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.

In middle school, I had to read books to earn points for this accelerated program. I didn't like reading back then, and it felt like a chore to me. This book was the changing point in that time. It was everything I could have wanted at 11 years old, and I never get tired of it.
The movie is really great too!

Reader reviewed by Kaitlyn

          I thought it was a very good book. Ever though in the beginning it wasnt good, once you read on it gets very interesting. Its all about learning to never give up on your goals. If you really want something if you try hard enough to get it, you can.

Reader reviewed by jb ak jl gw

I have read the book Hoot, it is about this boy who was trying to find out who the mystery boy that has been running faster than anything. the mystery boy's name is Mullet Fingers, then there is this girl named Beatrice. they all try to save the owls. the main character is Roy,and there is this bully named Dana. alright lets talk about the reasons we disliked the book, we disliked the book because dana always acted all big and bad, and he always wanted to smoke a ciggerate. the reason we liked the book was because the characters cared about the animals and the enviorment. so i think a person who likes animals should read this book.

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 undercover reader

Roy Eberhart moves constantly in his life because of his father's job. Now relocated in Florida from Montana he struggles to fit in. Bullied by Dana Matherson Roy is greatly annoyed. One day while Dana is bulling him he sees a running boy. After following the boy on day Beatrice notices and is vexed.


Later in the story Roy befriends Beatrice and Mullet finger (the running boy). Learning that there are endangered owls in danger. Together, they set out to save the endangered owls.

I was forced to read this book in school. The story bored me insanely. The movie was alot better. I reccomend this book to environmental lovers and elementry school kids.

Reader reviewed by the book muncher

Roy Eberhardt has been moving from school to school all his life, so he knows what being the new kid is like. The first thing that happens to him when he moves to Florida is his face being mashed up against the school bus window. Strangely, hes not upset with the bully. Rather, he feels almost grateful, because if he hadnt been looking then, he wouldnt have seen the running boy.

Roy is intrigued, and he starts to pursue the kid. He also befriends Beatrice who is also connected to the running kid. It turns out that the new construction site for a pancake house coincides with the habitat of some owls. And the running boy is doing all he can to save those owls, because no one else will. Roy and Beatrice soon join in the fight to save the owls.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Hoot. It was a cute and funny novel. It showed me that it is always important to do the right thing, but I felt that the running boy went a little too far sometimes; he might be considered an eco-terrorist. But I digress. Hoot was nonetheless a great read, and I recommend it for people in the middle grades.

Reader reviewed by Emily TT

I really liked this book.
Skip the movie, read the book. The book is funnier and better. The book is pretty inspiring. It's about 3 kids (2 guys, 1 girl) finding out that the new pancake house is about to be constructed on some endangered owls' burrows. So the kids try (and succeed) to get rid of construction equipment and stop the pancake house from being built.
If you liked this book, read Flush another book from the author.
-E.T.

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.