Benny J and the Broken Bicycle Gang (Revised 2026)

11-year-old Benny J is struggling!

After his parents' messy divorce, he's forced to move to the tiny coastal town of Digby, Nova Scotia and share a room with his bossy older sister-at least until his mother can save enough money to rent a house.

Benny J misses his old life, his best friend, and most of all, his dad. But his father doesn't even call him anymore and has no plans for a visit. He says money is tight because he's still paying for the divorce.

So, it's up to Benny J to find his own way back home.

If he can somehow win the town's big bicycle competition, maybe he can finally earn enough money for a bus ticket and get his old life back.

There's just one problem.

He doesn't have a team.

And he doesn't even have a bike.

But after discovering an old bicycle repair shop run by a tattooed biker who may-or may not-be dangerous, Benny J finds himself surrounded by unlikely new friends and a group of underdogs determined to prove themselves against the reigning champions of the annual bike competition.

Soon Benny J is spending his summer building ramps, fixing broken bicycles, dodging bullies, and learning that some of the best adventures happen when life doesn't go according to plan. Alongside his new friends, Jordy and Dylan, Benny J slowly discovers what it means to stand up for himself, trust others, and become part of a team that refuses to give up.

As the summer unfolds, Benny J just might discover that friendship, teamwork, and belonging can sometimes lead you somewhere even better than home.

Filled with summer adventures, underdog friendships, found-family bonds, bicycle competitions, and old-fashioned outdoor fun, Benny J and the Broken Bicycle Gang is a heartfelt middle grade fiction about rebuilding more than just bicycles.