Summary
In the book Hoot by Carl Hiaasen, the main character Roy Eberhardt moves to Florida from Montana and faces many struggles from his bully Dana. Roy soon takes interest in a boy who runs away barefoot from the bus on the first day of school, and decides to follow him. Roy soon learns that the boy is named Mullet Fingers and lives in nature. Meanwhile, in an area called Coconut Cove, a restaurant Mother Paula's All-American Pancake House plans to build its new restaurant upon an endangered burrowing owl nest, which is illegal. As someone constantly messes with the construction site, Police Officer David Delink and company worker Curly try to figure out who is vandalizing the construction site.
Roy soon becomes friends with a girl named Beatrice Leep, who turns out to be Mullet Fingers’ step sister. Beatrice and Roy become closer and help Mullet Fingers, who is responsible for creating problems that delay the pancake house’s construction. After Mullet Fingers becomes hurt, Roy decides to help Mullet Fingers by tricking Dana into a trailer and become framed as the perpetrator of the construction vandalism. Yet, in the end, all the kids in Roy’s class, Beatrice, and Mullet Fingers decide to band together and protest to protect the burrowing owls when the restaurant breaks land for construction. In the end, the burrowing animals are saved, and Mullet Fingers runs away from home.
Characters
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Roy Eberhardt: The narrator of the story and goes to Trace Middle School. He enjoys being part of wildlife. He works with Mullet Fingers and Beatrice Leep to save the burrowing owls.
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Mullet Fingers: A boy who works to save wildlife. He is familiar with animals and he earned his nickname due to his ability to catch mullet fish with his bare hands. Mullet Fingers has run away from military school after his mother sent him there and enjoys leaving solitarily. He is Beatrice’s stepsister.
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Beatrice Leep: A girl who attends Trace Middle School. She is part of the soccer team and is called “Beatrice the Bear” due to her large strength. Additionally, she stands up for Roy against Dana, the school bully.
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Dana: the school bully. He has constantly harassed Roy on the bus and is known for being strong but not particularly smart. Roy stands up to Dana and later tricks Dana as the perpetrator of the construction interruptions for Mother Paula’s All-American Pancake House.
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Officer David Delinko: A secondary perspective in the story. A young police officer who is overeager in solving a case, and focuses on the construction disruption for Mother Paula’s All-American Pancake House.
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Leroy "Curly" Branitt: A secondary perspective in the story. A construction overseer who struggles to stop the disruptions on the construction site. He is tired and wishes to find more meaning in his life.
Discussion Questions
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How does Roy Eberhardt change throughout the book? How does he become more aware of the environment around him?
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How are Beatrice and Mullet Fingers similar and different? Why do they support each other, even though they don’t live under the same roof?
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Is Curly responsible for the dangerous actions of Mother Paula’s Pancake House? Why or why not?
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Why does Beatrice have to take care of her father? Is Beatrice strong or weak (both physically and mentally)?
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Why does Roy want to help Beatrice and Mullet Fingers? How would you compare the family setting in Roy’s household and Beatrice’s household?
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Why does Officer Delinko work hard for the case? Is there any significant benefit that he gains?
Background Info
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Burrowing Owls: Burrowing Owls are known for their nests that rest underground, hence the name “burrowing.” They enjoy living in dry ground, such as deserts. They mostly feed on insects and small mammals. However, these owls are labeled as endangered due to their easy habitat loss.
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Context: The main characters in this book try to save the habitat of these burrowing owls.
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Source: http://burrowingowlconservation.org/burrowing_owl_facts/
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Cottonmouth: Cottonmouth snakes, or also known moccasins, are venomous snakes that are usually dark green, brown, or black. They usually live near wetlands, such as swamps and streams.
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Context: Mullet Fingers uses cottonmouths as one method in delaying the construction of the pancake house.
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Source: https://www.outdooralabama.com/venomous-snakes/cottonmouth
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Environmental Impact Statement: An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is an examination of a certain construction proposal and checks whether there will be significant environmental impacts on the land or the wildlife around there and is used to make suggestions.
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Context: For the construction of the restaurant, Mother Paula's All-American Pancake House illegally removed the EIS, which revealed that burrowing owls were present on the construction site.
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Military schools (for high schoolers and middle schoolers): A school that has an aim to discipline and focuses on a militaristic lifestyle. Although some are focused on a future military career, it can also be seen as a place to send who people deem “troubled teens.” It is often known for its harsh training and sometimes inhumane conditions.
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Context: Mullet Fingers ran away from a military school and decides to stay in the wilderness.
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