Carl Hiaasen’s novel treats his audience to a story of a young man who stands up to a major corporation in order to preserve the homes of burrowing owls in his area. Roy Eberhardt, the main character, is characterized by many of the traits of gifted learners. Integral to the plot of the story are his intense focus on things that intrigue him, a curious nature, his excellent memory and ability to pick up on nuances-particularly with people, and a deep concern with injustices. Further, Roy demonstrates a quick wit, a wide knowledge base, and an ability to problem solve creatively. (Webb, J., Gore, J., Amend, E., DeVries, A.,2007) While he’s not identified in the book as a gifted learner, his actions, history, and characteristics show him to
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He has been systematically sabotaging the construction site for some time to preserve the tiny burrowing owls who live there. Roy, again in typical gifted child fashion, jumps on board whole heartedly when he is faced with the injustice of a corporation killing animals to put up another concrete building. He begins absorbing any information he can find, both through his self-proclaimed excellent ability to do internet searches and his experiences around the Coconut Grove area, about the local area, the fauna, and most importantly, environmental laws. He processes this information in a matter of days, and realizes that paperwork must be missing. This student actually requests documentation from the city offices, and asks for parental advice along the way, again demonstrating not only passion and determination, but an ability to put those to use at a level far above his peers. Roy’s further adventures on the way to saving the owls and exposing an underhanded corporation that was skirting the law involve using a school assignment as a catalyst for a peaceful protest. This boy is committed to his cause! In the end, the owls are saved, the corporation is routed out, and several characters are rightfully paid a visit from Karma. Dweck writes that “many well-known geniuses such as Thomas Edison….were ordinary bright children who became obsessed with something, and as a result of this intense interest, ended up making world-changing contributions.” (Miller, 53) The rescue of the owls and exposure of a seedy company may not be world-changing contributions, but Roy serves as a stellar example of a student using his gifted traits—among them memory and processing, quick problem solving, passion, and curiosity--to alter situations for the positive. Instead of playing into a possibly negative stereotype of the ‘gifted nerd’, Roy shows just how
He has been systematically sabotaging the construction site for some time to preserve the tiny burrowing owls who live there. Roy, again in typical gifted child fashion, jumps on board whole heartedly when he is faced with the injustice of a corporation killing animals to put up another concrete building. He begins absorbing any information he can find, both through his self-proclaimed excellent ability to do internet searches and his experiences around the Coconut Grove area, about the local area, the fauna, and most importantly, environmental laws. He processes this information in a matter of days, and realizes that paperwork must be missing. This student actually requests documentation from the city offices, and asks for parental advice along the way, again demonstrating not only passion and determination, but an ability to put those to use at a level far above his peers. Roy’s further adventures on the way to saving the owls and exposing an underhanded corporation that was skirting the law involve using a school assignment as a catalyst for a peaceful protest. This boy is committed to his cause! In the end, the owls are saved, the corporation is routed out, and several characters are rightfully paid a visit from Karma. Dweck writes that “many well-known geniuses such as Thomas Edison….were ordinary bright children who became obsessed with something, and as a result of this intense interest, ended up making world-changing contributions.” (Miller, 53) The rescue of the owls and exposure of a seedy company may not be world-changing contributions, but Roy serves as a stellar example of a student using his gifted traits—among them memory and processing, quick problem solving, passion, and curiosity--to alter situations for the positive. Instead of playing into a possibly negative stereotype of the ‘gifted nerd’, Roy shows just how