Hannah Kesterson

SETTING

This novel takes place in Coconut Cove, Florida. This small town, located on the water, has a beach feel to it. The story occurs in 2000 about spring time. There is a golf course near a dump for old cars and trucks, including an old ice cream truck that one of the characters, “Mullet Fingers”, hides out in. There is also a construction site for a Pancake House. There is also one high school in Coconut Cove.

PLOT

This novel begins when a boy, Roy Eberhardt, moves to Coconut Cove, Florida. Roy becomes the victim of the school bully, Dana, on the bus. Roy looks out the window on the bus one day and sees another boy running barefoot and fast as lightning. After having to get through Dana by punching him in the nose, Roy finally gets off the bus to follow the barefoot kid but only to be hit in the head by a golf ball. Roy is forced to write an apology letter to Dana but Dana does not accept the truce.

Meanwhile, the popular Mother Paula’s Pancake House, is looking to build their 674th pancake house in Coconut Cove. They are having some difficulties though because during the night someone is vandalizing the construction site. After becoming friends with the barefoot kid, who we find out, is a runaway known as “Mullet Fingers”, we also learn that he is responsible for the vandalism. He tells Roy about the baby owls burrowing in the construction site that will br killed if the construction continues.

Roy also befriends Mullet Fingers’ step sister, Beatrice, who helps him fight off Dana. Together, Roy, Beatrice, and Mullet Fingers, also attempt to fight Mother Paula’s construction foreman and get them to move the location of the restaurant to save the owls. After he denies and existence of owls it is up to the trio to pro...

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THEME

The theme of the novel is integrity. This is shown when the kids stand up against Mother Paula’s Pancake House to fight for the owl’s who don’t have the opportunity to fight for themselves. This is also shown when Roy tries to call a truce with the bully, Dana, proving that he is the bigger person in the situation.

PERSONAL RELEVANCE

The themes of this novel are ones that I strongly believe in. I think this book is great for teenagers to read because it shows that while we are young we can still make a difference. I agree with the trio’s actions to save the owls from the construction. I feel bad for Mullet Finger’s because the reason why he doesn’t have a normal life is because of his lack of a positive mother figure in his life. His mother’s rejection causes him to not always make the best choices. I support Roy’s attempt at a truce with Dana.