Hoot, by Carl Hiaasen (on CD; read by Chad Lowe)

Retrieved from: the library
(0307206971), 2004 (the book was published in 2002)
Suggested by: Sparky
My Ratings: 8 Merit, 10 Interest, 9 Fun

Yes, this is the same Carl Hiaasen who writes thrillers. No, this isn't a thriller, it's a book aimed at the middle school market, and it's surprisingly successful. Sparky has read this book about 20 times, at least. I finally felt like I should figure out what the hook was.

The story revolves around a boy who has just moved to Florida with his family. He's a Professional New Kid; they move a lot. He's used to bullies, and used to finding his own way around new neighborhoods. What catches his eye, from the school bus window one morning, is the sight of a barefoot boy running away from the bus stop. That barefoot boy turns out to be a kid on a crusade to save several burrowing owls from bulldozers which are about to start grading for a new restaurant in town. And before the book is over Roy finds himself allied with the boy, his half-sister, a rather dumb cop, his dad and a former beauty queen in the quest to protect the owls.

It sounds sentimental; it's really not. I suspect part of Sparky's interest is the section in which Roy discusses his status as an only child. Roy is a mature kid; probably the only downside of the book is that at times he was just a little TOO mature. Still, what a fun, realistic look at Florida through the eyes of kids who live there, whether they want to or not.

[Oh, and yes, it is THAT Chad Lowe reading.]