Hoot by carl hiaasen - Ease Reading

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

I have never liked this book ever since I first read it in the 6th grade. Even now, my opinion remains the same.

The plot of the book fails to capture my interest. It lacks excitement and fails to engage me on an emotional level. As a result, I was only able to finish half of the book.

I found myself constantly losing focus and struggling to stay interested in the story. The characters seemed one-dimensional and the pacing was slow.

Perhaps if the plot had been more interesting and the characters more developed, I might have had a different opinion of the book. However, as it stands, I cannot recommend it to others.

In conclusion, my initial dislike for this book has only been reinforced over time. I will not be reading it again and will continue to search for other books that can capture my imagination and hold my attention from start to finish.

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Rylston

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Laugh out loud and endearing little tale.

World: I have a deep love for Carl Hiassen, and this marks my first foray into reading his young adult books. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the book still presents the weird and surreal setting of Florida. In this world, the bad are truly awful, the good are extremely virtuous, and the strange are just outrageously odd. I thoroughly enjoy this aspect. I love how his world is a bit distorted and out of focus, creating a lush playground for the story to unfold. This is familiar territory for Hiassen, as he has written numerous books set in Florida and has dealt with environmental issues, corrupt politicians, and businesses in his other works. However, this world feels both familiar and fresh due to the younger perspective.

Story: The story is paced extremely well, with wonderful dialogues and great chemistry between the characters. This is a typical Hiassen book, with all the elements that make his books so engaging: the quirky hero, the snippy female character, the grunt who seems bad but isn't really all that bad, the odd law enforcement officer, the bad business owner, and an endangered natural environment or animal. All these elements are present, and the story unfolds in the way a Hiassen book typically does, but this time through the eyes of a child, which makes it fun in a different way. The humor is still there, but it's PG-rated, and the banter is enjoyable without being vulgar, which is a great thing. There's even a Skink character in the book! I love it.

Characters: Roy is a wonderful character. He is nerdy, quiet, and yet a typical kid that readers can easily relate to. His journey and character arc are beautifully crafted, with emotions that feel earned and realistic. Beatrice is also well-developed, along with her and Roy's brother, offering both warm friendship and funny banter, as well as over-the-top nuttiness. This trio is written very well. The characters in Hiassen's books are always a bit over the top, and there are some here as well, but this time they seem a bit more toned down, a bit more simple in their ideas and archetypes. Given that this book is for children, this makes perfect sense. The message is the main focus of the story, and these characters are excellent vehicles for delivering the wonderful message of the book.

I really enjoyed this book. It's very much a Hiassen book, and yet it's also very much for children. I love it to bits. Onward to the next book!

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Solemn

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Not enjoyable at all. The pace is slow and plodding, making it a rather tiresome read. I read this book together with my 4th grade daughter as it was assigned to a small reading group at her school. However, my daughter did not like the book one bit.

Personally, I felt that some of the language and scenarios presented in the book were far too mature for a 4th grader. There are elements such as domestic violence, guns, mean pranks, bullying, and even cussing. It seems that the author perpetuated a lot of poor stereotypes.

I guess he might have thought it was okay, perhaps because he was trying to convey a pro-environmental, anti-business, "public service" message. But in my opinion, this does not justify exposing young children to such inappropriate content. It is important to consider the age and vulnerability of the readers when creating literature for them.

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Usakora

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

2.5 stars.

The message conveyed in this work is truly beautiful. It has the power to touch the hearts of the readers and make them reflect on certain aspects of life. The story, overall, was fairly enjoyable. It had its moments that kept the readers engaged and interested in finding out what would happen next.

However, there were some drawbacks. The chapters that focused on the police officer and the land foreman were extremely boring. They seemed to drag on and on, lacking the excitement and energy that the other parts of the story had. It was a bit of a letdown and made it a bit of a struggle to get through those sections.

On the positive side, the characters of Roy, the shoeless kid, and Beatrice were really lovable. They were well-developed and had their own unique personalities that made them stand out. The readers couldn't help but root for them and hope that they would succeed in their endeavors. Their relationships with each other added an extra layer of depth to the story and made it even more engaging.

