Module 4/June 27-July 3/ Hoot by Carl Hiassen

Bibliographic Citation: Hiassen, Carl. (2002). Hoot. New York: Alfred A. Knopf,

Summary: Roy Eberhardt is the new kid in his Florida town. One day while being picked on by the school bully Dana Matherson, Roy spots a running boy. The running boy intrigues Roy and he sets off to find out who he is. What he discovers leads Roy to help save a colony of burrowing owls from a proposed construction company.

Reviews: “Gr. 5-8. In his first foray into children’s literature, adult author Hiassen offers the story of a new kid in town who makes a difference. Seasoned relocator Roy Eberhardt  learns of the threat to a group of endangered owls posed by the construction of a new pancake house in his South Florida town and decides to spring into action. Roy and his supporters go head-to-head with a group of shortsighted civic boosters in this deliciously entertaining ecological mystery” Lempke, S. (2004). Hoot (Book). Book Links, 13(4), 33. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

“Gr 5-8-- Hiaasen combines humor with environmental concerns. Newly arrived Florida resident Roy Eberhardt tries to outwit a middle-school bully. However, his personal conflict recedes in importance after he follows a mysterious boy who is barefoot and discovers that he is attempting to stop construction work that threatens a colony of burrowing owls. Interlinking subplots keep the action percolating.” Piehl, K. (2003). Hoot (Book). School Library Journal, 49(8), 115. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

Personal Impressions: The title of the book is what first got me interested in reading this book.  It’s a simple title as well as having a simple cover but it still grabbed my interest. I figured from the title that the book might have something to do with owls and I was pleased to know I was right. The fact that Roy was interested in learning more about the running boy, made me as a reader also want to know more.  I also wanted to know more about the mysterious happenings going on at this proposed construction site.  Just the mystery of the boy and the site, were enough to grab my interest. When I learned that the running boy, or Mullet Fingers, was trying to protect the burrowing owls, it reminded me a lot of what is going on in our world today and how as humans we need to work to protect wildlife and their habitats.

Suggestions for Use:  This is a good book to read when talking about environmental issues and protecting wildlife and their habitats. You could have the students read this book around Earth Day and then discuss it. It would be a great discussion starter for talking about human impact and our effect on nature.