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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
It was slow to start, but it ended up being a good story.
Is it weird that I picked out this book because of the design on the cover? Is it, then, even weirder that I decided to buy it because the texture of the cover was so flabbergasting to me? Even if you answer yes to either of those questions, I don't care. [b:Hoot|13083|Hoot|Carl Hiaasen|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320470095s/13083.jpg|817164] was the best random buy I've ever made, and you'd be a fool not to give this book a chance.
I read it this summer to see if I could do it as a novel study with my grade sixes. I don't think it spoke to me the way that some more recent books do.
I’m not impressed with Carl Hiaasen’s transition to middle grades books. I’ve read some of his adult books and like the environmental themes and general kookiness. But I don’t feel like he left enough of his adult writing style behind. This book had an excessive amount of bad language. Why include cussing in a children’s book?! I read it aloud and had to change a bunch of wording on the fly. I’m glad my kids didn’t read it on their own. There’s also a lot of lying, vandalism, skipping school, fist fights, and domestic violence. All of the adults, besides the main character’s parents, are pretty flawed people. The kids work to save owls at a building sight, but their methods aren’t very admirable. I want more from middle grades novels.
I love owls and young adult books, so on another sleepless night, I read the adorable copy of “Hoot” someone had left in my Little Free Library. Entirely predictable and solidly wholesome, it read like a sugar cookie: not the best cookie by any means but entirely adequate in the moment. While “Hoot” lacks the depth of story and intensity of emotion found in good YA books, the kind that make you cry as an adult and open your eyes to new perspectives as a kid, my 3rd-grade self would’ve liked the adventure, appreciation for nature, and plucky hero, not to mention burrowing owls. And it appears to be part of a cute set. Win as a read-together with your kid.
Delightful, well-written, with a propulsive plot. My son appreciated the fact that Beatrice and Mullet weren't "cut-out characters," and I appreciated the fact that Hiaasen's depiction of family life was not from a June Cleaver wonderland. Some not-so-good family life was depicted here, as well as a gentle introduction to the sad fact that corporate bad behavior exists. My son devoured this, as did I. We'll be checking out Hiaasen's other YA books.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No