Hoot characters

Appears from the start

A middle-school student newly arrived in Coconut Cove, Florida, after another of his family's frequent moves. Roy misses Montana and has not yet found a place in his new school. His attention shifts from his own troubles when he sees a barefoot boy sprinting away from the school bus, an unexplained sight that draws him into a local conflict.

Appears from the start

An older, physically intimidating student who targets Roy on the school bus. Dana relies on fear and humiliation, and his attacks make Roy's already difficult arrival in Florida worse.

First appears in chapter 8

The mysterious shoeless boy Roy first spots running beside the school bus. He lives largely outdoors, avoids adults, and is resourceful enough to move around Coconut Cove without being easily caught. His concern for the small burrowing owls on a construction site explains much of his secrecy.

First appears in chapter 8

A strong, self-possessed soccer player at Roy's school. Beatrice is fiercely protective of Mullet Fingers, her stepbrother, and initially treats Roy as a possible threat to him. She knows far more about the barefoot boy's movements than she is willing to tell.

First appears in chapter 2

A Coconut Cove police officer assigned to the repeated disturbances at the future Mother Paula's pancake restaurant. Eager to prove himself, he takes the apparently petty vandalism seriously and gradually notices that the site may conceal a larger problem.

First appears in chapter 2

The construction foreman responsible for preparing the site of a new Mother Paula's All-American Pancake House. The nightly removal of survey stakes and other disruptions put his job at risk, even though he has little control over whoever is entering the property.

Appears from the start

Roy's father, a federal employee whose work has required the family to move often. He is measured and attentive, and he encourages Roy to think carefully about both the law and his conscience when the conflict over the owls becomes clear.

Appears from the start

Roy's mother, who tries to help him adjust to Florida and remains alert to the trouble surrounding him. She and her husband provide a steady home even as Roy becomes increasingly involved in the mystery of the construction site.

First appears in chapter 5

A student at Trace Middle School who becomes friendly with Roy. Garrett's local knowledge and willingness to help give Roy an ally as he investigates the barefoot runner and deals with Dana.

First appears in chapter 13

Beatrice's father and Mullet Fingers' stepfather. A former professional basketball player, he now spends much of his time at home and has little authority within his strained household.

First appears in chapter 13

Beatrice's stepmother and Mullet Fingers' mother. She is preoccupied with appearances and has repeatedly tried to send her son away rather than accept his refusal to fit the life she has planned for him.

First appears in chapter 16

A senior executive for the company building the Mother Paula's restaurant. He is determined to keep the project on schedule and suppress anything that could create bad publicity, including questions about protected owls living on the site.

First appears in chapter 20

An actress who portrays Mother Paula in the pancake chain's advertising and arrives as the celebrity attraction for the groundbreaking. She expects a promotional appearance, not a public dispute over wildlife and the company's conduct.