The following review is in partial fulfillment of the requirements
for LS5603.20, Genre 6—fantasy, fiction and young adult.
1. Bibliography
Hiaasen, Carl. 2002. Hoot. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
ISBN 0-329-37933-32.
2. Plot Summary
Hoot is the story of Roy Eberhardt and some of his friends.
Roy has recently moved from Montana to Florida. While he
is on the school bus one morning, Roy sees a strange boy
running away from the bus stop. He investigates and
eventually learns that the boy is named Mullet Fingers and
that he his step-sister, Beatrice, goes to school with Roy.
Mullet Fingers is on a mission to save the habitat of a family
of burrowing owls. The site is the intended home of a new
restaurant called Mother Paula’s All-American Pancake
House. Roy and Beatrice join in the fight, with help from
Roy’s father. Thanks to their efforts, the owls are saved.
3. Critical Analysis
Hoot is an example of quality contemporary realistic fiction for
young adults. The young people in the story are believable and
seem like real people. The adults tend to be more one-sided
and stereotypical (the wicked step-mother, the bumbling deputy,
the evil corporate employees.) The plot of the story is very
contemporary and true to life. It concerns young people who are
trying to protect the environment and are willing to go against
adults and even large corporations to accomplish their goals. In
a time when corporations are buying land and leaving very little
unspoiled nature, it is very realistic. The setting is in present-day
Florida, where the wetlands truly are threatened and many people
really are fighting to save them.
Hiaasen uses narration and conversation to tell his story. The
conversation is natural, believable, and appropriate to the
situation. The children speak differently when they are speaking
to adults than they do when they are speaking to each other, just
as children would really do.
The plot of Hoot will keep the reader entertained. There is
mystery (Who is the barefoot boy? Who is sabotaging the
construction efforts of Mother Paula?), suspense (Will Roy and
his friends manage to save the owls? Will Roy escape the bully?),
and humor (the tricks used at the construction site.) The plot
moves along quickly and is easy to follow. It does not get bogged
down in too much detail.
Hoot takes place in modern day Florida, but it could happen in
any place where people or corporations put profit ahead of the
protection of nature. The theme of children fighting injustice is
universal.
Some of the awards that Carl Hiaasen won for Hoot are Newbery
Honor Book, ALA Notable Book, YALSA Best Book for Young Adults,
for LS5603.20, Genre 6—fantasy, fiction and young adult.
1. Bibliography
Hiaasen, Carl. 2002. Hoot. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
ISBN 0-329-37933-32.
2. Plot Summary
Hoot is the story of Roy Eberhardt and some of his friends.
Roy has recently moved from Montana to Florida. While he
is on the school bus one morning, Roy sees a strange boy
running away from the bus stop. He investigates and
eventually learns that the boy is named Mullet Fingers and
that he his step-sister, Beatrice, goes to school with Roy.
Mullet Fingers is on a mission to save the habitat of a family
of burrowing owls. The site is the intended home of a new
restaurant called Mother Paula’s All-American Pancake
House. Roy and Beatrice join in the fight, with help from
Roy’s father. Thanks to their efforts, the owls are saved.
3. Critical Analysis
Hoot is an example of quality contemporary realistic fiction for
young adults. The young people in the story are believable and
seem like real people. The adults tend to be more one-sided
and stereotypical (the wicked step-mother, the bumbling deputy,
the evil corporate employees.) The plot of the story is very
contemporary and true to life. It concerns young people who are
trying to protect the environment and are willing to go against
adults and even large corporations to accomplish their goals. In
a time when corporations are buying land and leaving very little
unspoiled nature, it is very realistic. The setting is in present-day
Florida, where the wetlands truly are threatened and many people
really are fighting to save them.
Hiaasen uses narration and conversation to tell his story. The
conversation is natural, believable, and appropriate to the
situation. The children speak differently when they are speaking
to adults than they do when they are speaking to each other, just
as children would really do.
