Carl Hiaasen, possibly the finest satirical novelist of all time, is back with his second book for younger readers. In Flush, a boy takes on a giant casino boat that may be dumping raw sewage into the harbor. Flush would be appropriate for older children or young adults. I listened to the audiobook, and I think families would enjoy listening together, since the main characters are a brother and sister (Noah and Abby) but their parents feature prominently in the story. The scatalogical humor is actually pretty limited for a book about raw sewage contamination, and the themes of family loyalty and environmental concern prevail. The plot moves quickly -- scary corrupt bad guys confront some unexpected heroes and some VERY creative ideas in this fun new book.

A movie version of Hiaasen’s first children’s book, Hoot, was released in 2006. This is not the first time Hiaasen’s work has been adapted to the big screen. You may remember the 1996 movie Striptease featuring Demi Moore, in which a single mother is dragged into corruption and scandal after a congressman takes a fancy to her at the club where she works. Like many film adaptations, this one can’t compare to the original and Hiaasen’s novel of the same name retains the black humor, biting criticism and environmental commentary characteristic of his best work.  Catch all the latest news at Hiaasen's official site.