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Description edit see section history

Mrs. Bunny Starch was left behind on a field trip to Black Vine Swamp to find a girl named Libby's inhaler for asthma. The school’s headmaster and the police seem to have accepted the sketchy, unsigned note explaining that her absence is due to a “family emergency.” The files say she has no... read more

Summary edit see section history

Nick started his class off as usual, his teacher Mrs. Starch being cranky and asking questions, and Graham raising his hand to give the answer at every question although he never gets them right. Nick saw her friend Marta getting queasy because she doesn’t like the way Mrs. Starch walks back... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

Nick started his class off as usual, his teacher Mrs. Starch being cranky and asking questions, and Graham raising his hand to give the answer at every question although he never gets them right. Nick saw her friend Marta getting queasy because she doesn’t like the way Mrs. Starch walks back and forwards by her desk.
Duane aka Smoke wasn’t paying attention and was playing with his acne Mrs. Starch saw him and made him right a 500-word essay on zits. The next day the class went on a fieldtrip to Black Vine Swamp, in the middle of the trip Libby needed her asthma inhaler due to the forest fire that started in the forest, Mrs. Starch went to go get it while the fire was going on, Mrs. Starch didn’t come back…she was lost in the smoke. For students safety the students evacuated the campsite. The next night Libbys dog was barking like crazy…and he never does that, Libbys dad went outside and their sat Libbys Inhaler The next day a guy named Wendell Waxmo substituted for Mrs. Starch, and everyone thought he was nuts although smoke never showed up yesterday or today they were sure he would think that to. Waxmo made the class sing the pledge of allegiance, and he taught the same page every Monday. As detective looked further into the case on Mrs. Starch, they interviewed students because they needed information because they thought that smoke did because he was mad at Mrs. Starch for making him wright the paper. As the search went on Marta and Nick decided to investigate Mrs. Starch’s house, they lifted up her mat and their sat a key the put it in the door and it fit perfectly, Nick twisted it and the door opened, a few seconds later they heard a car pull up and some one walked up to the door and started to unlock it, Nick and Marta hid it a chest, when the guy got in Marta accidently said something to loud an d the guy made them get out of the chest and into his car. The man was named Twilly he said Mrs. Starch was his aunt. And then he dropped them off at the mall were their moms were. Nick knew his dad was home from Iraq and wanted to learn hot to pitch since his arm got blown off so he and his dad played ball. Nick and Marta came across a blue car that Mrs. Starch or Twilly now drove and hopped in since the door was unlocked, the man took them to the Black Vine Swamp, and showed them that Mrs. Starch was their, they realized that Twilly was taking care of a lost Panther, and Nick needed to give it to its mom, Nick gave it to the panther and broke his arm falling off a tree and had a story to tell for the rest of his life. The End.

Characters/People edit see section history

  • Mrs. Bunny Starch: The most hated and feared teacher in the school, whose disappearance during a field trip has everyone wondering. She teaches science class.
  • Nick Waters: The main character in this book. Nicky likes Florida panthers. His dad was sent to Iraq. He loves his friend Marta.
  • Marta Gonzalez: Nick's friend, who he falls in love with.
  • Dr. Dressler: The school headmaster (principal), dislikes awkward situations.
  • Drake McBride: The president/owner of Red Diamond Energy Company. Illegally drills oil from the state.
  • Jimmy Lee Bayliss: The head of Red Diamond's project on the Big Cypress Preserve. Illegally drilling oil from the state's land.
  • Duane Scrod Jr.: Secretive, quiet, and somewhat feared classmate of Nick and Marta. Likes to be called "Smoke." He ate Mrs. Starch's pencil.
  • Dr. Wendell Waxmo: Ms. Starch's crazy substitute. He makes children sing.
  • Jason Marshall: A detective; father of one of Nick's classmates.
  • Millicent Winship: Duane Scrod Sr.'s mother-in-law (Duane Jr.'s grandmother). Tiny, rich, and forceful. She is very wealthy.
  • Libby Marshall: Nick and Marta's classmate; one of the smartest kids in the school. Her dad is a detective.
  • Michelle: Add a description of this character.
  • Graham Carson: Classmate of Nick.
  • Duane Scrod Sr.: Father of Duane Jr.; owner of a macaw named Nadine that speaks 3 different languages.
  • Torkelsen: The head detective of the arson case. Later he finds the culprit of the case.
  • Mr. Neal: The head teacher of the group Nick and Marta are in for the field trip to Black Vine Swamp. He loads them back onto the bus.
  • Melton: Red Diamond Employee that guards the drilling site. Get's hurt from Twilly.
  • Nadine: Duane Sr.'s trilingual pet macaw. Speaks 3 different languages.
  • Miss Moffitt
  • Greg Waters: Nick's dad who is in the army, he lost his right arm.
  • Conway: Fish and Wildlife agent, searches for panthers.
  • Mickey Manis: A kid in Nicks class
  • Peyton Lynch: Nick's babysitter, very clueless.
  • Whitney Scrod: Duane Sr.'s wife/ Jr.'s mom. Went to Europe for a cheese shop.
  • Bernard Beanstoop III: The most famous and expensive criminal defense lawyer in Tampa. He is very good at his job.
  • Mrs. Robertson: Refreshingly sane substitute teacher after crazy Wendell Waxmo. She is completely normal.
Show all 26 characters
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Organizations edit see section history

  • Truman School: A private school in southwest Florida, the Truman school was originally named the Trapwick Academy after its founder, Vincent Z. Trapwick; the name was changed after the Trapwick name became associated with criminal activities

First Sentence edit see section history

The day before Mrs. Starch vanished, her third-period biology students trudged silently, as always, into the classroom.

Table of Contents edit see section history

There are twenty-six (unnamed) chapters and an epilogue in this book.

Glossary edit see section history

  • scat: animal dung; get out, get away

Series & Lists edit see section history

This is book 8 of 15 in 2010-2011 Iowa Teen Award. (authoritative list)

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Carl Hiaasen (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: Alfred A Knopf
Country: United States
Publication Date: 2009
ISBN: 0375834869
Page Count: 384

Classification edit see section history

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Reading Level: Ages 9-12

Containing only mild language, this book is acceptable for ages 9 and up.


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