Review Detail

I recently read Carl Hiaasen’s HOOT for a Children’s Literature class, and I'm glad I did. Hiaasen writes with excellent descriptions. He’s found that fine line between being painstakingly descriptive with pages upon pages of setting and not establishing any setting whatsoever leaving my mind’s eye blank. He’s even populated his beautiful settings with a variety of animals, giving the book a decidedly Ferngully-like feel. I was hoping the animals would talk and sound like Robin Williams at any minute.

With this emphasis on animals and nature, Hiaasen gives young readers a solid awareness of mankind’s connection to the environment and our need to live harmoniously with it. That’s a solid message that I can get behind and support.