A Few Bicycles More

Adventures of a Girl Called Bicycle #2

by Christina Uss

In the sequel to the popular Adventures of a Girl Called Bicycle , our hero reunites with her long-lost family and attempts a daring vehicular rescue.

A Few Bicycles More is the exciting sequel to Christina Uss’s Adventures of a Girl Called Bicycle . Bicycle has been back from her cross-country adventure with her robot-like bike, named Fortune, for just a month when it starts malfunctioning, insisting that they pedal away from their home in Washington D.C. to Harpers Ferry in West Virginia. Once there, they discover a scrapyard where bicycles are being crushed and recycled—and it appears they are too late to save them.

Bicycle and Fortune head to a convenience store so Bicycle can drown her sorrows with a chocolate bar. Much to her astonishment, she meets her long-lost family there. Bicycle learns that they have been looking for her since she disappeared as a toddler and that she is a quintuplet. She is happy to go live with them except for one her family doesn’t share her passion for cycling. In fact, her sisters have never even ridden a bike.

Then Fortune acts up again, leading Bicycle back to the scrapyard where she discovers that there are four bicycles left and they were all made by the same inventor who created her Fortune. Four seems too coincidental to ignore--the perfect number to bring her sisters up to speed. She sets a plan in motion to rescue the bikes, a plan that if it works will help her fit into her family and still stay true to cycling self.

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

Genres: Middle Grade, Fiction, Family, Book Club, Fantasy, Friendship, Realistic Fiction

272 pages, Paperback

First published November 22, 2022

About the author

Christina Uss has ridden her bicycle across the United States both lengthwise and widthwise, and has worked as an adventure tour guide in fifteen states, leading cyclists of all ages through various mountains’ majesty and all kinds of fruited plains.
Even more than pedaling across state lines, Christina loves books, especially ones that remind us all that the world is wonderful, weird place. She lives in Western Massachusetts with her family and will always wave hello if she sees you out riding.

Reviews

[Cecily Rehner · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great sequel to A Girl Called Bicycle! I loved the plot and story. A really good book for 9 to 12 year old kids. I loved the characters and their personality. I also really loved how all of the characters changed throughout the book.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank goodness Christina Uss has given us a follow up to “Adventures of a Girl Called Bicycle” to answer two extremely important questions: 1) How did she end up on the steps of the Mostly Silent Monastery and is her family still around somewhere? and 2) Is Bicycle done with adventuring? This 2nd installment to the Texas Bluebonnet Award nominee will satisfy readers of book 1 and leaves the door wide open for another book but does not leave so many loose ends that more books are necessary.

Bicycle’s confidence and desire for more than her home offers has not changed and Sister Wanda is still there, encouraging, teaching, and loving her. A chance discovery that she is one of a set of quints leads to a new home, family, and the possibility that her explorer spirit may need to be squelched in order to fit in. That conflict and her efforts to get to know a family of strangers provides middle graders will plenty of laughs and questions as the plot moves swiftly to its happy ending. While parts are realistic, elements of sci-fi and fantasy are present and woven so smoothly into the story that most will believe that bikes can spontaneously burst into song, have independent thought and even crank out food and excellent counterfeit money. Oh, and cats can escape from locked cages and appear/disappear at will, right? That part is absolutely not fantasy, or is it?

While this sequel can be read first, reading them sequentially will enhance understanding of Bicycle, her unique living situation, and the depths of her adventuresome personality. No profanity, sexual content or violence.

Thanks for sending #BookAllies a print arc, Christina Uss!

[Amelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very sweet sequel to a fantastic novel.

Bicycle has returned safe and sound to the Mostly Silent Nunnery and feels a little adventured out after her trek across the United States. But when her trusty bicycle begins acting up, she remembers that sometimes adventures find you. In following what she believes to be faulty directions, she stumbles across something totally unexpected: her long-lost family. Except...she's a quintuplet. And when her bike still can't help but act strangely, she and her sisters realize that there are four more bicycles like Bicycle's--and they're in danger of being melted for scrap.

