Flush

IN the spring of 2002 I wrote about Carl Hiaasen's first children's book, HOOT: "Carl Hiaasen does an incredible job of showing the different styles of activism that different people resort to. He presents the reader with the contemporary clash of free enterprise versus global ecological issues. He has a lot to say between the lines about parenting, and he has some great insights into the methods of dealing with bullies. "I've never read his adult books, but I sure hope Hiaasen writes more books for kids. HOOT is one heck of a first step into the world of children's literature." So I was, of course, ecstatic that both the 2003 Newbery committee and 2003 Best Books for Young Adults committee recognized HOOT. I was somewhat less thrilled about having to wait three long years for the pleasure of reading a second children's book by Hiaasen. And while FLUSH is a completely different story, everything that delighted me three years ago about reading HOOT is equally applicable to FLUSH. "The deputy told me to empty my pockets: two quarters, a penny, a stick of bubble gum, and a roll of grip tape for my skateboard. It was pitiful. " 'Go on inside. He's waiting for you,' the deputy said. "My dad was sitting alone at a bare metal table. He looked pretty good, all things considered. He wasn't even handcuffed. " 'Happy Father's Day,' I said. "He stood up and gave me a hug. 'Thanks, Noah,' he said." So begins FLUSH, the story of what happens after Paine Underwood pulls the plug on the Coral Queen and willingly gets arrested for doing so. The Coral Queen is a three-tiered casino boat owned by Dusty Muleman. Dusty has been making a killing off of the boat's operations because he worked a deal with the local Native Americans to park the boat in a marina on their lands, give them a cut of the take and, thus, avoid having to take the customers a few miles offshore to gamble like all the other casino boat operators are required to do. What Noah's dad is so hot about is that he is sure that the raw sewage periodically washing up on Thunder Beach is the result of the Coral Queen's holding tanks being emptied illegally into the water. A 60 Minutes piece about the author that was broadcast last month, "Florida: 'A Paradise of Scandals' "[...] introduces Hiaasen: "In a little less than a century, the state of Florida has been transformed from a largely uninhabited swamp to the fourth-largest state in the union. And no one has written about that transformation more successfully than Carl Hiaasen. "Part humorist, part muckraker, his satirical novels about greed, crime and corruption in the Sunshine State have become fixtures on the best-seller list and embraced by influential literary critics who compare him to Mark Twain and H.L. Mencken. "He is also an award-winning children?s author and a former investigative reporter-turned-columnist for the Miami Herald. "And he has made a career of documenting, analyzing and interpreting what may be the most bizarre state in the union -- and one, Hiaasen says, is 'a victim of its own geography.' " In the 60 Minutes interview Hiaasen talked about how being out on the water in his skiff is like church for him. In that regard, reading FLUSH feels like you are peering in even closer at the heart of Carl Hiaasen. When I discussed HOOT three years ago, I mentioned that it contained humor, a bit of sadness, and a touch of suspense. All three qualities are once again present in FLUSH. So are the wildly quirky characters, from the bully (Jasper Muleman Jr.), to the brute (Luno), to the buxom blonde (Shelly), the bum (Lice Peeking), the bumbling attorney (Mr. Shine), and the mysterious pirate. Carl Hiaasen is a master at storytelling. That he has utilized his superb talents to once again write a satirical novel about greed, crime and corruption in the Sunshine State for children (and me) is cause for celebration. Thanks, Carl!

Not his "best ever" book but still very good. Bought in in paperback to be able to send it to my sister who absolutely loved an earlier one I sent to her. Always an author you can count on!

