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Carl Hiaasen’s latest book for children, Chomp , overflows with action, animals, adventure and energy. Eleven-year-old Wahoo (named after a wrestler, not the fish) lives with his parents on a wildlife refuge of sorts.
His father, Mickey, is a professional wrangler, essentially taming wild animals to be used for nature programs. Lately, Mickey is out of commission; he suffered a concussion when a frozen iguana fell out of a tree on top of his head.
Mickey is approached by a TV producer who wants to stage an episode of Expedition Survival using his animals. In this show, star Derek Badger is supposedly dropped into a remote location where he must survive on his own, frequently eating unusual plants and animals to survive.
As it turns out, the show is completely staged; Derek Badger is actually rather spoiled. The excitement begins when they film a swimming scene, and Derek is nearly killed as he tries to ride on the back of Mickey’s tame alligator.
As the story progresses, Mickey and Wahoo plan to join the crew of Expedition Survival on location in the Florida Everglades. Just before the trip, they meet a girl in Wahoo’s class, Tuna. She is running away from her abusive father, and Mickey reluctantly agrees to take her along.
At this point, the action picks up when Derek is bitten by a bat and goes missing, and Tuna’s father comes with a gun to bring her home. When the story rises to a climax, the readers are surprised by the hero and are satisfied with strong ending.
Chomp is an excellent choice for reality TV devotees as well as children who enjoy adventure and survival stories. As always, Hiaasen’s perspective of the unique aspects of Florida life add a special flavor to his novel.
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Chomp