Hoot

Rating:
Summary: PG-rated Hiaasen for kids
Review: My sister & I love Hiaasen's adult books so when he wrote a kids' book I had to get it for my own daughters (ages 11 & 10). I read it first & devoured it in one sitting. Then my girls both started reading the book & actually fought over who would get to finish it first. I think Roy, the main character, is a kid almost anyone can find a reason to admire.

"Hoot" has Hiaasen's characteristic environmental thread, cast of unusual characters, & distinctive humor (all toned way down, though). What I really like about Hiaasen's books in general is that, while there are usually positive outcomes in his stories, not everything is neatly wrapped up at the end & everyone doesn't necessarily live happily ever after. Also that his 'heroes' are sometimes as messed up as the 'bad guys'; or at least they're 'average' & not perfect.

To be honest, I wouldn't mind if more kids (& adults!) were like Roy & looked past their own four walls, stood up for what they believed in, & tried to make a difference in their communities. Roy saw that the developers of a new franchise were breaking the law by building on the habitat of miniature owls (the developers had, "officially speaking", never seen any owls, of course). And though, to adults, the book's ending may be too tidy & predictable, I think the book as a whole has good & empowering messages for kids.

Rating:
Summary: Hoot
Review: I read the book Hoot. It was a good book because it was funny, mystifying and daring at the same time. The main characters were Roy, Mullet Fingers, Beatrice, and Dana. It all started when Roy moved to Florida from Montana. He was on the bus when Dana started to beat him up after he turned Roy's head to the window. That was when he saw the boy. Before Dana could hurt him really bad Roy punched him and ran. He was running after that boy he saw running down the street. Roy thought the boy he saw was trying to catch the bus but he was not. The plot of the story was the boy Roy saw was doing something bad. Something to save an animal. I thought it was good that the boy did that and I wasn't surprised. I really liked the part when Roy mooned Dana. I think that every one should read Hoot.

Rating:
Summary: Alagators in Port-a-Potties?
Review: This is one of my favorite Hiaasen books. It's deadly funny. I really enjoyed the way each pont of veiw was as if it was the beginning of the book. For example, if a character was indroduced in one perseptive, it wouldn't be in the next. Hiaasen really struck gold with this book. As you can see from the title of this reveiw, there are many magical things in this book.
:)

Rating:
Summary: Interesting and Fun!
Review: This is my first Hiaasen book, but I don't think it'll be my last. It was very fun to read, had politics like mine, and the ending was even well done. I really enjoyed the details, and the presentations of various characters points of view. There could have been a few more female characters, but atleast the main female protaganist (the jock) was very positive. If your politics are moderate to left, you shouldn't be offended by anything here. Highly recommended!

Rating:
Summary: A first read of Carl Hiaasen
Review: I have to admit that I chose to read this book on the cardinal sin of choosing a book: I liked the cover.

What was inside the cover was even better.

I had never read Carl Hiaasen before and I truly enjoyed Hoot. The characters were well developed and yet mysterious at the same time. I found myself "talking back" to the book during some parts. I was captivated and I was taken into the story. Realistic fiction is supposed to provide a sense of hope, and this book definitely did. For me, it was a sliding door into the story and I stepped into the world of Roy and Beatrice.

As an educator in the elementary school system, I feel that this book is an excellent choice for kids. Many kids are sympathetic with animals and they become enchanted by characters that stick up for what they believe in. This book provides an excellent opportunity for children to see how fictional characters in a story can relate to the readers. It's just a great encouraging book for both kids and adults.

If you're looking for a great extra-curriculum read, Hoot is a great page-turner and I look forward to reading Hiassen's works in the future.

Rating:
Summary: Hoot - a study in ecological terrorism and vandalism
Review: What an offensive book depicting ecological terrorism and crime masquerading as righteous activities by children! ELF (listed by the FBI as an American terrorist organization accused of vandalizing millions of dollars worth of private property) would be proud. In the book, parents are clueless but well-meaning, school officials are inept, corporations are greedy and employees stupid, politicans are corrupt, and vandalism to property is condoned, all depicted through the eyes, of course, of an innocent child. This book does not belong on anybody's reading list - unless, of course, you belong to that part of the population who thinks capitalism, private property and profits are dirty words.

Rating:
Summary: A Hoot of a read!
Review: I loved Hoot! I am the mom of a sixth grader, who was required to read this book for school. I read most of her books, because I love good material. I found this to be a great book because it takes place in current times, it is ecologically sound and you just have to love the characters! Kids and adults will love this book and looking out for the underdog (oops underowl!)

Rating:
Summary: A great read!
Review: This book was great! It was interesting and funny, and I really liked the way the author described the characters. They seemed like real people. I also learned a lot about burrowing owls. I never knew there was such a thing. I liked the way the kids worked to save them from the pancake house. I would recommend this book to all my friends because it was so good!

Rating:
Summary: Very good book for struggling readers
Review: As a secondary reading teacher who deals with struggling readers I have a huge challenge finding interesting books for them to read. This book was recommended to me by a reading specialist and she was right on about this book. My students loved it! For many, it was the first book they ever read!

We had a great time making predictions throughout the story as Roy Eberhardt, Beatrice Leep, Curly, and Officer Delinko are all looking for something. The plot twists and weaves but never loses the reader. The closer each character gets to finding what they are looking for, the more streamlined the plot gets. As it turns out they are all looking for the same thing and as they do, little hints are dropped to the reader along the way--hightening the reader's interest. What are they looking for? You will have to read this book to find out!

Strongly recommended to any struggling reader or to any teacher dealing with struggling readers.

Rating:
Summary: its a hoot
Review: This story was really good, and I love how the story was about never giving in to help something!