Hoot (novel)
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| Hoot | |
|---|---|
 Cover of Hoot |
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| Author(s) | Carl Hiaasen |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Realistic Fiction |
| Publisher | Knopf |
| Publication date | 2002 |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 292 |
| ISBN | 0-330-41529-8 |
| OCLC Number | 53393228 |
Hoot is a young-adult novel by Carl Hiaasen. The story takes place in Coconut Cove, Florida, where new arrival Roy makes a bad enemy, two oddball friends, and joins an effort to stop construction of a pancake house which would destroy a colony of burrowing owls who live on the site. The book won a Newbery Honor award in 2003.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Characters
- Roy Andrew Eberhardt - the new kid at Trace Middle School, who quickly makes an enemy of the school bully, Dana Matherson, and makes two unusual friends[2], Beatrice Leep and her truant brother "Mullet Fingers."
- Beatrice Leep - "a tall girl with curly blond hair and red-framed glasses."[3] She is described as sinewy and tomboyish, and is a member of the soccer team. Garrett calls her "Beatrice The Bear."
- Napoleon Bridger "Mullet Fingers" Leep - Beatrice's step brother, initially known to Roy as the mysterious barefoot kid. His name is not given until the final chapter; the nickname "Mullet Fingers" refers to his ability to catch a mullet with his bare hands. He has a bad relationship with his mother, who had sent him to several military schools.
- Officer David Delinko - an officer in the Coconut Grove police department, the leading - as well as only - officer investigating the vandalization at the Mother Paula's All-American Pancake House construction site. Dutiful and ambitious, he develops sympathy for the owls and aids the kids.
- Leroy "Curly" Branitt - the foreman on the Mother Paula's All-American Pancake House construction site, where all of the mysterious vandalizations happen. Officer Delinko notes the irony of his nickname, as he is "bald as a beach ball." He is also "cranky," "unsmiling," and suspicious of everyone.[4]
- Dana Matherson torments underclassmen as the typical bully. Just like other bullies, he is an antagonist who finds inflicting pain on others quite pleasurable. His mother fights with and is a big bully just like him, and his father seems to try to discipline him.
- Mr. and Mrs. Eberhardt - Roy's parents. They are sensible and supportive. Mr. Eberhardt works in the federal Department of Justice, and helps Roy by checking Mother Paula's building permits. Mrs. Eberhardt likes yoga and is protective of Roy.
- Chuck E. Muckle - the "vice president of something-or-other" [5] at Mother Paula's All-American Pancake House, and the novel's primary antagonist. He is portrayed as an arrogant, manipulative, ruthless, and corrupt executive, who pretends owls do not live on the site so he can bulldoze over their homes.
- Leon and Lonna Leep contrast in personality. Mr Leep is Beatrice's decent but apathetic ex-NBA player father. He is remarried to a temperamental waitress, Lonna Leep.
- Kimberly Lou Dixon - an actress who plays Mother Paula the mascot for Mother Paula's All-American Pancake House.
- Garrett - Roy's best and only friend at Trace Middle School. A skateboarder, popular in school, the king of phony farts, and a D student. His mother is the school counselor.
- Ms. Viola Hennepin - the vice-principal of Trace Middle School. She attempts to discipline Roy on several occasions, though she is perceptive enough to observe that he is being bullied. She is described as having one long jet-black hair protruding out of her upper lip; later it mysteriously becomes blond.
[edit] Publication History
Carl Hiaasen started writing children's books when he realized that the other novels that he had written were too adult for his nieces and nephews. In writing his first baby adult novel, Hiaasen faced some challenges: "The biggest challenge was trying not to subconsciously 'write down' for young readers." He found that BA novels were easier to write. Hiaasen said, "When I was creating the character in Hoot, I'm sure I stole liberally from my pre-adolescence."[6]
[edit] Themes
The themes in the novel are friendship, growing up, corruption, parental love, and integrity. The character goes through different adventures to get here. It also teaches kids not to bully each other.[7]
[edit] Adaptation
A film adaptation of this book was released in May 2006.[8] Hiaasen and Wil Shriner, the director and script-writer, "fought long and hard to stay truthful to the book."[9]
[edit] References
- Hiaasen, Carl. Hoot. Yearling: New York, 2002. ISBN 0-440-41939-5
[edit] Notes
- ^ "2003 Newbery Medal and Honor Books". Association for Library Service to Children. http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/newberymedal/newberyhonors/2003newberymedal.cfm. Retrieved 15 January 2011.
- ^ Hiaasen, p. 39
- ^ Hiaasen, p. 14
- ^ Hiaasen, p. 4
- ^ Hiaasen, p. 253
- ^ Hiaasen, Carl. "Frequently Asked Questions". http://www.carlhiaasen.com/faq/faq-hoot.shtml. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
- ^ "Study Guide:HOOT by Carl Hiaasen". TheBestNotes.com. http://www.thebestnotes.com/booknotes/Hoot/Hoot_Book_Summary_Notes27.html. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
- ^ "Hoot (2006) - Movie Details - Yahoo! Movies". Yahoo! Movies. http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1808718642/details. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
- ^ Hiaasen, Carl. "Frequently Asked Questions: Movies". http://www.carlhiaasen.com/faq/faq-movies.shtml. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
[edit] External links
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