Skink No Surrender

In Carl Hiaasen's "Skink No Surrender," Richard's cousin Malley disappears after running off with a man she met online, prompting a frantic search. Richard, worried sick, finds an unlikely ally in Skink, a reclusive, one-eyed former Florida governor known for his unconventional methods and deep love for the state's wilderness. Together, this odd duo embarks on a high-stakes, often hilarious, and always dangerous road trip across Florida, encountering everything from crazed pigs and giant gators to armed abductors. This middle-grade novel, suitable for ages 10-14, tackles serious themes like online safety, family communication, and environmental protection with Hiaasen's signature blend of suspense and irreverent humor. Parents should be aware of scenes involving peril, violence, and the death of a villain, but the overall message champions loyalty, bravery, and justice.

Typical Malley - to avoid being shipped off to boarding school, she takes off with some guy she met online. Poor Richard - he knows his cousin's in trouble before she does. Wild Skink - he's a ragged, one-eyed ex-governor of Florida, and enough of a renegade to think he can track Malley down. With Richard riding shotgun, the unlikely pair scour the state, undaunted by blinding storms, crazed pigs, flying bullets and giant gators. Carl Hiaasen first introduced readers to Skink more than 25 years ago in DOUBLE WHAMMY, and he quickly became Hiaasen's most iconic and beloved character, appearing in six novels to date. Both teens and adults will be thrilled to catch sight of the elusive 'captain' as he pursues his own unique brand of swamp justice. With Skink at the wheel, the search for a missing girl is both nail-bitingly tense and laugh-out-loud funny.