Hoot

Hoot
Author: Carl Hiaasen
Medal: Newbery
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Grades: 4- 7

This story is about a boy named Roy who is a new kid in town. The school bully has already beat him up and is humiliated by a girl named Beatrice for his obsession over a random boy he sees running. The random boy runs super fast but without shoes on. One day Roy notices the boy running past the bus and runs after him. However, he is hit by a golf ball and loses the boy. Roy continues to search for the running boy but is told to stop looking for him. Eventually, Roy finds out that Beatrice and the running boy, Mullet Fingers are siblings. Mullet Finger is on a mission to save owls that live in a lot that is about to be constructed on. Mullet Finger pulls many pranks in attempt to delay construction. The group of three start for legal means to save the owls because the owls are endangered species. However, the company so desperate to save the owls that they are willing to ignore the means. Luckily, Roy and his teams end up winning against the company when the owls are seen by a crowd during the groundbreaking ceremony. Roy not only saved the owls but he ended gaining two new friends. This book should be in the class because it shows that anyone can make a difference in the environment.