CCPL

Do it Yourself Book Club


Flush by Carl Hiaasen
Flush
by Carl Hiaasen

Click here to see the status of this item in the catalog.

With their father jailed for sinking a river boat, Noah Underwood and his younger sister, Abbey, must gather evidence that the owner of this floating casino is emptying his bilge tanks into the protected waters around their Florida Keys home.

Discussion

Who tries to help his father get out of jail?

What makes Paine Underwood angry?

Noah decides that it is best to help his father despite his doubts that his father was right. Do you think he did the right thing? What would you have done?

Noah and Abby's mother threaten to divorce their father. How does this effect them?

What kind of a person is Mr. Muleman, the owner of the casino ship the Coral Queen?

Paine Underwood is very concerned about the environment. What can or do you do to help keep the earth clean?

What is the Coral Queen suspected of doing?

Paine Underwood is determined to defend the environment at all costs. Is there anything that is that important to you? If so what?

Carl Hiaasen is concerned about the environment; it has even been the main focus of two of his books, Hoot and Flush. Have his writings inspired you to help the environment? If so how?

Noah's partners in getting the Coral Queen and Mr. Muleman brought to justice are not by appearances the most reliable. How does each person help? What does that tell readers about appearances?

Who turns up at the end of the book?

How do Noah and his helpers finally prove that the Coral Queen is dumping waste? What is the code name for the operation?

Who was your favorite character and why?

Who is the old pirate guy? What does he give to Abby when he leaves?

Would you recommend this book? To whom?

Activity

Make A Heart Shaped Wreath From Things in Your Yard
FromMake- Stuff.com

You will need:

  • Branches and twigs from any tree or bush
  • Lightweight floral wire
  • Wire clippers and garden clippers
  • Other decorations if desired

What to do:

  • Take one long, very pliable branch and bend in the middle. If the branch is green enough, it won't snap.
  • Continue folding the ends around and cross them at the bottom of the heart shape.
  • Tie the ends together where they cross with a short piece of floral wire.
  • Wrap and twine the rest of your branches around this main shape.
  • Use floral wire where needed to hold the branches in place.
  • Use branches without leaves for the main bulk of the wreath, but as you get closer to the outside, include some small branches with leaves left on them. Eucalyptus branches are wonderful to use for this project. The new growth branches are reddish in color and they smell great too!

Recipe

Earth Wroms Pudding Cake
From Make- Stuff.com

Ingredients:

Chocolate "cake":

  • One 9-ounce package chocolate wafer cookies
  • 3 cups heavy whipping cream
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 5 cups milk
  • 3 4-ounce packages instant chocolate-flavored pudding & pie filling mix
  • 25 Oreos cookies, cut into quarters

Garnish:
  • 6 paper fs
  • Gummy worms

Eating utils:
  • 6 toy garden trowels
  • 6 small plastic planters

    Prepraration:

    • Place the chocolate wafer cookies into a large zip-lock bag and seal.
    • Place a kitchen towel over the bag.
    • Using a rolling pin, crush the cookies into fine crumbs to make approximately 2 cups.
    • Place the heavy whipping cream in an electric mixer.
    • Using the wire whisk attachment, beat on medium speed until slightly thickened.
    • Add the sugar and beat on high until soft peaks form.
    • Pour the milk into a large bowl.
    • Add the pudding and using an electric hand mixer, beat for 2 minutes.
    • Once the pudding begins to thicken, using a rubber spatula, fold in the whipped cream and the Oreos cookies.(Make sure to thoroughly clean the plastic planters and toy trowels)
    • Spoon half of the pudding mixture into the six plastic f pots.
    • Sprinkle each with 1/2 cup of the chocolate wafer cookie crumbs, spreading it around to cover the entire layer.
    • Spoon the remaining pudding mixture into the pots and top with the remaining cookie crumbs.
    • The "cake" should come to the top of the pots.
    • Cover and refrigerate for 3 hours. before serving, decorate each cake by placing a f in the center.
    • Insert the gummy worms into the cake to look like earthworms emerging from the "soil" and be sure to serve the cakes using a new toy garden trough, just like you were digging for earthworms! (Don't eat the f.)