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Scat by Carl Hiaason

Discussion guide by Lauren Furnish

Summary

When Mrs. Starch, their scary high school Biology teacher, goes missing during a class field trip in Black Vine Swamp, Nick and Marta suspect that the class trouble-maker is involved. The missing teacher isn’t the only trouble brewing in the swamp; an angry Florida panther and the Red Diamond Corporation are mixed up in something shady. As the two friends try to uncover the truth, they suspect that they might be in over their heads. Then Nick’s father in Iraq drops out of communication and Nick’s life starts to spiral out of control. With a few new friends, including a mysterious eco-avenger and a reformed delinquent, Nick might find his answers and learn how to cope with the truth.

Booktalk

Nick and Marta are on a class field trip in Black Vine Swamp, avoiding bugs, stumbling into spider webs and taking notes about the flora and fauna. It is an average class outing. While the students are being quizzed about the biology of the swamp, a fierce, piercing cry rises above the trees. Moments later, they see something racing through the trees yards away from them. “Something was running among the tree trunks--a large, tannish blur. ‘Where’d it go?’ Marta whispered. ‘What was it?’ ‘Just wait,’ Nick said, but there was no other movement. Moments later, the students heard splashes, and then a heavy rustling that faded into silence. Nobody made a peep until Mr. Neal spoke. ‘Probably just a fox or a wild hog--nothing to worry about,’ he said, not sounding too sure of himself. Nick switched off his camera. ‘That was too big for a fox. I bet it was a panther.’” As if that isn’t enough, the kids start to smell smoke in the woods...

384 pages, 7th grade and up

Discussion questions

Warning! Some of the questions contain key elements of the plot. Do not read if you don't want to know what happens!

  1. Maria and Nick become friends with Smoke later in the story. How does their impression of him change? Do you have a friend now who gave you a very different first impression?
  2. Twilly protects the environment however he can--even illegally--by sabotaging construction sites. Do you agree or disagree with his choices?
  3. Nick’s father loses his right arm in Iraq, so Nick binds his own arm. Why?
  4. Mrs. Starch disappears unexpectedly to nurse a baby Florida panther back to life. What would you give up the comforts of your own civilized life for?
  5. At first, the Black Vine Swamp appears to be a very frightening place, but as the story progresses Nick and Maria come to understand the swamp from Twilly’s, Smoke’s and Mrs. Starch’s perspective. Would you like to visit the swamp?
  6. Mrs. Starch has a strange assortment of stuffed animals at her house. Why do you think she named a stuffed rat after a student who dropped out of her class?
  7. The Red Diamond Corporation gets greedy and attempts to illegally steal gas from federally protected swampland. How do you think the environment should be used? Can companies and people find a way to balance energy needs with protecting the environment?
  8. Smoke goes through a personal transformation after he “thinks about where his life is headed.” Have you, or anyone you know, made a big life change in order to change their future?
  9. The bird and the panther are not people, but they are definitely characters in the story. Why do they exist in the story? Are they funny or serious? What do they represent?

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Activities

Nick tries to use only his left hand for a few weeks and he starts off his experiment by making his lunch. Use your non-dominant hand to make a sandwich. Time yourself. Does your speed improve if you keep practicing?