Hoot (2002) by Carl Hiaasen

An environmentally conscience YA novel with a rich plot and characters ranging from huggable to heinous.

I knew little of what to expect when I picked up Hoot by Carl Hiaasen. My paperback edition has no plot summary. There are a slew of accolades inside the front cover and a brief biography of Hiassen indicating that this is his first book for young adults. He does not disappoint.

At the heart of Hoot’s charm is the balance between intriguing characters and an engrossing plot that wraps like a tight knot. And the only way to unravel it is to read to the very end. Like many of Hiaasen’s books, the setting is a fictional town somewhere on the beautiful Florida coast. The main protagonist is middle school student Roy Eberhardt whose first hurdle is Dana Matherson–a chubby unconfident school bully who, like most bullies, enjoys making other children feel inferior by brute force and verbal abuse. Roy wants a peaceful truce with Dana, but after a few unsuccessful attempts he eventually finds a comically creative solution for handling him.

Roy’s bigger dilemma is discovering who the local “running boy” is. Roy spots this “intent and serious” boy running barefoot outside when he should be in school. Roy’s curiosity is insatiable until he can get to the bottom of this mystery. These are the first few pages and we’re already diving headfirst into an absorbing plot. Hiaason soon introduces other characters like police officer David Delinko and construction site manager Curly. He is overseeing the construction of Mother Paula’s All-American Pancake House. There’s no lack of Mother Paula restaurants since this will be its 450th location. Besides Roy’s parents, most adults in Hoot fall on a sliding scale somewhere between amiable but tactless to thoroughly barbaric. Office Delinko is on the tactless side and Curly is usually imbecilic. The “runny boy’s” mother is pure psycho.

We discover that someone has pulled out the construction site survey stakes and later commits other hilarious stunts involving reptilian creatures and black spray paint. These exploits are slowing down the restaurant's construction which is on a tight schedule. Early on an intuitive reader will recognize Hiaasen’s clues as to why someone is causing such havoc for Mother Paula.

Describing more of the plot would take the wind out of the sails. Suffice it to say it revolves around this construction site and centers on a cast of eco-warrior “stick it to the man” kind of kids; dimwitted, greedy, and self-absorbed adults; with one pair of loving supportive parents. These are Roy’s parents who in a few conversations highlight the heart and soul of Roy's internal dilemma. Roy tells his mother, “Maybe what I did was wrong, but I’d do it over again if I had to. I mean it.” She responds, “Your heart will tell you one thing, and your brain will tell you to do something different. In the end, all that’s left is to look at both sides and go with your best judgement” (p. 160). This conflict is familiar YA territory; however, the gripping plot and rounded characters enlighten this coming-of-age dilemma with a fresh power.

For readers interested in YA literature, environmentally-conscious themes, and witty characters, Hoot is a deserving book to check out.