Hoot - Carl Hiaasen
First published 2002.
Hoot is one.
A hoot.
Wait, let me start over.
Hoot is a fun book. We follow Roy Eberhardt, a new arrival in the Floridan town of Coconut Cove, as he seeks to learn the secrets of the mysterious barefoot boy whilst avoiding the attention of bully Dana Matherson at his local school. We also follow Officer David Delinko who is attempting to solve a series of vandalisms aiming to delay the construction of a new 'Mother Paula's All-American Pancake House'. The two stories overlap regularly, with one mysterious (fairly obviously) being tied into the other early on.
But what makes Hoot fun is its quirky style and fun characters. Various plot points may be easy to figure out, but at other points the story zigs when it seems like it will zag. Roy, for example, is willing to stand up to Dana in foolhardy ways, and seems a glutton for punishment, while the barefoot boy, and another character (Beatrice Leep) have more to them than first appears.
I really enjoyed Hoot. It is a children's book for sure (aimed at 9-12 year olds) but is able to be a lot of fun for any reader, as well as naturally weaving in an environmental message in a non-preachy way.
Worth checking out.
Completed 26 February 2021.
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