Hoot

In middle school, I had to read books to earn points for this accelerated program. I didn't like reading back then, and it felt like a chore to me. This book was the changing point in that time. It was everything I could have wanted at 11 years old, and I never get tired of it.
The movie is really great too!

Reader reviewed by jb ak jl gw

I have read the book Hoot, it is about this boy who was trying to find out who the mystery boy that has been running faster than anything. the mystery boy's name is Mullet Fingers, then there is this girl named Beatrice. they all try to save the owls. the main character is Roy,and there is this bully named Dana. alright lets talk about the reasons we disliked the book, we disliked the book because dana always acted all big and bad, and he always wanted to smoke a ciggerate. the reason we liked the book was because the characters cared about the animals and the enviorment. so i think a person who likes animals should read this book.

Reader reviewed by the book muncher

Roy Eberhardt has been moving from school to school all his life, so he knows what being the new kid is like. The first thing that happens to him when he moves to Florida is his face being mashed up against the school bus window. Strangely, hes not upset with the bully. Rather, he feels almost grateful, because if he hadnt been looking then, he wouldnt have seen the running boy.

Roy is intrigued, and he starts to pursue the kid. He also befriends Beatrice who is also connected to the running kid. It turns out that the new construction site for a pancake house coincides with the habitat of some owls. And the running boy is doing all he can to save those owls, because no one else will. Roy and Beatrice soon join in the fight to save the owls.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Hoot. It was a cute and funny novel. It showed me that it is always important to do the right thing, but I felt that the running boy went a little too far sometimes; he might be considered an eco-terrorist. But I digress. Hoot was nonetheless a great read, and I recommend it for people in the middle grades.

Reader reviewed by Emily TT

I really liked this book.
Skip the movie, read the book. The book is funnier and better. The book is pretty inspiring. It's about 3 kids (2 guys, 1 girl) finding out that the new pancake house is about to be constructed on some endangered owls' burrows. So the kids try (and succeed) to get rid of construction equipment and stop the pancake house from being built.
If you liked this book, read Flush another book from the author.
-E.T.

Reader reviewed by LJK

Roy Eberhardt is new to Coconut Grove, Florida; his father's government job has taken him to six different school in six years. Although Roy is well-adjusted, and has learned to fit in at his new school, he still misses the mountains and changing scenes of Bozeman, Montana, his favorite of their previous homes. He becomes curious when he sees a strange boy running past the school bus, and the boy isn't wearing any shoes. Roy decides to investigate, and finds himself caught up in an adventure that involves cottonmouth moccasins, aligators and guard dogs, burrowing owls and Mother Paula's Pancake House, and oh yeah, the local police.

Hoot as adult author Carl Hiaasen's first novel for young adults, and he aces it. Although Hoot focuses on Roy's growing friendship with Beatrice the Bear and Mullet Fingers, and their fight to save the burrowing owl, the adults in this novel also emerge as fully developed characters. The adults are a blend of good and bad, rather than the clueless grownups seen in many young adult novels. Although Hoot carries a strong environmental message, it isn't overdone, and it never distracts from the adventure.

Hoot is a very funny book, and all ages will enjoy Roy's story as he battles the high school bully and the evil pancake empire.

Reader reviewed by Dylana

This book really caught my interest. The main character, Roy, is very witty and unique and smart. He's a junior high student who moves all the time. Now he lives in Florida as an only child with his parents. He's the school bully's main target and he's sick of it. Plus he hates Florida and misses Montana. That is, until he sees the running boy. Things totally change. The running boy's stepsister, Beatrice, is there to protect him. Then Roy gets involved with a scandal to protect the miniature burrowing owls nesting in the lot where a Mother Paula's Pancake restaurant will be built upon. Roy and his new friends do all they can do to get the construction stopped. You'll love this book, plus it has honors. It's really interesting and I enjoyed the plot line and the original characters a lot. Both adults, teens, and kids will like this read!

Reader reviewed by Keenan Scott from Mrs. Siroek's class

Hott is a very good book because there isn't 5 chapers of just boring non exiting iformation. It's also very good because it's funney book and sorta has a moral. My favorite part was when Mullet Fingers put the alligators in the potta potties now that was funney.