Hoot

Rating:
Summary: A strong foray into children's books, but he'll do better.
Review: The following is a review by a long-time Hiaasen reader for other such readers considering picking up "Hoot":

Having read nearly all of Carl Hiaasen's adult novels (only excepting "Sick Puppy"), I was excited to receive a new Hiaasen novel for Christmas, his first children's book.

While it's definitely a Carl Hiaasen novel, he pulled some punches in the work that make it one of his lesser titles. It wasn't his strongly pro-environment stance (present and in a version that everyone can relate to, even adult readers who were ready for an example of Florida's problems that doesn't involve draining the Everglades, as serious of an issue as that is) nor his eye for detail (a hair on the lip of a middle school vice-principal ranks up there with one of the classic Hiaasen bits of all time), but his characters.

In every other Hiaasen novel, there is at least one hilariously odd character who helps break up the seriousness of the work by their misguided insanity, whether it's the hit man commiting murder for plastic surgery in "Skin Graft," the hapless Hooters-besotted would-be white supremacists in "Lucky You" or any of the rock industry hangers-on in "Basket Case."

While these characters traditionally help break up the sometimes instense stories, they're also one of the places where Hiaasen's manic sense of humor gets a chance to shine. Without it being present in "Hoot," the book feels like the author (or maybe an editor) was holding him back. And as a result, the various non-kid characters seem somewhat depressingly pathetic. (Honestly, do we need more than two adults who are about to lose their jobs, when one of them is a perfectly nice individual who's just stuck in the middle of this chaos?)

Which isn't to say that "Hoot" isn't a good book -- it's a great one, one that pre-teens and up will enjoy (although there might be a few parents who take issue with the single swear word and Hiaasen's strongly anti-authority stance) and one that long time Hiaasen novels will find well worth picking up.

I especially look forward to Hiaasen's next work of fiction -- one could almost feel his creative juices being recharged by doing this somewhat different sort of novel. While his usual rogue environmentalist, Skink, has gotten very tired, he creates a kid-appropriate substitute in "Hoot," and makes him the central focus of the story. I hope we'll see more of Mullet Fingers and the Eberhardts in his adult novels.

Recommended for Hiaasen fans and for readers 12 and up.

Rating:
Summary: A first read of Carl Hiaasen
Review: I have to admit that I chose to read this book on the cardinal sin of choosing a book: I liked the cover.

What was inside the cover was even better.

I had never read Carl Hiaasen before and I truly enjoyed Hoot. The characters were well developed and yet mysterious at the same time. I found myself "talking back" to the book during some parts. I was captivated and I was taken into the story. Realistic fiction is supposed to provide a sense of hope, and this book definitely did. For me, it was a sliding door into the story and I stepped into the world of Roy and Beatrice.

As an educator in the elementary school system, I feel that this book is an excellent choice for kids. Many kids are sympathetic with animals and they become enchanted by characters that stick up for what they believe in. This book provides an excellent opportunity for children to see how fictional characters in a story can relate to the readers. It's just a great encouraging book for both kids and adults.

If you're looking for a great extra-curriculum read, Hoot is a great page-turner and I look forward to reading Hiassen's works in the future.

Rating:
Summary: Hiaasen's hit
Review: Hoot:(noun) 1. To make the natural throat noise of an owl.
2. To assail with contemptuous cries or other expressions of disapproval or contempt.

(This definition has been brought to you courtesy of "Webster's Third New International Dictionary").

A clever title for a book that is, in and of itself, pretty darn smart. Penned by a man better known for his adult detective tales, "Hoot" garnered a fair amount of praise when it was first published. It did win the 2003 Newbery Honor Award, after all. No small feat with the sheer amount of well-written children's literature out there. The book is deceptively simple, excellently written, and a great addition to the canon of kids-taking-on-corporate-monoliths-with-grassroots-intervention genre.

