Oftentimes, his advisor turns out to be his nerdy friend Weasel, a scaredy-cat and unwilling participant in many of Pete’s crazy schemes. Pete acts like he knows what he’s doing even when he’s actually insecure and could use some advice. He is the kind of modern boy hero that I love to read about–the little rogue with an angel and a devil both whispering in his ear and fighting for control. Pete is the resident prankster who just can’t seem to bring his trouble-making tendencies under control, being a blossoming warlock who can’t stop wishing for the wrong things. It’s hard to stay away, however, when you’re a natural trouble maker and descended from the original coven of witches in Hadleytown. Nor does he expect to get entangled in a century-long conflict between witches and developers who seek to urbanize the swamp where the witches’ gator friends live. When Pete wishes for something exciting to replace the boredome of life in Hadleytown, he didn’t expect a haunted mansion to pop up next door over night. He might stand a chance if his one friend, Weasel, sticks with him, but even then, they may not have what it takes. Now Pete must find his aunt and stop the war. Things only get worse when Pete’s guardian aunt and several of her close friends vanish while trying to restore order using outdated witchcraft.

This time the trouble arrives when a legendary hundred-year-old mansion, materializes next door and the Ornofree alligators declare war to save their swamp from bulldozers. The town’s bad boy, Pete Riley, may only be twelve, but he’s up to his eyeballs in big trouble, and this time he isn’t the cause.

Alligators, witches and a spooky mansion aren’t your average neighbors unless you live at the edge of the Ornofree swamp in the backwater town of Hadleyville.

Alligators Overhead by C. Lee McKenzie