Carrying Albert Home by Homer Hickam

Who can resist a book like Carrying Albert Home with the subtitle: “The Somewhat True Story of a Man, His Wife, and Her Alligator?”   This is a marvelous yarn written with much affection by Homer Hickam, award-winning author of Rocket Boys (October Sky).

Set in the 1930’s, this novel exaggerates the events that may have transpired when Hickam’s parents, Elsie and Homer, returned Albert (the alligator) from Coalwood, West Virginia to Orlando, Florida.  Passing through the Carolinas and Georgia, the Hickams and Albert encounter famous writers, pirates, bank robbers, and natural disasters – to name just a few.  Readers will definitely be entertained, although the circumstances and coincidences are a bit absurd at times. The story is told as a series of (tall) tales with charm, humor and heart by a gifted writer.

Carrying Albert Home is full of madcap adventures, but also has a serious underlying story as the relationship between Elsie and Homer matures. There is some introspection, too: “Elsie had always felt her life was like a jigsaw puzzle with no picture on the box to show her how the puzzle pieces should fit together” or “Time is really the only gift we receive from God that we can give to others.”  Kismet is mentioned a dozen times in Hickam’s new novel and if you are interested in the fate/fortune/destiny of a man, his wife and her alligator, do look for the very enjoyable Carrying Albert Home.

Skink–No Surrender by Carl Hiaasen

I thoroughly enjoyed Hiaasen’s earlier works like Hoot and Flush and was excited to read newly published Skink – No Surrender which seems an attempt to bridge the gap between those titles for younger readers and his books for adults.  An award winning and best-selling author, Hiaasen definitely provides another entertaining work (reluctant reader appeal!) with Skink – No Surrender.

In fact, I stayed up late to finish the book because I wanted to know what happened to Richard and his cousin Malley after she ran off to meet an online contact and went missing.  Richard’s adventures in the wilds of Florida are at times exaggerated, generally hilarious, and often dangerous (how many guns does that criminal have?).   Hiaasen’s Skink, a former governor and crusader for justice, makes repeated appearances and propels forward this story that deals with themes of rebellion, friendship, and safe Internet use. 

My only concern is that the main character, Richard, does not yet drive and while that adds a nice detail to the story, his age limits interest by older readers. Discussion questions are provided by Random House in an online pdf and I can readily see this novel being used in a literature circles where others might be reading titles like Spinelli’s Stargirl or Bloor’s Tangerine. For an easy read and a suspenseful, fun adventure, choose Skink – No Surrender by Carl Hiaasen. It has been included in the longlist for the 2014 National Book Awards.