Novel Review

Hoot by Carl Hiaasen is a fascinating mystery novel that can influence people of all ages. The story follows a young boy named Roy Eberhardt. He has recently moved to Florida with his parents and is forced to start over at a new school. Throughout the book, he is confronted with troubling situations such as facing his school bully, learning how to tell the difference between white and blatant lies, and staying true to his own morals. The journey ultimately transforms Roy from an innocent and naive boy to a mature and capable man. 

Longtime columnist Carl Hiaasen is a well known American writer. Some other well known works by Hiaasen are Flush, Scat, and Skink – No Surrender. 

In the very beginning of the novel, Roy gets in trouble with Dana Matherson, the school’s tormentor. Because of this, he is introduced to Beatrice Leep and Mullet Fingers, both of whom Dana is terrified of. A main theme of the book is friendship and identity. After befriending Beatrice and Mullet Fingers, Roy turns into someone who is adventurous and willing to take risks. Hiaasen carefully weaves these themes into the main characters of the book by writing it in a way where the relational development between the characters are evident. The reader can also slowly witness Mullet Finger and Beatrice transform from introverts to people that are willing to open up and love others.

The book is set in Coconut Cove, Florida, where you can find owls burrowing in the ground. It is a good pick, because it is factually accurate and contributes to the realistic side of the novel. Throughout the novel, Roy often also compares his old home in Montana to Florida. All that is changed after he meets the vandalizers and supports their cause to save the owls. He slowly learns to adapt to his new home and accept that Florida is where he now belongs.

The amazing thing about Hoot is that every time I have to put the book down, it leaves me wanting more. The countless plot twists, such as the one where I found out who the running boy actually is, always manages to keep me on the edge of my seat. The story flows smoothly and lacks plot holes in it. Hiaasen’s writing style is dynamic but straightforward at the same time. His word choice is suited towards his younger readers, making the story easy to follow. He is able to paint us a picture with simple words that allows us to understand what is going on in the story. 

Feel good books are hard to come by, but Hoot is definitely one of them. I definitely recommend this book to people who are struggling with their identity and forming strong connections with others as Hoot is a true eye-opener that gives readers a new perspective on life. It helps you long to hold your close ones dear to your heart and treasure the friendships that you’ve made.

Writing Process and Rough Draft

Reflection: For class, we were asked to write a review for a fictional novel that we read. I chose the book Hoot to write about, because even though it seems like a childish book, the underlying meaning was really inspiring. I was also having an identity crisis at the time of reading the book, which also happened to be one of its main themes. I instantly formed a connection with the novel, and spilling out my thoughts towards the book was quite smooth. With the advice I picked up from the novel as well as my reflection on it while writing this piece, I was able to resolve my crisis, bit by bit.