FLUSH
Carl Hiaasen
Alfred A. Knopf
Fiction
ISBN-10: 0375841857
ISBN-13: 9780375841859
272 pages

• Read an Excerpt

Noah Underwood has a problem. His father is in jail, and he's not sure if he should believe dad's story or not. Paine Underwood is not your typical criminal. He's just a former Florida fisherman who gets steamed when he sees anyone doing something wrong to the environment. Even Noah admits, "Dad just has to work on his self control."

Dusty Muleman, owner of the casino ship the Coral Queen, is not being very good to the environment (or so Mr. Underwood says). Noah's father has been arrested for sinking the ship after he speculates that the cheapskate owner is dumping the sewage tank (eeeww!) directly into the ocean rather than paying for the removal of it.

Mr. Underwood enlists his son Noah to help prove that he was right about the Coral Queen. Unsure of his father's claim himself, Noah decides that family loyalty wins over his doubts and a quirky mystery ensues. The cast of characters includes Noah's strong-headed sister Abbey, as well as their mother, who doesn't find the whole arrest very funny. When the kids hear her mention the "D word --- divorce" on the phone, they know they have to kick their plan into overdrive. Noah and Abbey also receive help from some unlikely sources including "Lice" Peeking, a former worker on the Coral Queen; Lice's girlfriend Shelly, who was once married to the crook owner of the ship; and a mysterious old man dressed up like a pirate.

Carl Hiaasen, winner of a Newbery Award Honor for his first children's book HOOT, has done it again. Similar to HOOT, FLUSH returns with a pro-environmental twist as well as a unique Florida setting and a zany cast. Readers will enjoy Hiaasen's ability to mix together interesting characters with this cause-driven plot.

   --- Reviewed by Kristi Olson

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