AR: 5.5

Another great Hiaasen novel! Bunny Starch, disliked and feared Biology teacher at Truman private school has disappeared after an arson set a fire in the swamp where the class went for a field trip. A young loner nicknamed Smoke is missing. After a recent altercation with Mrs. Starch and with a history of arson, things do not look good for this young man. But Nick and Marta, Smoke's classmates, do not believe Smoke capable of foul play - well at least Nick doesn't. But there is also the matter of an oil company, an eco-warrior, and an endangered panther to contend with. And where is Mrs. Starch? Filled with great characters, descriptive scenery and a plot that twists and turns like a one lane country road, Scat is an enjoyable read that you will savor to the end. ( )

Okay, didn't realize this was YA when I reserved it from the library. But one of my favorite authors and a good story! ( )

All the elements that make a good story are in Scat by Carl Hiassen. The author includes nice kids who don't always follow authority, a few not so nine kids who turn out to be better than they seem, endangered species, very bad greedy adults and a few fools. When Nick and his classmates go on a biology field trip they have to leave early because of a wildfire but not before Nick thinks he sees an endangered Florida Panther. Others have seen it too, some want to save it while others want it to go away before their illegal oil project is discovered. Scat refers both to what one says to a cat to chase it away and the droppings of animals. Nick and his classmates and their Biology teacher Mrs. Starch are all determined to save one of the 100 or so remaining Florida Panthers. Will they succeed? No spoilers here. ( )

Nick and his friend Marta decide to investigate when a mysterious fire starts near a Florida wildlife preserve and an unpopular teacher goes missing.