EDU 330- Book 8

One of the authors that we read during class was Carl Hiaasen and, although the read aloud topic is still up for debate, I can honestly report that I found myself becoming entangled in the book entitled, Flush. Carl Hiaasen has a gift for writing these young adult books, “green” pieces of literature that introduce students to complex ideas surrounding conservationism. Flush seemed like a great book, one that I would like to read on my own so I choose read another novel by Hiaasen entitled Hoot. This book, like our read aloud book, deals with environmental issues and makes them accessible to children who know a lot, a little, or even nothing about the problems affecting our world.

The book begins with Roy Eberhardt, a middle school kid, who is new in town. His family has just moved him to a new Florida town, previously from Montana, and he is finding it difficult to make friends. Roy has, in the beginning of the novel, met the bully, Dana, who smashes his face against the bus window. While this bullying takes place, Roy notices another boy who is running barefoot. After a while, Roy finds out who this barefoot boy is, and discovers he goes by the name Mullet Fingers. Furthermore, Roy continues to uncover more about the life and conversationalist work of Mullet, who has been “protesting” against construction that is taking place where endangered owls are living. There is a pancake house that is to be built-in place of the owls’ home and “Mother Paula’s people”, of Mother Paula’s All-American Pancake, won’t stop until their business is complete. However, Mullet and Roy stop at nothing to hold up the construction in protection of the owls and their homes. Roy begins to find friendship in this Florida town with not only Mullet but his stepsister, Beatrice, who not only stands up against Dana for Roy, but ultimately helps show Roy how to discover a power within to stand up for himself and what he believes, a current theme in the novel. Through continuous interactions of Dana and Roy with bullying we see these two stories, one of Roy and one of the owls, grow and unfold under the same theme of strength. Roy standing up for himself and what he believes as well as Mullet standing up for the owls and what he believes in, give this novel the power it needs to fight those who threaten our lives, whether environmentally or socially. Which is more important, another restaurant chain which brings in money to the owners and town or saving the lives and homes of the endangered owls? The fight to discover what is important in life, is the journey the reader takes along with Roy, in discovering who we are and how far we will go to fight for what we believe.

Similar to other books by Carl Hiaasen, this story has many problems with environmental issues and moral obligations. He writes this young adult story with not only humor to offset the seriousness of the conservation issue, but with a reality that not many authors seem to do for younger children while maintaining an adult topic. Set in Florida, we find the story emphasized by the literal setting of the Florida Everglades, a place that has been known for conservation efforts and maintaining the wildlife present. While this story may bring to light issues pertaining across the country, Florida is also, in present day facing the alarming fact that species are disappearing due to human influence. Roy becomes more than a saving figure in the novel he becomes a symbol to those reading of what our present day students must do in order to help their future lives and the future of the animals and world around them. Educating yourself, making yourself aware of the problems around you, and taking action against those who seek to harm our environment is what our students should be learning. Although there is mild violence and swearing in the novel, there is nothing that I see which would prevent me from using this to teach in my classroom, especially about environmental issues or conservation. There are many literary themes that could be discussed with this book, but the value, I see is from the contextual aspect in dealing with real life issues. The differences between environmental and economic problems as well as how to balance the needs of humans with that of the animals is one such discussion idea that was suggested. Asking students to research this topic of environmental concern, or picking one animal to research that is endangered, or furthermore researching what conservation works are being done in their community are ideas for lessons.

On a more personal level, I enjoyed this book. Using it for my unit adaptation project, I found myself intrigued by the things I could do with the information. This book was definitely geared for a younger audience with the ages of the characters as well as the bullying issues. I think older children would benefit from the “green” tones of this novel as well as the moral questioning addressed. I think this book would be great as a vehicle text for older children but as a central text for younger grades. After reading this book I would definitely go back and read Flush on my own, Carl Hiaasen is a great author!