Scat by Carl Hiassen

I started this book with skepticism on 4 points.

1. I read a book of Hiassen's for adults and had a major objection (forgot what it was but remembered his name).

2. I think the mean-teacher caricature popping up in books/movies is a bit overdone, perhaps to the detriment of respect for authority.

3. The theme of harm done to teacher by student is too much for tweens; it's too in-keeping with a debased culture.

4. Enviromentally-themed novels easily slip into subtle hints of overpopulation-of-humans-as-pests.

Fortunately, Carl H. scrubs himself up for the adolescents and comes off mostly clean. The book does begin with the teacher-from-you-know-where in a stand-off with the delinquent, dangerous boy. Subsequently, the next day, the teacher does not return home from a field trip and this boy becomes a suspect in her disappearance. However, the author manages to wrap this all up in a way that redeems everyone except the evil oil-company who is illegally plotting to siphon oil off of a government refuge.

The lead-in scenes with the horrible teacher and scary student are great hooks to draw you into the story. The plot involves two of the bad boy's classmates solving the mystery of the teacher's disappearance, a sound sympathy for endangered species, and a foiling of a criminal plan by unethical oil company CEO's.

The book is not laced with profanity, but some objectionable language pops up consistently from the characters you'd expect would talk that way. (dumba--; smarta--; but-cheeks). I had more reservation when dad said cra_ (yeah, could be worse), and mom said but-. Three times "Oh my G--" was used by a character. Cringe. In the dad's case, he made up for it in my book when he taught his son to "be truthful no matter how hard it may be." Also, one character is an avid environmentalist who stops the criminal behavior of a man hired by the oil company by gluing him naked to a tree...

Safety Rating: 2 Vatican Flags

Catechism of the Catholic Church:
Respect for the integrity of Creation: 2415, 2417