Chomp

Written in 2012 by Carl Hiaasen, Chomp is a young adult novel set in Hiaasen’s native Florida (specifically, Everglades National Park). Hiaasen, who began his career as a journalist, is the author of six other books for young readers (as well as numerous adult novels). Because his work blends humor with grim realism, Chomp features characters who are just as “bizarre” as their Florida setting. Primarily known for his crime fiction, Hiaasen also crafts stories that touch on themes of environmentalism, and he often satirizes American popular culture. His work has been longlisted for the National Book Award (Skink, 2014), and his 2002 novel Hoot was awarded the Newbery Honor. Both Hoot and his 1996 crime novel Striptease have been adapted into feature films.

This guide refers to the 2012 Ember paperback edition of the novel.

Content Warning: Both the guide and its source text contain descriptions of domestic abuse, gun violence, hostage situations, alcohol abuse, and the mistreatment of animals.

Plot Summary

When wild animal wrangler Mickey Cray and his son, Wahoo, are hired by the reality TV show Expedition Survival! to provide animals for its Everglades episode, Mickey’s stubbornness and protective instincts for his animals immediately cause conflict with Raven Stark, the show’s producer, and Derek Badger, its pampered, egotistical star. However, because the Crays are deeply in debt, they have little choice but to accept the job. Filming begins in Mickey’s homemade swamp, where the reckless Badger ignores Mickey’s warnings and ends up atop a thrashing, angry alligator. When the footage turns out better than anyone expects, Badger orders filming moved to the Everglades to put the real back in reality TV, and Mickey’s job description is expanded to “location guide.”

Shortly before departing, Wahoo encounters a classmate, Tuna Gordon, in a Walmart parking lot. She has a black eye, and he and Mickey realize that she is the victim of domestic abuse. In order to protect her, they bring Tuna along on their Everglades adventure. As the crew nails down the logistics—renting airboats, scouting locations, and setting up camp—Mickey does his best to tolerate Badger’s obnoxious behavior, but his contrarian streak nearly loses them the job several times. Wahoo is forced into the role of diplomat, acting as liaison between his father and the production crew. Tuna, a big fan of Expedition Survival!, is soon disappointed when she realizes that Badger’s hearty survivalist image is just a façade, (In reality, he spends the nights in a luxury hotel and is flown to the site by helicopter). She and Wahoo, as the only children on site, develop a close camaraderie, even creating pet names for themselves—Lance and Lucille. One day, they steal a copy of the shooting script and discover Badger’s plan to kill and eat a native animal. (This is a trademark of the show, but Wahoo knows that this stunt will infuriate his father.)

When Badger’s buffoonery ruins a scene with a snake, Mickey must rescue him yet again, and further shooting is put on hold due to bad weather. The heavy rain and lightning ground Badger’s helicopter, and he is forced to rough it with the rest of the crew. One afternoon, a bat flies into their camp, and Badger tries to eat it, but the bat bites his tongue, leaving it swollen and infected. That night, his mind clouded by delirium, Badger flees into the Everglades, fearing that he is turning into a vampire.

The crew relocates to dry land to organize their search for Badger. When Wahoo spots Jared, Tuna’s father, in the parking lot, he and Tuna hop aboard an airboat to escape, but Jared, who is armed and determined to bring his daughter home, shoots Link, the airboat driver as he pulls away from the dock. Link pilots the boat as far as he can, but he eventually collapses from his bullet wound, beaching the boat on one of the many tree islands in the Everglades. Desperate to find his daughter, Jared takes Mickey hostage and orders him to follow.

Meanwhile, Badger is still in the grip of fever. He takes refuge in the trees and waits for darkness. Making the best of his own desperate situation, Wahoo tends to Link’s wound, but he knows that the man needs immediate medical attention. With Link’s advice, Wahoo attempts to pilot the boat back to the mainland, but he soon hears another boat approaching. With their boat hidden in the reeds, Wahoo sees the other boat pass by; his father is driving while Jared holds a gun to his head. The boats alternately pursue and evade each other until they both run aground on the same tree island (unbeknownst to each other). Meanwhile, Badger is nearly killed by a lightning strike and becomes more dazed and confused than ever as he wanders the wooded island in a fog.

Back on the mainland, Raven Stark reports Badger’s disappearance to her boss, executive producer Gerry Germaine. Germaine, who is fed up with Badger’s temperament and budget overruns, sees an opportunity to replace him. With lives in danger and a gunman on the loose, Stark finally calls the police despite the potential negative publicity.

As Mickey and Jared trudge across the island in search of Tuna, Wahoo tries to attract the rescue boats. When he and Tuna discover the feverish Badger—coincidentally marooned on the same island—they unsuccessfully try to convince him that he’s not a vampire. Suddenly, they hear gunfire nearby (Jared firing at an imaginary bear). Wahoo leaves in search of dry wood, but while he’s gone, Jared finds Tuna and takes her hostage as well. He plans to find his way to the nearest highway and escape with Tuna, but the airboat is now waterlogged from the rain. At this point, Mickey makes a stand, refusing to pilot the boat unless Jared leaves Tuna with them. Hiding in the bushes, Wahoo fears that Jared will shoot, so he creates a distraction. When Jared points the gun at Wahoo, Mickey steps between them, and Jared shoots Mickey in the foot. A tussle over the gun ensues, but Jared maintains control, now holding Mickey, Tuna, and Wahoo hostage as a police helicopter hovers overhead. Just then, a delirious Badger bursts from the woods and flings himself at Jared, attempting to bite his neck. Tuna grabs the gun, and the police arrest Jared.

The Everglades episode of Expedition Survival! is a massive hit, but Badger is replaced by a younger and less expensive actor. Mickey and Wahoo return to their home and use their wages to catch up on their mortgage payments. Jared faces a long prison sentence, and Tuna joins her mother in Chicago, but she promises to return to Florida so that she and Wahoo can “go and catch some critters” (290).