This is solid middle-grade reading with real heart and humor. Hiaasen's Florida is weird and wonderful, and the environmental message lands without being annoying. The book moves fast, the characters are memorable, and kids actually finish it—which is half the battle.
The wrinkle is that emotional subplot about the mom who keeps dumping her kid at military school. It's realistic and serves the story, but it's heavy. If your kid has abandonment anxiety or family stuff, heads up. Otherwise, this is a great pick for kids who need to see that standing up for what's right matters, even when the adults around you are useless.
Published in 2002 (not 2005 as listed), so it's got some staying power. Still reads well today, and the environmental themes are more relevant than ever. If your kid likes quirky characters and animals more than people, this is a winner.






