Hoot

Written 2-5-06 Reader Response to Hoot by Carl Hiassen

p. 192

The book is pretty intersting so far. the plot is a little juvenile, but we are reading adolescent lit after all. I think I'd recommend it to 6th-8th graders. The main cahrater is in middle school. the plot is ok- it keeps me interested- and there are themes that any kid can relate too- broken homes, appreciating what family you have, saving the rainforest and the whales and the baby seals and all that stuff. There are some points where my disbelief is not suspended. it's a good story though.

p.143 connect- Just because he's my dad doesn't automatically make him a good person.

"Roy didn't understand how a mother could kick her own child out of her life, but he knew such tragic things occurred. He'd heard of fathers who acted the same way."

I only have 100 pages to go, and (sarcasm) I'm really wondering how it will end.

p.205

"His mom and dad were still his best friends, and they could be fun to hang out with." FIRST OF ALL I HATE SENTENCES THAT END IN PREPOSITIONS! PET PEEVE! anyways. There's a point where that will no longer be true-and that's depressing- but it also shows that kids have to break away from their parents.

Final thoughts:
OK. finished it. Totally predictable. It took 300 pages to say what could have been printed in 200. It dragged in places. I really think that 6th-8th grad kids could get into this... but it's a little boring- if i had to read it in middle school, i would have chucked it out the window. i hate predictability. I rate this the feel good story of the year. Very cliché, save the rainforest crap- you can do anything if you put your mind to it- that's not how it is in real life. WHOOPIDEEDOO!


Ack. i don't think i'd teach this book. i think i'd teach Holes by Luis Sacchar instead.