With Uss' usual manner of storytelling with unforgettable characters like Goose Lee (a goose who seems to know martial arts) and of course her sisters, Apple, Banana, Cookie, and Daff, this book is sure to bring bountiful smiles to your face. Now that Bicycle has a family, her adventure turns inward. How can she learnt o be a good sister? What are the rules expected of her? Why are her parents so overprotective?

Through one-on-one adventures with her sisters, she learns, not without stumbling blocks, how to navigate this strange new life. While the adventures aren't what her sisters expected, in the end, they're exactly what they all needed. Bicycle even proves to herself that even the villains in this adventure aren't totally villains, but real life people with their own hopes and desires.

This was great fun, and I'm excited to see what adventures Bicycle and her newfound family will go on next!

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fans of The Adventures of a Girl Called Bicycle will be delighted to see this sequel and the return of Bicycle and her trusty bike, Wheels of Fortune 713-J, that took her all over the countryside and helped her make friends along the way. Having returned to the Mostly Silent Monastery, the monks, and Sister Wanda, who cared for her during her formative years, Bicycle is enjoying her favorite type of outing when the Fortune starts acting up, blasting out various tunes at loud volume, and trying to steer her in certain directions. As it turns out, the directions lead to a place and individuals who have been missing her for years. To Bicycle's dismay, she has four sisters her same age, and two parents who live in a commune with other families with multiples. Bicycle isn't sure about her new home and whether she wants to stay since her parents are overprotective and rarely let the girls out of their sight. But Bicycle being the kind of free spirit she is, she arranges for the other quintuplets to learn how to ride bikes and even procures four more Fortunes for them. The sisters head off on small adventures with their parents none the wiser. When the truth comes out, the Kosroys are just what Bicycle needs, and she is also what they need, helping them expand their horizons while the whole family gets plenty of outdoor exercise. Although this sequel has plenty of action and even an adorable cat and dog, it didn't hit my heart in the same way that the earlier title did. While I'm glad that Bicycle now knows about her birth family, I always found a sense of delight in how readily her created family in the monastery cared for her. They only make very brief appearances in this title, and I missed them. Still, this is a fast, entertaining read sure to satisfy those who were curious about her origins.

[Brittany Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. This sequel to The Adventures of a Girl Called Bicycle was amazing. I was expecting more of a cross-country adventure, similar to the first, but ended up being pleasantly over-surprised about how it turned out.

The first part of the story had me bawling my eyes out, feeling so terrible for Sister Wanda! It reminded me of The Face on the Milk Carton, but once it was explained how Bicycle ended up on the steps of the Monastery, there were no ill feelings toward the parents.

The feelings of Bicycle going through such an abrupt change and how she was going to fit in were handled perfectly. The sisters' personalities were really brought to life through the text. you felt for each character and really understood where they were coming from.

Of course, Bicycle saves the day; but she also saves herself and her family from living in fear their entire lives and not living life to the fullest.

My heart still felt for Sister Wanda, but in the end it was the right decision.

[Libby · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was such a joy to meet up with Bicycle again. Her story takes another unusual twist as she discovers her long lost family. While this book doesn't shy away from difficult subjects such as unexpected transitions, dealing with previous abandonment, and the fears of overbearing parents, the sheer quirkiness of the characters, including talking bikes, and unusual settings such as a commune for families with multiples, i.e. twins, triplets, etc. make this so much fun to read. While it's possible to follow the story without having read the first book, I do think it will be enjoyed most by those who made Bicycle's acquaintance in "The Adventures of a Girl Called Bicycle". Highly recommended.

Review based on an eARC received through NetGalley.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

2023 Cybils Middle Grade / Elementary Speculative Fiction nominee

Bicycle is back! And this time she has to help her bicycle. And has to re-integrate with her lost family. The family pushed me pretty hard on the quirky-meter, but the exaggerated safety concerns of the parents helped pull me back in -- they seemed to fit the emotional magical tone of the book better. It was of course fun to explore new bicycle possibilities as well.

I missed the road trip of the previous book (this one had a few trips, but definitely shorter) but still enjoyed hanging out with The Mostly Silent orders and their ward.

[Donna Metler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recieved a free eARC of this book so I could read it, Thank you for the opportunity.

