Scat by Carl Hiaasen

Scat – let’s look in the dictionary. Scat can mean go away. A scat is also an animal dropping. Unrelated to this book it is also a type of fish and a form of singing.

Scat by Carl Hiaasen is a collection of threads which the author skillfully weaves into a most satisfying story about corruption, endangered animals, oil drilling, fathers and morality.

Nearly all of the adult characters in this book are an anomaly. Mrs Starch, the biology teacher, treats Duane very cruely in class when she demands he write a five-hundred word essay about pimples. Later she and Duane form a vital alliance to save an endangered panther cub that has been brutally separated from its mother. Duane’s father, Duane Scrod Sr, seems content to live in squalor with his abusive parrot but he also likes to listen to classical music and deep in his heart he only wants the best for his son. Twilly Spree acts like a gruff loner, content to work alone behind the scenes fighting environmental causes but he does have a soft side which is revealed by his parting words to Nick at the end of the book.

Drake McBride is a fool through and through but his offsider Jimmy Lee Bayliss is completely two-faced. He knows his boss is brainless but plays along with him and his plans in the hope of a big payoff when they find oil under their illegal exploration of Section 22.

Then there are the other adults such as Nick's dad who has been wounded in Iraq and the way Nick and his dad cope with this awful time is inspirational. It is of course the two middle school kids who are the true heroes of this story as they refuse to give up on their quest for the truth. Mrs Startch has vanished and Nick and Marta are convinced she is not just home attending to family issues.

I do not want to tell you the plot for Scat. You need to read this one for yourself. It is such a complex and satisfying tale but if you would like to know more look at this review in the NY Times. Also Carl Hiaasen has a fabulous web site with a detailed Q & A about Scat and here are some teacher notes.

If you enjoy this book take a look at Flush and Hoot by the same author along with Jigsaw bay by John Merson and this web site which lists other good crime adventure stories. One final thing. In Scat you might like to look out for the wacky substitue teacher Mr Wendell Waxmo. He has some very funny ideas about classroom teaching!