Literary Devices in Hoot
Symbolism, Imagery, Allegory
Setting
Florida is the perfect setting for this book mostly—because that's where you can actually find burrowing owls. (Source) But more important than the latitude and longitude of Hoot is that it takes...
Narrator Point of View
Our narrator is nameless and faceless, but s/he knows quite a lot when it comes to our characters. Description of events and plot goes far beyond just the facts and figures. When Roy approaches Bea...
Genre
When a book's hero is still in middle school, you're already pretty sure that you're reading some YA goodness. But aside from the awesome young protagonist, the entire book is filled with themes ar...
Tone
Now, we know that Roy is a good kid (saving owls and all) but when he gets in trouble for punching Dana in the face, he's less than compliant. In defending himself, Roy sarcastically remarks, "I al...
Writing Style
Pop quiz, Shmoopers.No, wait. Come back. It's super-easy. Which would you rather read?Roy's father saidor...Roy's father mumbled distractedly. (11.92)Using the same words over and over can make the...
What's Up With the Title?
Why Hoot? Why not Burrowing Owls? Or The Epic Adventures of Roy and Mullet Fingers? Why should we even give a hoot about the title? Oooh—we get it now. The title not only refers to the adorable n...
What's Up With the Ending?
All's well that ends well in Hoot. And it ends really well for Roy. In the last scene, we see him soaking in some Florida rays while cheering on Beatrice at one of her soccer games. Roy chuckles a...
Tough-o-Meter
You know what the hardest part about reading this book is? Explaining to your friends, "I'm reading this book about burrowing owls—it's awesome. No really. Hey, come back!"Don't worry—they'll b...
Plot Analysis
On Your Mark, Get Set, GoHoot wastes no time in bringing on the action: Roy almost immediately sees the strange running boy from the bus window and is determined to figure out why. This becomes the...
Trivia
Carl Hiaasen actually hates everything Disney. And to make sure his feelings are known and clear to the public, he wrote a book about it. (Source)Carl Hiaasen makes a cameo in the 2006 Hoot movie....
Steaminess Rating
There is absolutely, positively, unmistakably no hanky-panky in this book. Zip. Zilch. Niente. The closest we get to anything steamy is some platonic handholding between Roy and Beatrice.
Allusions
Sherlock Holmes (3.111)David Allen Sibley, The Sibley Guide to Birds (13.13, 13.15, 13.32)Patrick Smith, A Land Remembered (13.77)Romeo and Juliet (20.134)Wall Street Journal (Epilogue.6)Roy Rogers...