This was my first venture into Hiaasen's work and I was delighted by both the writing and the plot. As a teacher and avid reader with a special interest in literature for adolescents, this is an engaging read for both kids and adults alike (well...mostly adults with a light-hearted sense of humor). Hiaasen is a master of sarcasm and suspense, and both come together to create a read that is thought provoking and filled with plenty of implications to keep adults laughing and kids reading (Teachers - these also make for great discussion topics). His exploration of ecological issues is timely and yet the story is not the least bit dry or preachy. His situations and characters allow multiple opportunities for connections and reflections. Younger readers will undoubtedly see some part of themselves in a character and the story creates many roadways into discussions about morals and ethics while helping readers develop a desire to know more about current environmental issues. Sometimes the solutions to the mysteries seem to be too apparent, but usually Hiaasen leaves the reader with just enough information to keep guessing and keep reading. Along the way, his cast of characters add believable, quirky, endearing elements to the story as they race to figure out how to expose Dusty Muleman's mischief aboard the Coral Queen. Hiaasen has a original blend of mystery, science, and humor that is unlike any author I've found yet...but that might be because I've been drawn to read his other works and haven't had much time for comparison. I've seen the same is also true with students introduced to his writing - they want to know where they can get more! After reading Flush, you just may be hooked too!

This time I didn't make the mistake of not realizing that Flush was a "young readers" book when I ordered it as I did with Hoot, his first such novel. I didn't care, because based on my prior experience, I expected an entertaining and pure Hiaasen adventure and I was not disappointed. Hiaasen has a way of writing his pro-ecology novels whether for us seasoned citizens or for younger readers which demands constant refueling on the part of the reader. His villians are alway very villanous and his good guys are often flawed, but always but always endearing. In this book the good guys are a family named Underwood, Mom and Dad (Donna and Price) and the kids (Noah and Abbey). Price has taken offense that a bad guy named Muleman who owns a casino boat tied up in their harbor sees fit to simply empty the boat's holding tanks into the harbor rather than into a pump out system. To deal with the issue he has gone aboard the boat and pulled the seacocks sending the Casino Queen to the bottom. Following his arrest Price refuses to let his wife bail him out and decides to use his incarceration as a bully pulpit to talk to the press about Muleman's activities. He references Nelson Mandela as his role model. Muleman has insulated himself from investigation and prosecution in numerous ways and the remainder of the book involves getting Dad out of jail and keeping him out, exposing the truth about Muleman and generally seeing that justice is done. As usual it is done in a very entertaing and creative way. There are other characters who populate the book you will enjoy as well. So, no matter that Hiassen wrote this for young readers. You are only as old as you feel and after reading this you will feel yound indeed.

All his books are very entertaining and witty!

very interesting. although I feel it shouldn't be given to those under 10 years old

This was a great book. My daughter 9 read it as part of a Book Club selection. My son 12 read it because it was lying around. The both loved it. They enjoyed the plot with it`s twists and turns. I must admit that I also read it and loved it. It was an easy read for all of us. Just found out it was written by the same author who wrote Hoot which we saw as a Movie. Great book. I really recommend it for kids, but adults will enjoy it too.

Hootがおもしろかったのでこの作品も読んでみました。環境への問題意識や男の子、女の子（今回は兄弟でしたが）、それに謎の老海賊など、Hootに重なる設定が多く感じますが、そこはご愛嬌。Carl Hiaasenのスピード感ある語り口にグイグイ引きこまれてあっという間に読了しました。ただHootの方がもうちょっとだけおもしろかったので、１つ下げて星４つです。次はCarl Hiaasenの大人向けの作品にもチャレンジしたくなります。

Der Leser kann getrost vergessen, dass es eigentlich ein Jugendbuch ist. Es ist trotzdem ein echter Hiaasen: eine spannende und lustige Geschichte, in der immer verrückte Typen vorkommen, die letztlich gar nicht so verrückt sind, weil sie für Wahrheit, Ehrlichkeit und jedenfalls Natur kämpfen, wenn auch manchmal mit etwas ungewöhnlichen Mitteln. Wer Hiaasens Bücher mag, sollte auch unbedingt Robert Demonts "Der Degen" lesen. Sehr empfehlenswert.

Carl Hiaasen can do no wrong as far as I'm concerned, I've read everything he's written and anyone who loves Warren Zevon is all right in my book.