Flush

Miami crime writer Carl Hiaasen’s second thriller for children has a gross-out plot likely to appeal especially to boys, and a vivid cast of shady characters, told with Hiaasen’s trademark energy and humour. When noah’s dad lands in jail for trying to expose the owner of a gambling boat who’s dumping raw sewage into the waters of the Florida Keys, noah and his tough kid sister Abbey decide they’ve got to prove their father has right on his side.

They do this by enlisting the help of lowlifes like Lice Peeking and his barmaid girlfriend with a heart of gold, Shelly, in taking on baddies like floating casino owner Dusty Muleman and his snivelling son Jasper Jr. The heroes of this complicated but well-told story are noah’s Grandpa Bobby, a modern day pirate who turns up in the nick of time to save the day, and of course noah himself, an appealing main character trying to clean up the messes left by his much-loved but occasionally whacked-out dad. A satisfyingly different kind of adventure book for kids.

Age 10+