Scat
Written By: Carl Hiaasen
Recommended for ages 11 and up.
Alfred A.Knopf $18.99

In true Hiaasen style, this new novel has a “Save the Endangered Species” feel to it as readers attempt to solve the mystery of the missing biology teacher. The strange Miss Starch has disappeared. The last time she was seen was on the class field trip to Black Vine Swamp. The students and teachers were heading on to the bus when Miss Starch graciously offered to head back to the swamp to find her asthmatic student’s inhaler.

The next day at school, word spread like wildfire (pardon the pun) that there had been a fire in the swamp and on top of that Miss Starch had been called away on a “family emergency” with no date of return to school. Although some less-suspicious folk believed the story, it was all a bit too much for Marta and Nick. They were bound and determined to solve the mystery of the missing teacher. How was the bad-boy, Duane Scrod (aka Smoke) involved? How could Miss Starch have a “family emergency” when she publicly denied having any family? Who was the strange man seen driving Miss Starch’s Prius around town? How long will the students have to endure the antics of the bizarre substitute teacher?

This multi-faceted story will keep readers engaged all the while learning about the endangered panther, a crooked oil company executive, life as the son of a National Guard member and delinquent students. Most importantly, readers will realize that there is often more to a person than what you see on the surface.

Carl Hiaasen is the author of two other fine juvenile novels, Hoot and Flush, both of which tackle other environmental issues.