The plot of Hoot will keep the reader entertained. There is
mystery (Who is the barefoot boy? Who is sabotaging the
construction efforts of Mother Paula?), suspense (Will Roy and
his friends manage to save the owls? Will Roy escape the bully?),
and humor (the tricks used at the construction site.) The plot
moves along quickly and is easy to follow. It does not get bogged
down in too much detail.
Hoot takes place in modern day Florida, but it could happen in
any place where people or corporations put profit ahead of the
protection of nature. The theme of children fighting injustice is
universal.
Some of the awards that Carl Hiaasen won for Hoot are Newbery
Honor Book, ALA Notable Book, YALSA Best Book for Young Adults,
Book Sense Book of the Year Finalist, New York Times Bestseller,
and Book Sense Bestseller.
4. Review Excerpts
Booklist: “…the story is full of offbeat humor, buffoonish yet
charming supporting characters, and genuinely touching scenes
of children enjoying the wildness of nature. He deserves a warm
welcome into children’s publishing.” — Bill Ott
Amazon.com: “Sure to be a hoot, er, hit with middle school
mystery fans.”--Jennifer Hubert.
Washington Post Book World: “Yes, it is a hoot.”
Publishers Weekly: “Though readers will have few doubts about
the success of the kids' campaign, several suspenseful scenes
build to the denouement involving the sitcom-like unraveling
of a muckity-muck at the pancake house. These, along with
dollops of humor, help make the novel quite a hoot indeed.”
School Library Journal: “Packed with quirky characters and
improbable plot twists, Hiaasen's first novel for young readers
is entertaining but ultimately not very memorable. The story
is silly at times but rarely laugh-out-loud funny, and there are
several highly unlikely scenes. Also, it wraps up a little too
neatly. While Roy is a sympathetic protagonist, few of the
other characters are well developed.”--Miranda Doyle
5. Connections
● Students may enjoy reading Carl Hiaasen’s answers to questions
about Hoot at http://www.carlhiaasen.com/faqs-hoot.html
● Watch the movie based on the book. Compare the two.
Hoot (New Line Platinum Series) 2006. ASIN B000GB5MH4
● Find out about burrowing owls. Make a bulletin board or a
class book with the information you find.
● Find out if there has ever been a similar situation in your
community. What happened?
● See pictures of burrowing owls and read about a real-life
Florida project to save them at
http://members.aol.com/pjbowen/owls.html
Another book by Hiaasen about a young crusader:
Flush ISBN 978-0-375-82182-0
and Book Sense Bestseller.
4. Review Excerpts
Booklist: “…the story is full of offbeat humor, buffoonish yet
charming supporting characters, and genuinely touching scenes
of children enjoying the wildness of nature. He deserves a warm
welcome into children’s publishing.” — Bill Ott
Amazon.com: “Sure to be a hoot, er, hit with middle school
mystery fans.”--Jennifer Hubert.
Washington Post Book World: “Yes, it is a hoot.”
Publishers Weekly: “Though readers will have few doubts about
the success of the kids' campaign, several suspenseful scenes
build to the denouement involving the sitcom-like unraveling
of a muckity-muck at the pancake house. These, along with
dollops of humor, help make the novel quite a hoot indeed.”
School Library Journal: “Packed with quirky characters and
improbable plot twists, Hiaasen's first novel for young readers
is entertaining but ultimately not very memorable. The story
is silly at times but rarely laugh-out-loud funny, and there are
several highly unlikely scenes. Also, it wraps up a little too
neatly. While Roy is a sympathetic protagonist, few of the
other characters are well developed.”--Miranda Doyle
5. Connections
● Students may enjoy reading Carl Hiaasen’s answers to questions
about Hoot at http://www.carlhiaasen.com/faqs-hoot.html
● Watch the movie based on the book. Compare the two.
Hoot (New Line Platinum Series) 2006. ASIN B000GB5MH4
● Find out about burrowing owls. Make a bulletin board or a
class book with the information you find.
● Find out if there has ever been a similar situation in your
community. What happened?
● See pictures of burrowing owls and read about a real-life
Florida project to save them at
http://members.aol.com/pjbowen/owls.html
Another book by Hiaasen about a young crusader:
Flush ISBN 978-0-375-82182-0
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