Hoot

A hilarious and thought-provoking eco-mystery, Hoot is a modern classic that celebrates the natural world with trademark wit and warmth. Roy Eberhardt never wanted to move to Florida. In his opinion, Disney World is an armpit. Roy's family moves around a lot, so he's used to the new-kid drill and to bullies like Dana Matherson. But it's because of Dana that Roy gets to see the mysterious running boy who has no books, no backpack and, most bizarrely, no shoes. Sensing a mystery, Roy starts to trail the barefoot runner – a chase that will introduce him to many weird Floridian creatures: potty-trained alligators, cute burrowing owls, a fake-fart champion, a shoeless eco-warrior, a sinister pancake PR man, new friends and some snakes with sparkly tails. As the plot thickens, Roy and his friends realise it's up to them to save the endangered owls from the evil Mother Paula's pancake company, who are planning to build a new restaurant on their home. Winner of the Newbery Honor award and a New York Times bestseller, Hoot is a humorous and touching story about friendship, standing up to bullies, and protecting the environment.