In Nothing Ever Happens on Main Street by Daren Hatfield, Harding Springs is boring. Nothing exciting ever happens there. At least it didn’t until a bunch of kids uncovered a well-kept secret. Parker Riley heads off to Edison Doyle’s home to return his lost walking cane, but he sees something strange and unexplainable on the way. When he gets the truth out of Doyle, it turns his world upside down. Could Harding Springs suddenly become an exciting place to live? But it doesn’t take him long to realize that the town is under threat. He and his new friends, Cora and Cassandra Swanson, must protect the town from danger – can they succeed? And just what is the mysterious Mr. Doyle’s secret?

Nothing Ever Happens on Main Street by Daren Hatfield is a YA adventure set in 1910. This is a well-written, fun story that will keep you hanging onto every word. The language perfectly fits the era, and the author’s compelling narrative will have you believe you are there in the peaceful town of Harding Springs in the early 1900s. The characters are wonderful, well-rounded, and likable, especially Tricksy the horse! This unique story has an exciting plot and plenty of adventure and action. It is lighthearted, an easy read, and has lots of exciting twists and turns. If you love stories that transport you to a different place and time, you will love this one. It’s unique, it’s adventurous, and a fresh story for this genre.

Nothing Ever Happens on Main Street by Daren Hatfield is for young adult fans of historical fiction, mystery, adventure, and sci-fi novels. Thirteen-year-old Parker Riley prepares himself for another uneventful summer. The small town of Harding Springs, where his mother runs a boarding house and his father publishes a newspaper, is quiet, even dull. A young widow named Cora Swanson and her daughter, Cassandra, arrive in Harding Springs for a new start. Parker is mesmerized by Cora's Buick Model 10, an impressive novelty in 1910. He offers to show them local places of interest. On their way to Compression Falls, where an unexplained train wreck happened some time ago, they encounter the eccentric Edison Doyle. The children find a strange monument dedicated to the victims of the tragedy near the falls. After another awkward conversation, Doyle forgets his walking stick. While hurrying to 55 Main Street to return the stick to its owner, Parker witnesses an event that changes his perception of reality forever.

Daren Hatfield adds a pinch of humor to this wonderful coming-of-age story, Nothing Ever Happens on Main Street. The narration shifts between the first- and third-person points of view but does not confuse the reader. The element of romance and masterfully developed adult characters will appeal to a larger audience. At the same time, the author uses terms such as "verisimilitude" that positively impact young adult readers' vocabulary. Hatfield's writing style is charmingly old-fashioned and matches the described era. This riveting sci-fi novel warns us that advanced technology requires a responsible approach. As the narration unfolds, Parker undergoes stages of painful inner growth and provides us with food for thought. Depicting Doyle, the author creates the complex character of a loner who struggles to find friends. Cora is a true daughter of the twentieth century, representing an independent, skilled, open-minded woman with a gentle heart. Overall, the novel is delightfully imaginative, and avid science fiction fans will surely appreciate it.