Roy has just moved to Florida from Montana, and he hates it. No wonder too. In Montana he had mountains, and cowboys, and fresh cool seasons. In Florida he has flat flat landscapes, a bully that wants to squash Roy in a variety of different shapes, and detestable summery sticky seasons. Things start looking up, however, when Roy spots a barefooted boy running at top speed away from the school bus on a weekday. Sensing a mystery to the boy, Roy gets involved in a plot involving the local burrowing owl population. It seems as if a huge chain entitled Mother Paula's All-American Pancake Houses, Inc. has decided to build its next yummy store smack dab on top of the owls and their homes. Joining with the barefoot boy (nicknamed Mullet Fingers) and the boy's soccer playing tough-girl step-sister Beatrice, the three work to put an end to the dastardly plot to bury the burrowers.

I'm coming at this book from a number of different levels. To begin with, it does my aging (albeit 26-year-old) hippy heart glad to see a book in which grassroots organization ultimately topples large competitors like Mother Paula's. What really is impressive is one of the many morals of the story. Roy is told by his parents to balance the wishes of his heart with his head. Obviously he cares for these tiny owls and their homes, but engaging in vandalism like Mullet Fingers (harmless vandalism, yes, but illegal just the same) isn't going to solve anything. What Roy has to do, ultimately, is to go the relatively boring route. Get the facts on paper. In the end, the solution to the problem is as much legal as it is moral. Hiassen does take the easy route out by having the owl be an endangered species. I would have personally enjoyed the story more if this was just a tale about a couple kids trying to save perfectly normal and common burrowing owls, but oh well. It's a tiny complaint. On another level, how many books do your read these days where a) The main character has caring parents b) The main character has caring parents that are intelligent and c) The main character has caring parents that are intelligent AND to whom the main character reveals everything when asked. When Roy's dad asks him to explain himself, he does. This is such a rarity in children's literature on a whole (usually because it's easier to write disobeying children than obeying ones) that it deserves to be commended. So well done, Mr. Author-sir. Well done indeed.

The characters are particularly well drawn as well. Hats off to Carl Hiaasen for his excellent depictions of women-folk. Beatrice Leep is a soccer jock, blond, and wears glasses. Ooh! Quick quick, who can spot the character that doesn't rely on ancient stereotypes? I can I can! Beatrice ain't no one you've met before, honey. She has a horrible family life, a step-brother she must protect at all costs, and sharp pointy teeth. I was particularly taken with the moment in which Beatrice decides to knaw her mother's toe ring off her nasty stepmother's foot. Rounding out the unusual characters is an officer that's simulataneously a lummox and redeemable, a foreman that's a boor but amusing, and a bully that never really tries to become a good guy in any way, shape, or form.

I could go on and on, but Amazon.com limits reviews to 1000 words, so I'll just stop here. The point I am making is that this book isn't just moral and isn't just well-written, but is also (most importantly) fun. It's amusing to read. You just want to zip through it when you start your perusal. If Hiaasen isn't satisfied with merely snatching the Newbery Honor, then I personally would like to request that he strive for the top honor again. Write another book, Mr. Hiaasen! If it's even half as good as this one, you can rest assured that I'll be reading it soon.

Rating:
Summary: Hoot's a hoot!!
Review: I love Hiaasen's novels about Florida and all of the zany characters he creates to tell his pro-ecology stories. When I saw he had written another one I reflexivly one clicked to have it sent to me. When I got it I thought it was a tad smaller in size than the usual novel one buys in hardcover and the print seemed to be a little large, but no matter as I dove into the saga of Roy Eberhardt.

I was perhaps a couple of chapters into the book when I noticed on the fly leaf that it was a Children's Book of the Month Club selection. Really? Well, I was enjoying and as I continued to read through it I continued to be drawn along with the story of the new boy from Montana being introduced to both the beauty of Florida and it's not so beautiful experiences with developers.

In this story the guys in black work for a Pancake House conglomerate called, Mother Paula's All American Pancake House. They intend to open their 469th family style restaurant on a piece of property in Coconut Grove. The fences are up. The construction trailer is on the site. The bulldozers have arrived. All appears to be ready for construction to begin. Then things start to happen. First all the survey markers are pulled up and all the stake holes are filled in.The air is let out of the construction vehiles tires. Alligators (small ones) are put in the out house toilets. No work is being done. The date for a grand opening is approaching. Who is doing this and why are no mystery to the reader, but they are a serious question to the construction foreman, Curly, police officer Delinko and Curly's boss at headquarters, Chuck Muckle. Of course, Mother Paula's is about to be constructed on land on which there a bunch of burrowing owls. Mother Paula's people know it. No one else does until a very unusual "hero" sets in motion a wonderful string of events which leads to a predictable but very humorous conclusion.

