Review: Skink--No Surrender

Skink--No Surrender by Carl Hiaasen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Loved it! I'd forgotten how much I enjoy Carl Hiaasen's books since it's been a while since I've read Hoot, Scat, Chomp and Flush.

This one is an interesting cross between his novels for kids and his novels for adults. It's similar to his middle-grade novels, but the characters are slightly older and the plot is just a bit grittier, but still tame compared to a lot of YA books, and it features a recurring character from several of his adult novels. In this story, a teenage girl has run off with a guy she met in an online chatroom. Her cousin Richard, who is more level-headed and sensible than she is, knows that she could be in serious trouble and alerts her family (who think she's left early for boarding school), and then heads off to hunt for her himself, along with an eccentric hermit called Skink, who also happens to be a former governor and surprisingly tough for a 72-year old!

The story has lots of adventure as Skink and Richard follow Malley's trail across Florida, with Hiaasen's characteristic environmental message woven in. They encounter interesting locals, skunks, gators, wild boars, and a supposedly extinct species of woodpecker in the process, as well as facing other challenges. This is a great book for those wanting adventure stories without a fantasy or sci-fi element, and those who are interested in environmental concerns and conservation.

It is only slightly darker than his middle-grade novels; there is some violence and a death, but it is not overly graphic. There are references to cursing, but I don't believe there were any actual curse words, and though a teenage girl was kidnapped by an online predator, there is no sexual abuse, and she states that he did not hurt her, only kissed her and held her against her will. As I said, it is very tame compared to most YA, and I would not hesitate to recommend it for readers as young as 12, and possibly as young as 11 or 10, depending on maturity.

Now I'm so intrigued by the character of Skink, I'm going to have to find time to read some more of Hiaasen's adult novels....

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