Hoot
by Carl Hiaasen
Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers
on September 10, 2002
Genre: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction
Length: 295 pages
Ages: 10 - 14 years
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Synopsis:
Synopsis:
Roy's first acquaintance in Florida is Dana Matherson, a well-known bully. Then again, if Dana hadn't been sinking his thumbs into Roy's temples and mashing his face against the school-bus window, Roy might never have spotted the running boy. And the running boy is intriguing: he was running away from the school bus, carried no books, and--here's the odd part--wore no shoes. Sensing a mystery, Roy sets himself on the boy's trail. The chase introduces him to potty-trained alligators, a fake-fart champion, some burrowing owls, a renegade eco-avenger, and several extremely poisonous snakes with unnaturally sparkling tails.
My Thoughts:
Roy Eberheart moves to Coconut Cove, Florida from Montana and has his first run-in with the local bully, Dana, on the bus. With his face pressed against the window, he sees the shoeless, running boy for the first time as well. His curiosity gets the better of him and he goes looking for the strange boy, but the boy's step-sister Beatrice is trying to keep him a secret. The running boy doesn't want to be found and remains nameless. Well, almost.
Meanwhile, the future site of a Mother Paula's Pancake House keeps being vandalized. Roy gets caught up in a secret plot to save some adorable burrowing owls living on the land to be developed and makes some friends in the process.
Meanwhile, the future site of a Mother Paula's Pancake House keeps being vandalized. Roy gets caught up in a secret plot to save some adorable burrowing owls living on the land to be developed and makes some friends in the process.
This is the third novel for young readers that I've read of Hiaasen's and while this one was adapted into a movie and is a bit more popular, it's probably my least favorite of the three so far. This was his debut in children's lit, and while it was enjoyable with a great message about saving endangered and threatened wildlife, it felt a bit dry. Chomp and Flush had much more humor and quirkier characters. I'd recommend them over this one for the 'real Florida' and wildlife factor, but this Hoot was still a great story.
All the stars for writing about real environmental issues, as well as the abundant greed and corruption that plague this beautiful state, and doing so in a way that engages youth!
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