I’ve been a fan of Carl Hiaasen ever since I read his hilarious “Skinny Dip.” He takes his passion for the ecology of southern Florida and weaves wonderful (and sometimes gruesome) stories of triumph over the bad guys. And his characters are always a great mix of wacky, clueless and grungy. What’s not to love?
This time, I selected his first book written for young adults, “Skink No Surrender.” If you have read any of Hiaasen’s other books, you probably know that Skink is a real oddball.
At one time he was a decorated soldier who rose through small-time politics to become governor. But his deep love for Florida’s ecology and the notoriously corrupt political machine clashed. Eventually, he simply walked away from the office and civilization in general.
He isn’t afraid to confront anyone or anything that might threaten his beloved home. Consequently, he now has only one eye and carries some nasty scars. Few remember his real name, and he is OK with being called simply Skink.
Some would say he’s homeless, but Skink makes the swamps of the Everglades his home. In fact, Skink refuses to kill any animal and lives quite well off the roadkill he comes across.
As this story starts, young Malley is fighting with her parents again. The entitled 14-year-old is not doing well in school, so her parents have decided to send her to a prestigious boarding school. Malley has sworn she’ll never let that happen, and she has a secret weapon to help her.
Unbeknownst to her parents, Malley has been developing an online “friendship” with a dude calling himself Talbo Chock. He writes her schlocky poems and paints a rosy picture of their future together, so she’s confident that he’ll help her run away from her too strict parents.
When her cousin Richard learns of her plans, he tries to convince her to drop the idea. Sadly, he’s too late and soon learns that Talbo has actually kidnapped the naïve girl.
Richard is not a rule breaker. Ever since his father disappeared, Richard has drifted through life. In a panic he turns to his one real friend, Skink.
They met when Richard was at a very low point and Richard wandered onto a beach where sea turtles came to lay their eggs. He was shocked to find Skink buried in the sand. The man planned to capture whoever has been stealing turtle eggs. Before long, the two formed a strange bond.
Richard knows that Skink knows the glades better than anyone, so he asks for his help. Soon, the odd couple are on the hunt for Talbo and Malley. Naturally, we are treated to Skink’s unique way of life, unusual diet and fervent commitment to the wild lands of Florida. At heart, Skink is a quiet, gentle man, but he can become amazingly violent when something he loves is threatened.
Their job is made more difficult by Malley’s lack of cooperation. The spoiled girl doesn’t really want to be rescued. Lucky for us, Hiaasen mixes the more violent events with his ironic sense of humor, so even the most gruesome events are palatable.
When all is said and done, Mally has learned important lessons about herself and her place in the world, and Richard has developed a greater understanding of friendship and his own strength. And Skink melts back into the mysterious and beloved Everglades.
AT A GLANCE
Book: “Skink No Surrender”
Author: Carl Hiaasen
Publisher: Ember
Year published: 2015
Number of pages: 304
Hiaasen crafts whimsical tale in Everglades
