Roy Eberhardt is recently, and unhappily, arrived in Florida. 'Disney World is an armpit compared to Montana,' he announces. Roy's family moves a lot so he's used to the new-kid drill - and to bullies like Dana Matherson. And anyway, it's because of Dana that Roy gets to see the mysterious running boy - who runs away from the school bus and who has no books, no backpack and, most oddly, no shoes. Sensing a mystery Roy starts to trail the runner - a chase that will introduce him to many weird Floridian creatures: potty-trained alligators, some cute burrowing owls, a fake-fart champion, a sinister pancake PR man and some snakes with mysteriously sparkly tails. Suddenly life in Florida is looking up!
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Amazon Review
Hoot, Carl Hiaasen's debut novel for younger readers is a very special treat indeed. The writing is exceptionally good, and the characters extremely quirky and well realised. It's incredibly readable despite a story premise that is not sparklingly original. But no matter, there's an engaging "feel-good" vibe running through the whole book.
The setting, as with Hiaasen's crime thrillers for adults such as Basket Case and Sick Puppy, is sunny Florida and the heat, swamps, dust and pancakes all contribute to the authentic atmosphere of the book. His favourite environmental theme is here too, as is the thoroughly watertight plotting. There's an engaging mystery set up on the very first page and it builds nicely with more twists and turns as the story unfolds--all of them reassuringly tied up come the final pages.
Roy Eberhardt's story begins when he is being mashed up against the window of the school bus by bully Dana Matherson. He spots an athletic bare-footed boy running away from the bus and wonders where he is going. Further investigations, after he has unwisely smashed Dana's nose in to get away from him, leads Roy into the middle of a battle between a green-minded local runaway and the proposed opening of a pancake restaurant. The development threatens the habitat of a burrowing-owl colony and it's an issue that several people in the community have differing views upon--not all of them legal.
Roy carries the story very well indeed. He's likable and persistent in the face of unexpected and challenging adventure, despite his modest size. The cause he chooses to support is eminently worthy--he weighs up the strength of his beliefs with the necessity to slightly bend the law. This is a good story with some great writing--a winning combination. (For readers aged 10 and over.) --John McLay
Review
" It seems unlikely that the master of noir-tinged, surrealistic black humor would write a novel for young readers. And yet, there has always been something delightfully juvenile about Hiaasen' s imagination; beneath the bent cynicism lurks a distinctly 12-year-old cackle. In this thoroughly engaging tale of how middle schooler Roy Eberhardt, new kid in Coconut Cove, learns to love South Florida, Hiaasen lets his inner kid run rampant, both the subversive side that loves to see grown-ups make fools of themselves and the righteously indignant side, appalled at the mess being made of our planet. The story is full of offbeat humor, buffoonish yet charming supporting characters, and genuinely touching scenes of children enjoying the wildness of nature. He deserves a warm welcome into children' s publishing." -- "Booklist"
" A wonderful tour-de-force." -- "The Boston Globe"
" A rollicking, righteous story." -- "The Miami Herald"
" You don' t have to be a young adult to enjoy it." -- "The New York Times Book Review"
" Yes, it "is" a hoot." -- "The Washington Post Book World"
" A wonderful tour-de-force." -- "The Boston Globe"
" A rollicking, righteous story." -- "The Miami Herald"
" You don' t have to be a young adult to enjoy it." -- "The New York Times Book Review"
" Yes, it "is" a hoot." -- "The Washington Post Book World"
"From the Hardcover edition." --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
Actually I liked this even more than Hiaasen's 'grown up' books. It's pleasantly short (though not so short as to be unsatisfying), with a tightly plotted story.
The plot is a real page-turner with a great cast of characters. The jokes work on two levels: the subtle ones that Hiaasen slips under your radar and then the funny set-pieces (no, I'm not going to include any spoilers!) with lots of physical gags.
The bad guys are well drawn, not just cardboard characters - the only one I found annoying was the hopeless police patrolman who was just a little too cliched. The school counsellor will send shivers down your back, and the building site manager is very funny - we've all met or worked with someone just like him!
I'd highly recommend it for anyone, probably the youngest at about 7 or 8 if they're a confident reader, but adults will love it too. I find Hiaasen's adult books a little *too* cynical but this struck exactly the right balance between cynicism and hope. A very satisfying read all round.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Even when he is writing for children, Hiaasen creates great villains (who always meet fitting fates), and charming, unlikely heroes. Threats to the Floridian environment are of course his other recurring theme.
In this case, the new boy in school finds his feet and new friends as he fights to prevent a new restaurant destroying several pairs of rare burrowing owls, and the school bully from destroying his face.
Fast-paced and fun, a book to encourage teenagers to read!
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By "rory-s"
Format:Paperback
we are currently reading this book in class and its one of those ones that we just can't put down. we havn't finished yet and get really annoyed when we do have to do writing for a block!
she wont let us take them home to study incase we read ahead!
some people (dominic) have to get their book confisgated!
a very funny, silly plot which you can't put down
a book that we all love.
she wont let us take them home to study incase we read ahead!
some people (dominic) have to get their book confisgated!
a very funny, silly plot which you can't put down
a book that we all love.
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4.4 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Daft and a little subversive
Hoot is a funny preteen story set in a town in Florida. At its heart is a message about standing up for what you believe in. Read more
Published 9 months ago by R. LILES
5.0 out of 5 stars
Save the burrowing owls
This is the second of Carl Hiaasen's books for children I have read, and it lived up to my expectations after reading the first. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Mrs. K. A. Wheatley
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Adventure
This is a story about a boy, Roy, who has just moved to Florida. His first day at school he gets called `Tex' and the nickname sticks and the harassment begins. Read more
Published on 2 April 2008 by Steven R. McEvoy
4.0 out of 5 stars
Environmental struggle for kids
Roy Eberhardt has just moved from Montana to Florida. He misses the mountains and in the school bus he is bullied by the enormous and stupid Dana Matherson. Read more
Published on 22 Dec 2006 by Linda Oskam
3.0 out of 5 stars
bit of a hoot
Interesting ideas, with eco friendly theme and good sense of isolation in the kids. however do we need another character who thinks that farting is cool or even funny, i mean... Read more
Published on 20 July 2006 by Gentle John
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hiaasen is a master
I am a big fan of Carl Hiaasen's. He perfectly captures the frustrations of being picked on, and unaccepted as a child. Read more
Published on 9 Jun 2006 by A. R.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Hoot's hilarious!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. A new kid to sunny Florida, Roy Eberhardt,spots a mysterious shoeless young boy running past the school bus when evil bully Dana Matherson... Read more
Published on 28 July 2005
3.0 out of 5 stars
hoot
The novel was a very good book. The way the authur based it on the themes. The most interesting theme was the environment. It was a good book.
Published on 4 Oct 2004 by amy
3.0 out of 5 stars
Hoot5
This is a novel called HOOT it was written by Carl Hiaasen. One of the main characters in the story is Roy. Read more
Published on 4 Oct 2004 by slambert
5.0 out of 5 stars
book review
it was funny it was good i enjoyed it better than doing english work mullet fingers was interresting but i want to know what happens to him in the end it was a hoot of a book i... Read more
Published on 4 Oct 2004 by sinead
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