William McCracken is fifteen and on the verge of getting into big trouble when he is shipped off to work with inventor Alexander Graham Bell. Through his interactions with sailors, house staff, and Mr Bell himself, William realizes that he has more to contribute to life than being a card shark. But things start going sideways on the hydrofoil project — a military project to keep Canada safe — and William has to hope he'll live long enough to see his next birthday.

I really enjoyed THE HYDROFOIL MYSTERY. The plot moves rapidly, and the historical element intrigued me. The action plot and the mystery at the core of the story should make this novel appealing to a wide range of readers. It's good to see it back in print. I would recommend this novel for classroom and school libraries in particular: although an ambitious middle-grade reader could get through it easily, the story has enough meat to appeal to reluctant readers in grade seven and grade eight.

As someone who lives anywhere other than the USA, I can say it's nice finding a book set in my home country. As a Canadian, I can say books set in my home country are often not good. I am so glad this one is an exception to that.

Eric Walters writing is very easy to read, and even though the plot was not the most exciting it was still enjoyable to read. In other words, this book is pretty much the definition of short and sweet. A unique piece of history was chosen for the plot, I have no idea how true to real life that history is but it was written in a way that I don't really want to know. I want to leave it the way it is. Besides the main character. I'd like to think he didn't exist in any way, shape or form because he's kind of a prick and we don't like those.

I really have nothing else to say about this one. An easy to read, Canadian piece. ( )

A fascinating YA mystery the basis of which comes from the actual invention and historic bites of interest from WWI, I found the book very well-defined in its time-frame and place, Halifax, Nova Scotia, with WWI German submarines attacking the east coast of North America, lack of money, lack of entertainment for teens; no wonder people were desperate for both money and entertainment. Thus we find our young hero, Billy McCracken, not so much a hero at this point, he is getting in with the "wrong" crowds and his mother is in a quandry. This boy has a lot of anger buried and possibly doesn't even realize it, but more than that he is gambling and smoking, neither a particularly a healthy life.

Through some interesting maneuvers he finds himself sent off to work for Alexander Graham Bell. He has no idea of how his life might change. This is where the book became very interesting to me. Aside from Bell being an inventor and teacher of so many things, he becomes a real friend to Billy, who he insists on calling William McCracken. Alexander Graham Bell invented the first hydrofoil boat in 1911, intended to resist enemy submarines reaching/attacking the east coast. This I found fascinating. I believe young teens will find this interesting and older teens will be drawn to the technical side, but also what happens when the war and early technology clash. Billy becomes very interested in this machine that is so amazing. When danger lurks, he and others working with Bella are ready and willing to save the ship from attack. I thought the book had a lot going for it and in it. The lives if people in the Maritimes, the inventions and the well-written inventor, the technology, Bell's "lessons" to help young people. Altogether it makes for good reading. ( )

I very much so enjoy Eric Walters writing style - it makes you think, is suspenseful and funny at the same time. It's a bit of a quick read to you there's not need to feeling to slogging through it.

It centers around a guy who's into gambling and roughing it, while at the same time takes place when the East Coast is under threat from German U-boats that are sinking ships and endangering coastal towns. Very enthralling from end to beginning. ( )

A very enjoyable quick read. Those who enjoy The Hardy Boys or related fiction will enjoy this book. There's nothing profound here but its mixture of mystery, thrills and humour will keep you entertained. There's also an underlying moral tale of the dangers of gambling and drunkenness. In all, good clean fun. ( )