After four long years, Carl Hiaasen is back!

4^th Grade and Up

Some facts about Billy Dickens: 
* He once saw a biker swerve across the road in order to run over a snake.
* Later, that motorcycle somehow ended up at the bottom of a canal.
* Billy isn’t the type to let things go.

Some facts about Billy’s family: 
* They’ve lived in six different Florida towns because Billy’s mom insists on getting a house near a bald eagle nest.
* Billy’s dad left when he was four and is a total mystery.
* Billy has just found his dad’s address – in Montana.

This summer, Billy will fly across the country, hike a mountain, float a river, dodge a grizzly bear, shoot down a spy drone, save a neighbor’s cat, save an endangered panther, and then try to save his own father.

Presenting the one and only Carl Hiaasen story that takes place outside of Florida. I’m glad I read I Survived the Attack of the Grizzles, 1967, before reading this book. It was nice to already be familiar with the Montana environment. Don’t worry. A good portion of the story still takes place in Florida.

You spend the first third of the story thinking the worst of Billy’s dad. I mean, what kind of guy leaves his family and doesn’t get in contact with them for almost ten years? Trust me, you’re not going to be able to guess what the dad’s been up to. You’ll have to read the book to find out. Before and even after I found out what the dad was doing, I still thought Billy’s mom was the one with the problem. She repeatedly uproots her family to live near a bald eagle nest. The reason behind this obsession is never explained.

I really enjoyed Billy’s character. He’s the kind of guy who doesn’t stand by when someone hurts an animal or a person. He acts. We need more people like that in the world.

If you have a fear of snakes, I suggest not reading this book because Billy uses them throughout the story to make a point. If you are not afraid of snakes, here’s a picture of one wearing a sweater:

This week’s Weird but True Fact about Snakes

Diamondback rattlesnakes can strike in about half the time it takes you to blink.