Hoot - Carl Hiaasen

I read Hoot by Carl Hiaasen this six weeks. It was copyrighted in 2002 and is a realistic fiction novel that takes place around the modern times. It is about a boy named Roy, who sees a mysterious running boy who doesn't go to school and is strangely, not wearing any shoes. Roy decides to give him some shoes the next day and starts chasing the boy the next day. Out on a gold course, Roy gets pelted in the head with a golf ball and is knocked out. Determined to find the shoeless boy, he sets out again, only to be kidnapped by the mysterious boy. Roy sees him much more often after that incident and something from missing shoes, eventually grows into something bigger. The overall theme of the book is selfishness, as that some people will do anything just for more money.

 The story is told from third-person limited, as we can only see Roy's thoughts and feelings. The plot is that Roy finds this running boy that is not wearing shoes, and doesn't look like he's going to school and keeps on running and running. Roy gets the courage to run from a bully, Dana Matherson, to chase the mysterious boy through neighborhoods and finally through a golf course, where he is knocked unconscious. He later figures out that the boy's nickname is Mullet Fingers, which is his "name" for the rest of the book until the end. Roy is slowly ebbed into Mullet Finger's plans which has to do with owls, and a pancake house. The intended audience is probably kids to young teenagers, probably around 9-14 years of age. The story fits in with the genre, realistic fiction, because it doesn't have any wacky fantasy things like, mythical creatures and magic, but instead uses real animals such as the Burrowing Owl, an animal that is part of the main plot. The author keeps me interested in the book by adding little plot twists that you don't expect that are just random. The author's style keeps the audience interested by adding a lot of small plots that still connect with the main plot so you get a lot of tension on what is gong to happen as each plot progresses.

 This book impacted me after I read it because it made me change the way I look on humans. realized that everyone will lie and cheat their way to get what they want but not all of them do and some people stand up for what's right and make a big change in the world. This book has reminded me of other authors that like to add sarcasm and a lot of humor in their stories.

 I like the random things he puts in the story, such as rattlesnakes with glitter on their tails. There are other funny moments in the book but I won't reveal them yet. I would recommend this book to pass time when you have nothing to do or if you are an animal lover.
 Rachel Wen
 12/16/14
 Rating: **** 4/5