Flush by Carl Hiaasen

a review by Stella Story

The main characters in this book are the Underwood family, Noah, Abbey, Paine and Donna. Other characters are Dusty Muleman, owner of the Coral Queen, Robert Lee “Grandpa Bobby” Underwood (believed to be dead in the country of Colombia) and Shelly, Boyfriend of Charles ”Lice” Peeking who helps Noah With his plans. The book is set in the Florida Keys. Noah’s biggest problem is his dad is in jail and his mom is so fed up with it she is thinking about divorce. Paine Underwood’s and the biggest problem in the book is that Dusty Muleman is illegally emptying the Coral Queen’s holding tank into the ocean making it not safe for swimmers, baby turtles and anything that lives near or in the water.

Shelly is a cocktail waitress on the Coral Queen so she helps Noah sneak onto the boat. They flush fuchsia dye down the toilets all night long but the plan backfires when they are found in the bathroom stall. Noah risks his life and his sister’s life to help his dad and the community. At the end of the book, when reporters see the fuchsia stain in the water, the Coast Guard has proof that Muleman is illegally dumping human waste. “A side door rolled open and a man in a dark jumpsuit leaned out. He was wearing a white crash helmet and aiming a camera down at the water. Taking a video of our amazing fuchsia river.”

I loved this book! It had a lot of action in it. Some examples:

On the night Abbey and Noah go to take photos of the boat dumping the holding tank they almost get shot, “Noah Duck!” And ducking would have been a smart move, no doubt about it. Because I turned to see Luno with his meaty right arm extended, aiming a stubby looking gun at the dinghy.”

When Noah sneaks on to the Coral Queen he has to stow away in a liquor crate, “The crate was dark and musty inside. At first I was afraid I couldn’t breath, but soon I felt whispers of air seeping under the lid. I took a few gulps, closed my eyes, and began to wait. Before long I heard the scuff of footsteps and then the low sounds of men talking. The first voice I didn’t recognize, but the thick accent of the second one was unmistakable: It was Dusty’s Bald Gorilla, Luno.   

On the night that Shelly and Noah flush the dye down the toilets, Noah appears to be caught and Dusty’s bouncers are closing in. “They figured they’d lose their jobs or worse, if they let something bad happen to me. One of the men whipped out a walkie-talkie and held it close to his mouth. “Luno! Better come check this out!” “Yeah, tell him to hurry,” the other man said. “This kid’s a real space case.” It was definitely time to go. The bouncers reached out and lunged, but I was already in the air, falling sweetly to freedom. Or so I told myself as I hollered, “Geronimo!”

I would recommend this book to readers who like mysteries and books filled with action. I give this book 5 stars!