In this cute MG book, the girl called Bicycle meets her birth family. Unfortunately, her mother is so worried after losing Bicycle that she doesn't want to give the kids the freedom they need. Bicycle, the intelligent bike Fortune, and lots of plotting and family to the rescue.

This is an adorable book that middle grade kids, particularly those who don't feel they have quite as much freedom as they would like, will enjoy. It is appropriate for school and classroom libraries,

[Patti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read this digital eARC.

What a delightful middle grade story this was! A very interesting premise - our main character, Bicycle, who readers met in the prior book, discovers her long lost family. She's got 4 identical sisters, but also extremely overprotective parents, which makes me a lot of adjustments and some prodding on her end for them to embrace their adventurous sides as much as she has.

I adored the family dynamics, and also enjoyed Bicycle's interactions with her beloved bike. Her bike has family members too! It was fun to see both Bicycle and Fortune find their families.

A quirky cast of characters, an array of adventures, and some valuable lessons learned, this was a run read. Suitable for younger middle grade readers too - I think my 8 year old would enjoy this one!

[Deborah Zeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

THis may be a sequel, but stands strong by itself, providing enough background so that I didn’t get lost in the story. Strong themes of connection, self discovery and adventure. Middle School girls will enjoy this fast pasted story of Bicycle & her discovery of being one of a set of quints sreparatd when she was three. How the family never gave up looking for her and how they all come together to fight for their sister Bicyle and their own Fortune Bicycles.

[Madison L · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think the book was good. I was surprising that Bicycle had four sisters. It was even more surprising that they were quintuplets!! My favorite person in the book is Cookie. Because she is honest. One example is when she went on her adventure to the food contest. At the end of the contest, she told the truth that she only ate two pies, although it looked like she ate four and a half. Over all I gave the book five stars.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as good as "A Girl Called Bicycle," but I mean that book is kind of an all-time banger. Christina Uss has access to a deep, deep well of wild creativity, and I am here for it. The results can be a little uneven, but I like a writer who is out here taking big swings!

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I literally gasped when I saw this in the bookstore, having enjoyed the first book about Bicycle so much. It's certainly not the wild road trip that the first one was, but it maintains some of the gentle, but very real, weirdness that the first one had in abundance.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This sequel is as charming and entertaining as the first one, and will have you rooting for Bicycle as she teaches her sisters to follow their dreams. It will have you clamoring for your bicycle on a clear day to explore!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was thrown by a big plot reveal in the beginning, but then I settled into a delightful adventure with Bicycle. This adventure was a little more circumspect than her first one, but it was fun and rewarding all the same. Adventures aren't always physical.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the sequel I didn’t know I wanted and didn’t know I needed. What a wonderful return to Bicycle and her adventurous world!

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even cuter than the first one. Quirky and fun family, bicycles, etc. My 13-year old loved it.

[Meg GlitteryOtters · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

So glad there is a sequel! Love these books. :-)

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be honest, I did not love this as much as the first, but it's a lovely sequel for fans who love Bicycle and her friends!

[Arthur Rehner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked it. It was not better than the first book by a lot. The plot of this book was not as exciting as the first book. I recommend this book to middle grade readers.

[Norah Rehner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fantastic! My favorite character was Daff. I love this book more than the first one. definitly recemmond this book.

[LIAM EDWARDS · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book, it was very interesting. The ending was very interesting. I recommend this book for ages 9-12

[Lolo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm glad I finally know what happened to Bicycle's family, and the Fortunes were saved.

[Shella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun follow-up with Bicycle meeting her unusual family as well as the Fortune finding some bicycles made by his creator. Good theme about the need for individuality.

[Wendi (Alex) Werner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would hate to have a stifling, smothering mother like that.

[Phillip Yip · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this sequel with my elementary school-aged kid. We really enjoyed reading this together. Christina Uss's quirky humor provided plenty of laugh out loud moments as we learned how Bicycle's sisters adjusted to learning to ride their own bikes. We had previously read The Adventures of A Girl Called Bicycle, and enjoyed references to the prequel. My kid struggled to avoid reading ahead of me!

The theme of finding a way to be yourself while trying to be part of a tight-knit group is relatable for everyone. My kid missed reading about Sister Wanda and the Mostly Silent Monastery and hoped that there would be more about them in a future book.