Genre - FICTION
Summary – A fun, inspirational novel about an unlikely group of kids who join together to attempt save a field of burrowing owls from being buried under the town’s largest construction project yet. The town of Coconut Grove is getting the newest, hottest pancake chain, ‘Mother Paula’s All-American Pancake House.’ Roy Eberhardt realizes that the fast-food company is attempting to build their chain on top of a piece of land home to the burrowing owls. Young Roy understands the effect this construction will have on this natural habitat and schemes to bring down the project. This novel addresses the environmental issue of building on a natural environment and the human effects it has on the animals that dwell there.
Summary – A fun, inspirational novel about an unlikely group of kids who join together to attempt save a field of burrowing owls from being buried under the town’s largest construction project yet. The town of Coconut Grove is getting the newest, hottest pancake chain, ‘Mother Paula’s All-American Pancake House.’ Roy Eberhardt realizes that the fast-food company is attempting to build their chain on top of a piece of land home to the burrowing owls. Young Roy understands the effect this construction will have on this natural habitat and schemes to bring down the project. This novel addresses the environmental issue of building on a natural environment and the human effects it has on the animals that dwell there.
In addition to the environmental theme, the novel also addresses the ever-present problem of bullying, how to treat others the way you want to be treated, and the value of being a good friend.
Teaching Points - This novel is extremely useful to use in a classroom. In addition to the main theme of environmental protection, the novel also carries a general conservation, ecology, and advocacy theme than can be used in a science classroom. Middle/high school students will enjoy the witty humor, dangerous adventures, and relatable character traits in which they can connect to.
This book can be used in the science classroom for topics previously mentioned (conservation, environmental safety, ecology, and advocacy). In addition, this book can be cross-curricular to be used in a reading class. Students can study character development, plot lines, and conflict-resolution. Because of the fact that many of author Carl Hiaasen’s books are written about real-life situations, students can research events that have occurred similar to the event that Roy and his friends faced with Mother Paula’s Pancake House in this novel.
Suggested Reading Level – Grade 5+
Additional Resources – Visit author Carl Hiaasen’s homepage at www.carlhiaasen.com . This website is a great source of information about the author himself, his books, and an overview of where his inspiration for each book comes from. Hiaasen has also written two other young adult novels about environmental issues called Flush and Scat.
Citation – Hiaasen, Carl. Hoot. New York City: Random House, 2002. Print.
ISBN-10: 0375829164 / ISBN-13: 978-0375829161
