This is a story about a boy named Roy who
lives in Florida with his parents in the small
town of Coconut Cove.
As the new kid from Montana, Roy is constantly
picked on by the school bully, Dana.
One day, as Roy is on the school bus, he sees
a strange boy running without shoes along
the street.
He decides to chase the boy, but gets lost
and is hit on the head with a golf ball.
Meanwhile, the town of Coconut Cove is getting
a new Mother Paula's Pancake House.
However, the construction site has been the
victim of various acts of vandalism.
Eventually, Roy confronts the mystery boy,
who goes by Mullet Fingers.
As it turns out, Mullet Fingers is responsible
for the vandalism.
Things become more complicated as Roy learns
that Mullet Fingers is the step-brother of
a girl at school, Beatrice.
Also, after Roy learns that Mullet Fingers
is trying to protect the native burrowing
owls that live on the construction site, he
decides to help.
In the end, Roy, along with several of his
fellow classmates and friends, stand up against
Mother Paula's Pancake House, and the owls
and land are saved.
On the surface, this story talks about environmental
protection and the lengths that some people
will go to protect other living things.
However, at what point do criminal acts justify
saving the environment?
And although the consequences are never legally
discussed, it's important for readers to understand
that there are consequences to such actions.
More importantly, this story discusses how
one person can and cannot make a difference.
Initially, the movement to save the owls is
started by one individual, Mullet Fingers.
And as the story continues, Roy and Beatrice
get involved, but it's not until enough people
join in and take the stand that the owls are
protected.
So while it does take one individual to start
a cause, it takes a community to follow through
on it to see it come to fruition.
