Hoot by Carl Hiaasen
Audience: 9 and up
Rating: B+
Synopsis:
Roy Eberhardt’s family has moved again; this time landing him in Coconut Grove, Florida where he quickly becomes the favorite victim of a bully named Dana. But, just as quickly, Roy becomes entangled in a mystery about a barefoot boy, some teensy owls, and a pancake house. One part ecology and four parts funny make this a great book for either gender.
Chatter:
(Spoiler Alerts! ) This is an awesome novel that does more than just entertain. Carl Hiaasen’s passion for the environment is clear in both this book and his other novel Flush, but I’m glad that neither of them is preachy- they’re both just enjoyable stories.
I think Dana’s character is hilarious! He’s so easy to fool, and he gets what he deserves in the end. Beatrice’s character is much more complicated; even though she’s able to protect Mullet Fingers, I worry about who is protecting her. It stinks that she’s stuck at home with her lazy father and evil Lana. I know that Beatrice is tough and can handle herself, but I still wish things would have gotten better for her at home.
The movie version of this book isn’t bad – it’s actually pretty faithful to the book, but I don’t think it has the same edge that the book does. In the movie Officer Delinko is more loveable that inept and Beatrice doesn’t seem as tough on film as she does on paper. What differences bothered you?
Questions:
Officer Delinko tries hard to be a good cop. Is this more important than actually being a good cop?
Compare Roy’s book knowledge to Napoleon’s nature knowledge. Which type of education is more useful in real life?
What are some strategies that Roy could use to avoid being bullied by Dana?
If you attended Trace Middle School, which character(s) would most likely be your friend(s)? Why?
What nicknames would you give to Roy, Dana, and Beatrice that explain an ability that they each have?
Keep reading!
-Paige
Brooke Says:
I would be friends with Beatrice if iI went to Trace Middle School because she is in to sprots and just likes to chill and hang which is what I like to do.
Flush by Carl Hiaasen | Turning the Paige Says:
[...] Alerts! ) Like Hoot, Hiaasen’s second children’s book has a ecological twist. But, also like Hoot, it doesn’t [...]
BTA Says:
what nicknames ould you give Roy, Beatrice, and Mullet Fingers?
The nickname I would give Roy would be, Montana Boy because he always would relate back to when he lived in Montana in the book. The nickname I would give Beatrice would be, Soccer Chick because she is obsessed with soccer in the book and at the end she was playing at her best and she scored three goals! The nickname I would give Dana would be, Dumper because he is the school bully at Trace Middle. He also is always hurting kids with threats and physical content.
I thought this was a great book!
Top 10 Movies Based on Books | Turning the Paige Says:
[...] 2) Hoot by Carl Hiassen [...]