Filled with larger-than-life characters (with names like Bunny Starch and Wedndell Waxmo!), Scat is an entertaining, page-turning romp through the Florida everglades. I enjoyed Hiaasen’s madcap writing style, and loved learning a little bit about the natural environment of the Everglades. (I had no idea that there were panthers in Florida until I read this book!) Although at times the quirky characters and funny plotlines seemed a little too far-fetched to me, overall I found Scata delightfully well-paced read. Although I think this book would be widely enjoyed by preteens and teens—particularly those with an interest in wildlife and the wilderness—I suspect it would be a particularly good read for hard-to-interest preteen boys. Scatis recommended for preteens and young teens (and adults) who enjoy a fast, zany read.
This book was sent to Compass Book Ratings for review by Random House
Content Analysis:
Profanity/Language: 11 religious exclamations. 14 mild obscenities. 5 anatomical terms.
Violence/Gore: A boy threatens a teacher (“You’ll be sorry”). Characters threaten other characters on four occasions (on two of these occasions, the threats are rather bizarre and violent). A fire is caused by arson, and references are made to past arson. A soldier is wounded in battle. A man is twice attacked, stripped naked, and tied up (these incidents are handled in a wacky/madcap manner rather than an overly violent one). A man’s house is broken into and the man is threatened. A man clamps pliers onto another man’s lips. A man is attacked by a bird. A man is thrown from a horse and breaks several bones. A man shoots at a wild animal twice. A boy falls in a tree and breaks his arm. A woman is accidentally shot and wounded, but recovers. Although some of the incidents of violence are very bizarre, all of them are handled in a cartoonish/silly way rather than an intense one.
Sex/Nudity: A man is twice attacked and his clothes are taken (nothing is described except that he is both times referred to as “buck naked”). Two preteens hold hands.
Mature Subject Matter:
War, abandonment by parents.
Alcohol / Drug Use:
A reference is made to drug addicts. A man is said to be a smoker. Adults drink alcohol.
