Notes From the Manufacturer
& Editorial Review
Product Description
Unfortunately, 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.
Roy has most definitely arrived in Carl Hiaasen’s Florida.
From the Hardcover edition.
Amazon.com
Roy Eberhardt is the new kid--again. This time around it's Trace Middle School in humid Coconut Grove, Florida. But it's still the same old routine: table by himself at lunch, no real friends, and thick-headed bullies like Dana Matherson pushing him around. But if it wasn't for Dana Matherson mashing his face against the school bus window that one day, he might never have seen the tow-headed running boy. And if he had never seen the running boy, he might never have met tall, tough, bully-beating Beatrice. And if he had never met Beatrice, he might never have discovered the burrowing owls living in the lot on the corner of East Oriole Avenue. And if he had never discovered the owls, he probably would have missed out on the adventure of a lifetime. Apparently, bullies do serve a greater purpose in the scope of the universe. Because if it wasn't for Dana Matherson... In his first novel for a younger audience, Carl Hiaasen (Basket Case, etc.) plunges readers right into the middle of an ecological mystery, made up of endangered miniature owls, the Mother Paula's All-American Pancake House scheduled to be built over their burrows, and the owls' unlikely allies--three middle school kids determined to beat the screwed-up adult system. Hiaasen's tongue is firmly in cheek as he successfully cuts his slapstick sense of humor down to kid-size. Sure to be a hoot, er, hit with middle school mystery fans. (Ages 10 to 15) --Jennifer Hubert
Get
the
Hoot
at Amazon!
|
Customer
Reviews
an eco-friendly, cute tale for young teens
For the legion of Hiaasen fans out there, 'Hoot' is pure Hiaasen but without the raunchiness and ribald humor. It is more whimsical than funny, its plot rather obvious and ultra-wholesome, but it's a very enjoyable read nonetheless. Hiaasen transforms himself into a young teen who, with other rascals his age, fight corporate America from building upon land where nesting ground owls call home. These kids pull all sorts of tricks to defeat the wicked and inept adults. Although this book is clearly targeted to the junior high school set, and I think it makes a wonderful read for boys and girls, it's the sort of read adults can enjoy especially if they don't want to think too hard. You will never confuse 'Hoot' with works by Leo Tolstoy or Henry James.
Bottom line: lighthearted and politically correct.
Carlos says... "this book is hilarious just like the book FLUSH"
The story is divided into three main parts. This gives the reader different points of view from each character. The main part is about Roy Eberhardt and his friends "Mullet Fingers", and his stepsister Beatrice. The main part focuses on their efforts to try and save the owls' homes from getting bulldozed to make way for a construction. The second is about Officer David Delinko, who is one of the Officers investigating the sabotage acts on the construction site. He was caught sleeping during his early morning patrol once and was nearly fired. Now, with his job on the line he basically thought about nothing else but getting his job done. But when he sees the Burrowing Owls and slowly thinks about what will happen to them, he slowly has a change of heart towards the end of the book. The third part is of the construction Foreman Leroy "Curly" Branitt who also has his job on the line now that the construction was two weeks late. Despite his efforts to guard the construction site, the site is continually sabotaged and gets fired in the end. In the last part he doesn't join Roy and the rest of the crowd to protect the owls, but refuses to take any orders from his boss.
Overall I'd say this is a great book with its unpredictable and hilarious characters. Aside from being funny you could learn something too. I noticed that Hiaasen writes mostly about environmental problems. This book illustrates how animals are affected when we destroy their home for the sake of money. Nobody likes seeing their home destroyed. How would we feel if someone showed up on our homes and told us that our house was going to get bulldozed? In the words of Calvin and Hobbes: "How would humans feel if animals bulldozed a suburb and put in new TREES?"
