Scat

Scat by Carl Hiaasen

Scat is a wonderful read, with zany colorful characters, a eco-mystery and it's funny as well.

Set in Naples Florida, Nick and Marta arent't too sure what to think when their biology teacher Mrs. Bunny Starch takes the class on a field trip to Black Vine Swamp. Things get wierder when a fire breaks out in the swamp and Mrs. Starch doesn't return to class in the following days. The school's principal believes Mrs. Starch to be taking a leave of absence but Nick and Marta know that Mrs. Starch would never let a substitute teacher take over their class (especially one as incompetant as Wendal Waxmo).

And what does their classmate Duane Scrod Jr. (nicknamed Smoke) have to do with any of this?

While Nick and Marta try to uncover the mystery of their missing teacher, larger more sinister things are happening in the Everglade swamp - an oil company is trying to find ways to drill within the protected park.

There are plenty of tie-in's to current events - the war in Iraq, endangered species, oil drilling, and environmental protection and a cast of quirky, interesting characters that always make a Hiaasen book a hit.

Enjoy! I know I did.