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• Genre: Fiction; middle grade realistic
• Originally Published: 2009
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 810L; grades 5-6
• Structure/Length: 24 chapters, epilogue; approx. 400 pages; approx. 9 hours, 17 minutes on audio
• Protagonist and Central Conflict: When Bunny Starch, the most feared biology teacher, goes missing after a field trip to Black Vine Swamp, the kids in her class are relieved. Nick and Marta don’t believe she’s been called away on a family emergency as their principal tells them. They’re convinced that Smoke, the class delinquent, is responsible. As they set out to solve this mystery, they find out there’s more going on in the swamp than they realize, and it’s all about be revealed.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Violence (including a woman shot in the leg, a child shot in the arm, and a man choking another man); injuries sustained in Iraq; mildly profane language

Carl Hiaasen, Author

• Bio: Born and raised in Florida, where he still lives; graduated from the University of Florida; worked as a reporter for the Miami Herald; writes novels for both children and adults; his books have been published in 34 languages; received the Newbery Honor for Hoot in 2003; all his books for young readers feature adventure, eccentric characters, and environmental themes
• Other Works: Tourist Season (1986); Hoot (2002); Flush (2005); Chomp (2012); Squirm (2018)
• Awards:  Kids Indie Next List “Inspired Recommendations for Kids from Indie Booksellers” (2009); Chicago Public Library’s Best of the Best books; IRA Children’s Choices; Skipping Stone Honor Award (2009)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Unit:

• The Fragile Environment
• Parental Abandonment
• Books and the Real World

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Unit, students will:

• Develop an understanding of the social and historical contexts regarding conservation that incite Nick’s conflict.
• Analyze paired texts and other brief resources to make connections via the text’s themes of The Fragile Environment, Parental Abandonment, and Books and the Real World.
• Research and construct a diorama of an endangered species and the environment it requires to thrive based on textual details.
• Analyze and evaluate the plot and character details to draw conclusions in structured essay responses regarding methods of learning, the war in Iraq, and other topics.