Solid story for young readers
Carl Hiaasen never disappoints when it comes to witty stories and charming characters. In this first attempt at fiction for young readers he lives up to his reputation. Roy has just started middle school in Florida after moving from Montana with his family - against his wishes. He is being beaten up by the school bully and is having a hard time fitting in. But he becomes entangled in an environmental battle when a chain pancake restaurant wants to build a new pancake house on a location that houses unique and rare owls. Roy and his tenuous friends take on a battle that may be bigger than they realize. Roy must find a way to follow his heart without breaking the law in protest.
Hiaasen has a real way with his characters. They are people you love and get to know through the pages of the story. There is almost always some sort of environmental twist and, in some ways, it is like beating a dead horse. But the writing is always hilarious and entertaining until the last page. Readers, both young and old, will enjoy this effort.
Hoot for Hoot!
Hoot is a fabulous adventure and realistic fiction coming of age story by Carl Hiaasen about a young boy named Roy who is new to town. It is 292 pages of adventure, as Roy is bullied by Dana Matherson, the town bully. While Dana, the story's antagonist, is anything but a good person, his bullying does lead Roy to notice a boy running barefoot alongside the bus he is on, eventually taking him on an adventure of a major ecological and corrupt problem caused by a fraudulent business.
The boy Roy saw running calls himself Mullet Fingers. He comes from a troubled home but is determined despite the odds to stand up for what he believes. Meanwhile, a breakfast chain, Mother Paula's All-American Pancake House, is going to open up a restaurant in town but the building's construction is constantly delayed due to damages that occur to the area in the middle of the night. The pancake company wants to begin building on the property and so hires a security guard to protect the area from any possible vandals. Through yet another scheme, Roy convinces Dana to enter the construction site in search of cigarettes. Dana is quickly caught in the act and people believe that he is responsible for the vandalism.
Dana's trespassing brings light to the habitat of the burrowing owl, which is currently in the very area that the Mother Paula's intends to builds its restaurant. People quickly jump on the children's bandwagon, which wants nothing more than for these owls to live in their natural habitat. These children expose the company for what it really is and uncover some deals that are anything but legal among adults in his new.
This story is perfect for the young adult reader, as it clearly shows that whether we like it or not, we all grow up. And when we grow up, we take on responsibilities that we never before dreamed possible. It is an inspirational tale to see young adults making responsible decisions on their own. Simultaneously, the young adults are forced to look at the adults around them who are taking bribes and making illegal deals, while they are fighting for what they believe and know is right. They are ready to take on the powerful executives, even though their chances might seem bleak.
Throughout the story, Roy is forced into the world and must grow up, even if the adults around him might not have. It is a great read for young adults, as Roy is forced to adjust to the changes around him that come with moving to a new town. However, he quickly prevails.
I personally loved this story because it allows young adults to see that despite all of the problems that occur in life, they actually can prevail and bring about good things through action. This story teaches students that it is imperative that they stand up for what they believe. Young adults of today can easily relate to Roy, for Macmillan Publishers just recently published it in 2002 at a Lexile Level of 760. Simultaneously, as a teacher of young adults, I personally have an issue with the presence of cigarettes and curse words in a story. And I know that many of my students' parents also would not appreciate some of the content that Hiaasen has chosen to include. Nonetheless, I appreciate that he does not sugarcoat any of the topics but rather "keeps it real" for the kids, allowing them to wrestle with the issues as though they are in Roy's shoes.
Jacob's book review
Hoot by Carl Hiaasen is about five characters (Roy, Mullet Finger, Beatrice, officer Delinko, and Curly), one group of animals (the owls), and one pancake house (Mother Paula's) fighting over an area of land and trying to save the owls. Roy tries to find out the right thing to do. Mullet Finger tries to help a group of owls. Beatrice tries to help Mullet Finger. Officer Delinko tries to solve the pancake house case. Curly tries not to get fired.
This book is worth reading for several reasons. It tells about certain animals. Also it tells about right and wrong. It also shows many legal things. Finally, it shows that a little devotion goes a long way. Nine to fourteen year olds would like this book because it is funny and somewhat easier to read since it's in third narration.
Get the
Hoot
at Amazon!
|