It may have been written for children, but what the heck - we are all kids at heart.

Rating:
Summary: Hoot...An okay book
Review: This book was very logical and believable. This is probably a book for someone who doesn't like fantasy. And boys would LOVE this book, as well. I personally didn't like how adults played a big role in this book. Most kids like books without too many adults in them. Some of the characters were a bit weak, but this book was very well written.

Rating:
Summary: Hoot
Review: I really liked this book it was funny and interesting. My favorite part was the end when Roy's dad help him by getting the documents of the inspection of the lot where Mother Paula's Pancake house was going to be. They were going to build on a place where burrowing owls lived.They were going to take there homes. Roy's dad helped him by getting those document and the were busted. They had bribed the mayor to let them make pancake house there. I liked this book it was good and it took place right here in Florida. Thanks for writing such good book.

Rating:
Summary: monicas review for the book!
Review: dear carl hiaasen,

my names monica hernandez and im writting to you to tell you how much i enjoyed your book. There was alot of excitment. And also alot of mystery and its was comical. I havent read a book like that that was so good in a long time!also I am very amazed how some body can add all those details in a story like that. I will also like to thank you for making such a good book for us to read thank you.

Rating:
Summary: Incredible by Yury Serna
Review: The book was fantastic, the book is full of small, cunning mysteries. The book is extremely hilarious. Like, for example the alligators in the porta-potties, for "Curly" it wasn't funny at all but for me and the rest of my 6th grade Language Arts class it was very funny.Mother Paula's All-American pancake house is full of incredibly histerical chracters, like "Curly" who killed a rat in his bathroom thinking it was a cotton mouth mocassin. Then he put rat traps to trap any more rats.
However, this book is also caring for the environment and its living things in it.Like the most important subjects of the story are Burrowing Owls who are almost killed by the building of Mother Paula's. Fortunately they are saved by Roy Eberhardt,Beatrice, "mullet Fingers", etc.
My favorite chapter is Ch.20, when one of the owls finally give proof that the holes everybody thought were abandonrd years ago, wasn't true. "Mullet Fingers" is in one of the holes and a Burrowing Owl flies in the air, and lands on top of his head it is just incredible, I believe it left the whole audience with their mouth open.Even though the book doesn't describe their faces I could picture an image of Chuck.E Muckle all with hatred inside. All I have to say is that I would love to read what is next in Mr.Hiaasen's mind, which I bet is always full of ideas.

Rating:
Summary: Santis review of HOOT
Review: I really think that this book was really exceptional because I had never read a book like that,in the fact that it tiik part in two different places.This book is about this kid named Roy that moves constantly from place to place some would even call him a nomad.Resently he moved from Montana to Coconut Cove.Here Roy will find friends enemies and courage to stand up for himself.On the first day of school he notices a running boy while getting choked by the schools bully Dana Matherson.Roy Also finds a lot of adventures on the Way. The End

Rating:
Summary: A GREAT BOOK
Review: This was a great book (...).Roy was a good character because he was a new kid in town and he made friends and he tried his best to help his friends save the owls. My favorite part was when Roy told all of his classmates about Mothers Paulas groundbreaking and that they were going to kill some owls. Then Beatrice told all of her soccer friends about the owls too and they all came. Then while Chuck E. Muckle was talking the kids started protesting and sayind to save the owls. Another of my favorite characters was Mullet Fingers because he never quit tring to save the owls. He would vandalize the property,he would do life threating things like give big dogs something and give them snakes, and do other things like mess with allegators.I think that Roy's most important part was when Dana slamed him against the glass and he saw Mullet Fingers.This book taught me to choose what is best from the heart and from the brain.I really liked the book HOOT!