes no risks, he puts the fear behind him and sends it. He has good friends and even makes a new one, Lee Fields and Arlo thinks and knows she's a gem. Arlo has to deal with stuff in life that not all people deal with. Arlo's sister has Huntingtons Disease and his mom was killed in a gas station confrontation, he puts those things behind him and focuses on the moment and what he has to do. Arlo in his free time plays a game called Drone Pilot where the developers stole technology from the military and if you can fly a drone in the game its the same thing as flying in real life, so the military sees Arlo's high scores and recruits him to fly for them. The Colonels say that they can give Arlo what ever he wants but you have to red the book to find out what that is.

[Tyler Goodwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good book for the most part. I was slightly disappointed with the ending it seemed very rushed and didn't really wrap up the story very well. Some parts of the book seemed out of place and didn't need to be included in the story and there were a few small plot holes. I did really enjoy the way the author conveyed a teenage crush and the thrill of doing something you love. All of the important characters were very well written and I would read this book again.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Young adult novel, but enjoyed by a mature woman. Great characters, good visuals. Great storyline, especially in this day and age. Have also read the author's Adios, Nirvana and enjoyed it. Kids, get reading Conrad Wesselhoeft.

[Coley Peake · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book is good for people who maybe aren't as interested in reading. It has an easy to follow narrative and stays interesting the whole time. This book is very action filled and stays at a steady pace.