Chomp by Carl Hiaasen

Reviewed by Jacqueline

Have you ever watched a reality TV show and wondered if it was real or not?  In Chomp by Carl Hiaasen, Wahoo and his dad, Mickey Cray, an animal wrangler, are asked to help with handling the animals in Expedition Survival!, one of the most popular nature shows.  The only catch is that the star of the show, Derek Badger, only seems like a “tough, sun-tanned guy” on the screen!  He is actually an inexperienced, carefree actor who eats T-bone steaks and donuts at every meal!  Ever since Derek Badger started his show business, he has worked in artificial models of forests, lakes, and mountains, but this time, Mickey Cray’s perfect replica of the Everglades doesn’t work for him.  So, Derek Badger wants to take the “real” back into “reality” shows and film in the actual Everglades. 

The first reason why I loved this book is that the author created great characters.  My favorite one is Derek Badger, because all of his foolhardy actions make the story packed with humor. I enjoyed reading about him trying to open a snapping turtle’s mouth by poking it with a sharp stick, wrestling with a boa constrictor, and hugging an eight-foot-long alligator.  I laughed out loud when I read these scenes.

Another reason why I enjoyed reading Chomp was because of the suspense.  Derek Badger wants to film a show in the real Everglades, even though everyone except him knows he doesn’t stand a chance of surviving in the wild.  The possibility of him making a fatal mistake in the wilderness made me not want to put the book down.

I would rate this hilarious book a 10 out of 10 and would recommend it to people of all ages who like comedy and enjoy reading about nature.  This book is super amazing, and I really hope you will enjoy reading it as much as I did!

Ember, 290 Pages