Hoot by Carl Hiaasen

Hoot. By Carl Hiaasen. Alfred A. Knopf, c2002. 292 pages.

Plot: The story centers around Roy Eberhardt a Middle School student who is new to the town of Coconut Grove, Florida. Roy enters into some unlikely friendships with “Mullet Fingers” a homeless boy and Mullet’s sister, Beatrice. Central to the story is a patch of ground slated to be bulldozed to make way for the 469th location of a Mother Paula’s All-American Pancake House restaurant. At first, the vandalism at the site seems random, but it is discovered that there is a community of burrowing owls on the site whose habitat will be destroyed by the construction and it is the presence and desired protection of these owls that are the focus of the vandalism. Roy discovers this fact through “Mullet Fingers” and is drawn into the cause of saving the owls. Through Roy’s persistence, he discovers the owls are a protected species, that the company knows the owls are there but deny it, that the environmental impact report has been hidden and that city officials have been bribed! The story builds to a great scene at the groundbreaking ceremony which yields surprises that will delight the reader.


Review/Personal thoughts: Hoot is a great read! Many themes are visited and cleverly revealed in the book. Bullying, friendships, parent child relations and middle school life are all part of the story. Also included are corruption, anti-development and the beauty of nature as themes. There are many eccentric characters and many normal characters, all of which are made completely believable. I enjoyed the ineptitude revealed in the well-meaning adults like the police officer and site supervisor. There is an element of humor that runs throughout the book that had me smiling as I read. There are serious and heartfelt scenes in the book as well which offer a great balance and variety to the book. I’m sure my empathy for the fate of the burrowing owls affected my enjoyment of the book and I recommend this title without hesitation.

Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Reading Level: 5.1 Interest level: Ages 10 to 13

Awards:
Newbery Medal/Honor 2003
ALA Notable Children's Book 2003
ALA Best Books for Young Adults 2003
Arizona Young Readers Award 2005
Minnesota Maud Heart Lovelace Award 2005
Connecticut Nutmeg Children's Book Award 2006

Crash by Jerry Spinelli

Crash. Jerry Spinelli. Alfred A. knopf, Inc., c1996. 162 pages. 

 " My real name is John Coogan. But everybody calls me Crash, even my parents. As far back as I can tell, I've always been crashing-- into people, into things, you name it, with or with out a helmet (Spinelli, 1996, p1)."

Plot/ Description: Seventh grader Crash Coogan is a jock that loves his reputation as an excellent athlete and comedian. Crash and his best friend Mike love to torment and prank the school nerd; Penn Webb. In the first grade when Crash and Penn first met, Crash was shocked to discover that Penn was not only a vegetarian and a Quaker, but he only had two toys to his name; a wagon and a box of Mud from the Missouri River. From then on Crash decided it would be more fun to pick on Penn then befriend him. Crash tormented Penn but he also envied the close relationship he shared with his parents. Crashes parents work a lot and they miss all of Crash’s games, but his Grandpa Scout shows up to all of Crash’s practices and games. Scout suffers a terrible stroke, and Crash lets go of his “Crash” reputation and finds an unlikely friendship with Penn.

Review: Crash is a story of a boy who has defined himself with aggressive behavior, but learns to feel compassion and empathy when his grandfather suffers a stroke. This story explores the ways boys develop their masculine identity. His family and friends, and the media influence Crash as he constructs his identity. He consciously tries to model jock behavior that he sees in movies and on T.V. when he tries to charm Jane at a school dance and pulls her on the dance floor even though she told him to go away. Crash and Mike bully Penn together to prove how tough they are and Crash bases his worth and popularity on how much his parents spend on him. Crash’s parents explain that they can’t make his games because they work to provide him the things he needs for a better life. 

Penn Webber’s family believe that family and the environment are more important than material goods. Penn influences Crash’s sister; Abby, to wear second hand clothes and protect the environment, but she encounters stiff opposition at home. Crash's bullying of Penn is fueled by Penn's nonconformist values and Penn's close relationship with his parents. 

Crash craves attention and guidance, his grandfather listens to Abby and Crash; and he nurtures their thoughts and goals with his warm demeanor and love. When Scout has a stroke, Crash is finally forced to care about something beyond material wealth and popularity. Crash realizes through the novel that materialistic wealth and his reputation will not satisfy his heart.  Crash stops basing his identity on athleticism and bullying Penn because Penn is the only person who understands Crash’s relationship with his grandfather. Crash and Penn become best friends and Crash relinquishes his jock/bully identity because his grandfather’s health gives him an opportunity to create a sense of empathy and compassion. This is a humorous and meaningful story that many boys trying to make sense of their masculine identity as they grow up will appreciate and enjoy.  

Personal Thoughts: Crash is a core piece of Contemporary Realistic Fiction because it explores the ways a boy defines his masculinity as he approaches manhood. Becoming a man, and deciding the type of man, a boys want to become are persistent themes in the world. When Crash consciously mimics the Jock behavior he sees on T.V., it is a perfect characterization of a boy trying out a male stereotype to prove that he is grown up. But, Crash learns that his reputation as a comedian and jock do not fulfill his heart when Scout suffers a stroke. Crash chooses to define his sense of self independent of masculine stereotypes, and this makes him a happier kid. Tween boys will relate to Crash's experiences becoming a man, and they will learn valuable lesson about defining themselves as men.

 

Genre: Realistic Fiction, First Person Narrative Stories

Reading Level: Age 9- 12

Award:  Golden Archer Awards (Wisconsin): Intermediate

Indian Paintbrush Book Award (Wyoming)

Iowa Teen Award

Massachusetts Children’s Book Award

Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award (Minnesota)- Division II: Grades 6-8 (post- 1996 winners)

North Carolina Children’s Book Award: Junior Books

Pennsylvania Young Readers Choice Awards: Grades 6- 8

School Library Journal Best Books: 1996

South Carolina Book Awards: Junior Books

Virginia Readers’ Choice Award: Middle School (Grades 6-9)