Middle school is always challenging. No one knows this better than Darren Dirkowitz, aka Dirk Daring, and his friends. The kids survived their first semester at Preston, but things are stacking up to be much worse for Darren, Jason, Travis, Lu, and Opal in this sequel. Their biggest problem is that Travis' older brother is extorting them for $125 weekly to be a member of the Wolf Lords, a teen gang. Luckily, Dirk Daring is on the case. Through cunning actions and a setup, the kids manage to wrap up all the loose ends. The book's format incorporates excerpts from the mission journals of Darren (and Dirk), Opal's diary, school newspaper articles, posters, and transcripts of conversations. Learning and remembering the code names of the kids takes a couple chapters, but the story offers a unique glimpse into middle-school life. The wacky, offbeat humor continues in this second installment in the Dirk Daring series, making it perfect for kids after a quick, funny read.