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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Minor: Gun violence
I read this as part of TikTok creator’s dontplaywiththefae “50 Books for 50 States” display. I thought this was a great book as an introduction to environmentalism for kids. Now it is definitely geared towards middle schoolers, but I think it’s a great way to show that one person can make change, especially with a community behind them. I probably won’t read more of Hiaasen’s middle school aged books, but I’d be open to reading his adult literature.
This is a good (not great) story about saving some endangered owls, geared towards middle graders.
And it got a Newbery Honor? Really? This "good story" is overshadowed by bizarre stereotyped characters, a one-dimensional bully that is taught a pretty severe lesson, and a homeless kid with an abusive mother. Basically, there's some funny lines, and maybe that was Hiaasen's way to share his message with the "youths" today, but the actual point of the book is muddled at best.
I threw an extra star on there for the cute owls, but otherwise, not really worth a hoot at all!!
(I really like the dynamics of bully & bullied in [b:A Year in the Life of a Total and Complete Genius|22666866|A Year in the Life of a Total and Complete Genius (Arthur Bean #1)|Stacey Matson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1417474713s/22666866.jpg|42167753] which I thought about often when feeling sympathy for Dana the Bully.)
And it got a Newbery Honor? Really? This "good story" is overshadowed by bizarre stereotyped characters, a one-dimensional bully that is taught a pretty severe lesson, and a homeless kid with an abusive mother. Basically, there's some funny lines, and maybe that was Hiaasen's way to share his message with the "youths" today, but the actual point of the book is muddled at best.
I threw an extra star on there for the cute owls, but otherwise, not really worth a hoot at all!!
(I really like the dynamics of bully & bullied in [b:A Year in the Life of a Total and Complete Genius|22666866|A Year in the Life of a Total and Complete Genius (Arthur Bean #1)|Stacey Matson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1417474713s/22666866.jpg|42167753] which I thought about often when feeling sympathy for Dana the Bully.)
I liked this, I think it is a great introduction to environmentalism for kids. As an adult reading this I just didn't get why it took so long to understand what was going on. It wrapped up rather neatly with very clear bad/good guys but i get that was because it was for preteens and that is how most books for this age group are written.
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
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
A book I started when I was a kid and never finished. Very cute story, gonna watch the movie now but I think it might ruin things because I imagined younger kids as the main characters
adventurous
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-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:
Yes
adventurous
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
fast-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:
Complicated