Reading Level: Ages 9-12

Because his dad is with the Department of Justice, Roy Eberhardt has never lived in one place. But he considers the wilds of of Montana--the last place he lived--home. He misses the rugged mountain life and he dispises the flat urban landscape of Coconut Cove, Florida. To make things worse, he has no friends and he's the object of a hulking bully's attention. But everything changes the day Roy sees the barefooted boy running down the street.

In seeking the barefooted boy's identity, Roy becomes emmeshed in a mystery involving an ambitious but bumbling police officer, a pancake conglomerate, acts of vandalism using aligators and poisonous snakes, and the tiniest owls he has ever seen. The story of how Roy investigates the mystery and handles his problems at school is lively fun. While not on the level of the Sammy Keyes mysteries (see review), Hoot is a fast paced, entertaining read, which should appeal to both boys and girls.

— KB SHAW, Publisher, Spectrum - Member SCBWI