Title: Scat Author: Carl Hiaasen
Rating: 🍉 Water-melohn! (38/50)
Recommended for 4th-6th graders AR: 5.5 Lexile: 810
Summary
Bunny Starch, the world’s most feared biology teacher, is missing. She disappeared after a school field trip to the Black Vine Swamp. And to be honest, the kids in her class are relieved. But when the Principal tries to tell the students that Mrs. Starch has been called away on a “family emergency” Nick and Marta just don’t buy it. No, they figure the class delinquent, Smoke has something to do with her sudden disappearance.
And he does! But not in the way that they think. There’s a lot more going on in Black Vine Swamp than any one player in this twisted tale can see. Nick and Marta will have to reckon with an eccentric ego-avenger, a creepy stuffed rat named Chelsea, a wannabe Texas oilman, an insane singing substitute teacher, and one ticked off Florida panther before they really see the big picture.
That’s life in the Swamp, kids.
Thoughts (for when you’re done reading, contains spoilers)
I love Carl Hiaasen. He is a great author! He always puts in humor and suspense in his novels. I already read this and Hoot, but I haven’t read any of his other kid books, Flush or Chomp.
My favorite chapter was Nick. It was very brave for him to climb the tree to save the baby panther. Nick also tied up his right arm so his Dad, (who severely injured his right arm) wouldn’t feel bad. What a great sacrifice-you go Nick! I also liked Twilly. He was clever, thoughtful, yet mysterious. At the very end of the book, Twilly sent Nick a copy of Hayduke Lives! by Edward Abbey. I looked up Edward Abbey on the internet and it looks like he has some good books. If they’re kid appropriate, I may review one of them sometime.
My favorite part was in the middle when we saw Mrs. Starch and met the baby panther. As a reader that warlike a sigh of relief from all the suspense that came before. I also liked it when Smoke/Duane got his first A from Mrs. Starch (an A- to be fair, but it was still a good day for Duane Scrod Junior)
Did you enjoy this book? Please tell me your favorite character and parts down in the comments section. Thank you for reading this post and keep on reading!
-Katie K
The Tweendom Kingdom 