Hoot

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.

Reader reviewed by pam

i really liked the book. even though mullet fingers has no parents to rely on , he has a step-sister and a friend that help and support him. he and his friends fight to help the little baby owls and succed. this book shows that you can help animals no matter who you are.   

Reader reviewed by Corn

Hiaasen almost hit perfection in his first YA novel. Hoot turned out to be something I hadn't expected it to be at all. When beginning to read it, I figured I was going to hate the book... Enviromental this, environmental that. However, as the book progressed, Hoot made a temporary environmentalist out of me. The plot was far-fetched, but still plausible and the characters were very life like. Hiaasen's novel really showed how average kids could step up and take on a challenge if they had motivation.

Reader reviewed by K.P.P.

This story is very original, about a boy trying to save the little guys (the owls). The author could have elaborated a little more but I found the book to be very interesting and one of a kind. It was pretty hilarious especially the wisecrack of Bullet Fingers and it had a true meaning behind it.

Reader reviewed by Jessica

I read this for a class prodject and me and all my buddies loved it. the book has more than one part to it and skips around from all of them and helps you to understand a different part about the book better. that is on of the things i liked about that book. Hoot, if you are wondering, is an owl, but i won't tell you anymore you will just have to find out yourself. it is a great book and many people i know who have read it loved it. i hope i have interested you to read this book.

Reader reviewed by Cheryl

Roy Eberhardt moves around a lot, and with every move comes a new set of bullies he has to deal with. He has just moved to a small town in Florida from Montana,and is none too thrilled about it. Until he sees a semi-wild boy running barefoot around town. His interests are piqued and he becomes involved in the boy's one-person sabatoge of a construction project that threatens the habitat of a family of burrowing owls.

Meanwhile, Roy is ruthlessly bullied, beat-up, and picked on yet another bully. I liked this book's realistic portrayal of bullying as well as Roy's creative and witty ways of dealing with his problems.

This book shows bullying on all different levels (i.e. school, corporate, social,child-neglect,etc.). What I really like is the way this book explores civil disobedience as a solution to bullying.

I also really like that the author shows Roy as a strong, capable hero, even though he was just a kid. I also really liked the presentation of a pro-social way to change the world.

Reader reviewed by Joey S.

I enjoyed this book, reading it during school for a class assignment. I beleive the author is Jerry Spinelli, who also wrote Stargirl? Am I right? Well, I think the book was VERY good, no matter who was the author! I recommend it!!!