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HOOT
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Hiaasen, Carl
Hiaasen, Carl. HOOT. New York. 2002. 281 pages. $15.95.
ISBN# 0-357-82181-3
Reviewed by V. BAILEY.
Webmaster http://www.vbaileybookreviews.com
Roy Eberhardt has recently, and unhappily, arrived in Florida. "Disney World is an armpit," he states flatly, "compared to Montana."
Roy's family moves a lot, so he's used to the new-kid drill. Florida bullies are pretty like bullies everywhere. But Roy finds himself oddly indebted to the hulking Dana Matherson. If Dana hadn't been sinking his thumbs into Roy's temples and mashing his face against the school-bus window, Roy might never have spotted the running boy. And the running boy is the first interesting thing Roy's seen about Florida.
The boy was about Roy's age, but he was running away from the school bus. He had no books, no backpack, and, here's the odd part, no shoes. Sensing a mystery, Roy sets himself on the boy's trail. The chase will introduce him to some other intriguing Floridian creatures: potty-trained alligators, a beleaguered construction foreman, some burrowing owls, a fake-fart champion, a renegade eco-avenger, some slippery fish, a sinister pancake PR man, and several extremely poisonous snakes with unnaturally sparkling tails. Life in Florida is looking up.
From the book inside front cover.
Roy and his family were ordinary people. One day as he was getting beet up by a bully Dana Matherson and his faced was mashed at the window when he noticed a boy his age running away with no shoes on. Curly was the man in charge of making the Mother Paula's Pancakes House. Officer Delinko came to investigate a vandalism at the site. But why where all the stakes were pulled out and the holes filled at this construction site. The Officer decided to look in the Porta Potty and found alligators all inside the Porta Potty. Officer Delinko decided to stay the night. Next morning someone had sprayed his car black. That day Roy decided to chase the boy.
Then at a stop he saw the boy and got off the bus and ran after him bumping Beatrice the bear. Then a golf ball hit him. And he's sent unconscious.
Next time he found out that Beatrice and the boy were family and were trying to save the owls. Roy soon finds himself in a fight to help the poor little creatures from death. Soon it’s everywhere about vandalism at the Mother Paula's Pancake House. And Roy giving his name acting like the boy was him to get him into a hospital for treatment of dog bites. And every day the race is on for freeing the owls or the new Pancake House being built. And it's up to three kids to stop them.
HOOT is a wonderful story for all ages. It is highly recommended for anyone who has a love for comedy and adventure.
Adventure Posted: 07-2006 |
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