Chomp by Carl Hiaasen - ADVISABLE

Hiaasen, Carl  Chomp, 290 pgs.  Alfred A Knopf (Random), 2012.  $16.99

Language: PG (1 swear); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG. 

Wahoo Cray is a teenager who likes to help his animal wrangler father, Mickey, around the house with the animals.  Mickey has intense headaches and hasn’t been doing that much work since an accident last year, so the Cray’s are struggling financially and Wahoo’s mom has to go work in China.  When an offer to help shoot a survival show comes along, the Crays take it even though the actor, Derrick Badger, seems to have no respect for animals.  Mickey and Derrick but heads, but in one animal encounter Mickey saves Derrick’s life and so Derrick decides he wants Mickey on their Everglades expedition.  As the Crays are packing up for their expedition Wahoo comes across his friend, a girl named Tuna, who is running away from her abusive father and they take her along.  The Crays and Tuna help with the survival show, but when Derrick comes across an animal that he can’t handle, things take a turn for the worse, and to make matters worse, Tuna’s drunken father shows up threatening everyone in his path.  

I enjoyed this story because Wahoo was a good kid who loved his family, animals and his friend.  I liked the crazy adventures they had in the Everglades and the storyline moved quickly.  This is a good boy book.  I laughed out loud in parts and liked the satisfying ending.  I listened to this on audiobook and the reader did a great job.  

EL (4-6) - ADVISABLE, MS-ESSENTIAL.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.