Gabrielle Kent (text) and Luke Newell (illustrator), Rebel Bicycle Club (Knights and Bikes #2), Walker Books; February 2024, 256 pp., RRP $16.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781999642549
The sleepy island of Penfurzy isn’t quite as sleepy as it seems and keen sleuths Demelza, Nessa and their trusty all-knowing goose companion, Captain Honkers must once again thrust themselves with great gusto into whatever strangeness needs unravelling.
The Rebel Bicycle Club, as they are known, regularly stay in Demelza’s caravan overnight. The caravan is a place of computer games, far-fetched stories, and overnight clandestine adventures with Demelza liking nothing more than to tell a tale of horror, something macabre and scary, to test the bravery of Nessa and Captain Honkers. On this dark night, as they snuggle up in their sleeping bags in the caravan, Demelza captivates them with the most horrifying and unbelievable tale of all—the legend of the severed head. Although horrified, Nessa refuses to believe that such a tale could ever be true so, when there is a loud bump on the caravan roof followed by the sound of something landing in the squelchy mud outside the door, Nessa ventures forth—but not for long. Nessa comes back screaming, “It’s a head, it’s a head” and it is indeed the talking bouncing lively head of The Pickled Knight minus his body. The Pickled Knight is in need of help.
The arrival of this unexpected guest, an urgent quest for resolution, the ghostly fun-fair on the outskirts of town and a group of local bullies bent on destroying all the Rebel Bicycle Club’s endeavours, is only the very tip of this mountain of intrigue, fantasy, and madness.
Author Gabrielle Kent is a highly influential woman in the gaming industry, clearly demonstrated in the style and presentation of Knights and Bikes Rebel Bicycle Club. Soon to be available on Nintendo switch, with a television adaptation in production, these characters bring mystery, humour and mayhem to life in a string of strangely wonderful adventures.
The illustrations are bizarre—and delightfully imaginative—which will be adored by the intended audience. There are no soft tones and fuzzy edges here. The drawings are stark, in-your-face and bold with larger-than-life renditions of human (and otherwise) forms. The inclusion of enlarged dynamic graphic fonts to express emotional reactions to situations brings additional action to the page.
My reading of the book was slow to start, mainly because I had heard the ‘story of the severed head banging on a car roof’ in my teenage years, and it continues to haunt me. Obviously, I don’t have the nerve of the Rebel Bicycle Club. However, as the action moved from one test of ingenuity to the next, and the urgency of pace quickened, I was well and truly ensconced in the story. Demelza, Nessa and Captain Honkers (to a lesser extent) are motivated by kindness. They have a driving need to make things right and a strong bond of loyalty between them. The focus is on problem solving; great skills that don’t seem to be impacted upon by adversity. The ‘can do’ attitude that Kent presents in the main characters creates a solid foundation for the reader to commit to the Rebel Bicycle Club’s success and sometimes, survival until the very last page.
This is a book of extraordinary adventures, close committed friendship, innovative solutions, and the generous quest for resolution of life’s dilemmas. We are in good hands with the Knights and Bikes Rebel Bicycle Club. And lucky for keen readers, there are more books available.
Reviewed by Jennifer Mors