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Maspatri

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

(re)Read as part of my ongoing shelf audit. Verdict: A charming book for younger readers, one of which I no longer am. I feel that I had recalled this book as having a greater focus on the owls than it actually does. In reality, it is mainly a story about a boy who, after moving, discovers a place and a way in which he belongs. The owls just happen to be the catalyst for that. It is more about Roy developing friendships and defining himself than it is about protecting the owls. And that's okay, but I guess in my mind I had morphed it into the MG version of The Monkey Wrench Gang, which it truly isn't. (Although it does sort of end up approving of a bit of mild ecoterrorism for kids, as long as they've done their homework first.) The fact that I remembered it as a stronger plea for ecological justice is, at least to me, a positive aspect. I was likely predisposed to take away that kind of message anyway, but hey, if it inspires other young people to care about conservation, all the better!

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WhiteIcePrince

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

I did not have many expectations going into this work, and it met those expectations. For better or worse, it might have been the least objectionable book I've read in a long time. I was vaguely aware of Carl Hiaasen and knew he typically showcased Florida in all its wacky glory. As a long-time resident of the Sunshine State, I thought I might as well give him a chance. If this book is any indication, then it gets a perfunctory shoulder shrug. It's not a bad read; it has decent enough characters and a quick pace, but it's largely forgettable.

The story starts as a mystery. Montana transplant Roy Eberhardt has recently moved to Florida and is adjusting to the climate and culture of his new home. In his short life, he has moved several times and is numb to the rigmarole that comes with it. He's resigned to being bullied and is content to let it happen as long as it's quick. He meets Dana Matherson, the neighborhood bully who is more of a comedic foil than a menacing figure. During this initial encounter on the bus, as he's getting mashed against the window, he notices a boy of similar age sprinting barefoot across the road.
This desire to discover the origins of this mysterious boy leads him on many adventures that will culminate in an act of defiance. We're introduced to many unique characters, such as the bumbling cop David Delinko, the irascible foreman Leroy Branitt, soccer star Beatrice Leep, and the aforementioned sprinter known as "Mullet Fingers." Hiassen demonstrates his keen eye in his description of various ecological biomes. In his protagonist Roy, Hiassen is trying to convince the reader that it's important to keep Florida weird and wild. He does a commendable job of showing the unique dichotomy of Florida: the all-consuming desire of people to develop any available land despite the largely inhospitable environment, such as swamps.
Overall, if you're looking for a milquetoast coming-of-age story, then this book is for you. Although topics like bullying and abuse are alluded to, they're largely in the background. The greatest attribute of this work is also its greatest fault; it's so very innocent. It's heartening that there are quality works like this for an age group (9 - 12 years old) that is largely neglected. Unfortunately, if you're older than this age group or are more mature, then this work may seem a bit juvenile.

It's a book that has its charms but may not have the depth or complexity to appeal to a wider audience. However, for its intended age group, it can provide an entertaining and somewhat educational read about the unique state of Florida.

It's a story that shows the importance of standing up for what you believe in and the beauty of the natural world, even in the face of development and change.

While it may not be a literary masterpiece, it does have its place in the world of children's literature.

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OgTo

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

This was a quick read that told an interesting story.

It was about a group of kids who decided to take action to save an endangered owl.

The kids noticed that the owl's habitat was being destroyed and its population was decreasing.

They felt a sense of responsibility and came up with a plan.

They started by learning as much as they could about the owl and its needs.

Then, they worked together to create a safe space for the owl in their community.

They planted trees and built nests to provide the owl with a suitable living environment.

The kids also raised awareness among their classmates and neighbors about the importance of protecting endangered species.

Thanks to their efforts, the owl's population began to increase, and the kids felt a great sense of achievement.

This story shows that even kids can make a big difference when they work together towards a common goal.

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dtc59

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

I read Hoot to my kids when it was first released and they were still young. Recently, I reread it and was once again amazed by what a brilliant young adult novel it is. I have been a fan of Carl Hiassen's adult novels ever since Tourist Season came out. However, it wasn't until I read Hoot again that I truly understood what a fantastic storyteller he is. This story is written ABOUT teens/young adults, not specifically FOR that age group. This means that adults can also read and enjoy it. I recently read a young adult novel by another writer I like, but it was the complete opposite. In my humble opinion, Hoot is the pinnacle. So, give a hoot and don't eat Mother Paula's pancakes!

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Hoot

carl hiaasen

This edition

Roy Eberhardt

Beatrice Leep

Mullet Fingers

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About the author

carl hiaasen

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