Hoot

Hiiason, Carl. (2002). //Hoot. (1st Edition).// New York: Random House.


 * __Summary:__** Fourteen year old Roy Eberhardt is once again the new kid in school, and expects things to be the same on the coast of Florida. Making friends proves to be difficult for Roy though, and he soon becomes the new target of school bully, Dana Matherson. After one day spotting a young boy running barefoot through town, Roy becomes very interested in this mystery boy, Mullet Fingers, and tries to find out more about him. It is in his attempt to do so, that Roy befriends Beatrice Leep, and through her, meets her brother and mystery boy, Mullet Fingers. Together these three team up, to try and save endangered burrowing owls, who live in the ground that a Mother Paula's Pancake House is threatening to take over. With Chuck Muckle, the man supervising construction, in their way, the three children soon have their hands full trying to thwart his plans. With the children's help, officer David Delinko is able to acquire evidence that just may help to save these tiny owls.

__**Critique:**__ Overall, I would say that this text can relate well to students of different ages and varieties. With Roy starting out in the novel as somewhat of an outsider, I would think that many students/children can relate to being an outsider at some point in their life, or feeling like they are out of the group. This gives several students a chance to envision themselves as the heroine of the novel, and better relate the text to their lives. Even if they are not up against a giant corporation that is trying to disrupt hundreds of harmless owls.


 * __Content Area Uses:__**

English/Literature Math
 * Have students select a character, other than Roy, as well as select any chapter in the book. Then, have students write from that characters point of view and about the events that took place in their chosen chapter.
 * Have students create tables that get them to identify antagonist, protagonist, catalyst, etc., and to explain what makes these characters such.
 * Tell the students that they are now the CEO's of Mother Paula's Pancake house. Give them all a set budget of money to use to create a Paula'a Pancake house in their own county. As a CEO, the restaurant must open within a month and a half. Have students create a spreadsheet documenting how they will use the budget that has been given. Money must be used to buy land, supplies, hire workers, pay taxes, etc.

Social Studies/History
 * Have students think back through history, and come up with other groups that could be considered similar to the owls. For example, Indians being removed for expansion (Trail of Tears), African Americans being moved (Underground Railroad), etc. Have them choose any comparison they can think of, and write a short bio about it.
 * Have students look up endangered or extinct species, and write a report or create a presentation to have them present to the class.

Science
 * Have students look up endangered or extinct species, and then write a report and be prepared to give the class a presentation about the animal they have chosen.
 * Should include animal classification, date of extinction, any living relatives, etc.
 * Have students look up burrowing owls, and learn about indigenous areas, and how they can affect ecosystems.