D.E.A.R. Hiaasen,
Carl Hiaasen is an author, journalist and one of America’s finest satirical novelists. Hiaasen has written many novels for young readers and adults as well as many newspaper columns. His writing is humorous crime fiction packed with adventure and offbeat characters with themes of environmentalism and politics in his home state of Florida.
Hiaasen has grown up and lived around Fort Lauderdale, Florida his whole life. He started writing at the age of 6 when his father bought him a typewriter one Christmas. He went to Emory University and graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor’s in Journalism. Hiaasen began his career as a news reporter for the Miami Herald and later worked on their award-winning investigative team, writing novels in his spare time. Journalism feeds his imagination, which feeds the fiction.
Hiaasen has published over 30 books of fiction and nonfiction books with more than half making the New York Times Best-Seller lists. Two of his books have been made into feature films.
Carl Hiaasen has written a series of six books about Skink, his most iconic character. In, Skink No Surrender, there’s a missing girl, a hungry alligator, and only one way out!
Set in Florida, one of the main characters, Malley, goes missing. She is rebellious and runs off with a stranger to avoid going to boarding school. This turns bad when the man lied about who he was and kidnaps her. Malley’s cousin and friend, Richard is worried about her and sets out to get some help.
Richard meets a man named Skink on the beach, who’s hiding in the sand to capture a sea turtle-egg thief. Skink is a former governor, hermit, and justice seeker, who is passionate about protecting the environment. Skink and Richard team up to find Malley. The two of them scour the sunshine state in the midst of storms, crazed pigs, gunshots, and giant gators.
Along the way, Richard listens to Skink, learning about the environment, loggerhead sea turtles and ivory-billed woodpeckers. Skink lives on the edge but fights for a good cause; he has a low tolerance for the people who destroy the natural parts of Florida. Nature and wildlife end up leading Richard and Skink to rescue Malley. Swamp justice is served as their search for the missing girl alternates between crazy suspense and a good laugh.
You can find his books in the USFWS Conservation Library. We hope to inspire you to “Drop Everything And Read” this April. To learn more about Carl Hiaasen and his work, visit his page. Make everyday a D.E.A.R. day!
