Flush

by Carl Hiaasen

Under orders from Dusty Muleman, slimeball owner of a Florida gambling boat, the... read more

Under orders from Dusty Muleman, slimeball owner of a Florida gambling boat, the Coral Queen crew furtively flushes the waste of the boat into a coastal tidal basin each night. Dumping waste into open water rather than having it hauled away is illegal, but cheap. Noah’s dad has tried to get Dusty caught in the act but failed—clearly, a local official is tipping Dusty off. After his father takes things into his own hands and ends up in jail, Noah and his younger sister, Abbey, carry on the crusade, running increasingly dangerous risks as they try to bust Dusty and vindicate their father. As in Hoot (Knopf, 2002), Hiassen’s first novel for children, the adults in this story tend to be seedy, bumbling, or evil, while the clear-thinking kids save the day. A best-selling author for adults, Hiassen again demonstrates his adaptability at writing for a younger audience, while maintaining the over-the-top plot and south Florida setting that have made his books wildly popular with mature readers. Engaging humor, a persuasive environmental theme, and the human waste gross factor combine to make this a highly appealing page-turner. (Ages 11–14)

© Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, 2006

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