Beast: Face-To-Face with the Florida Bigfoot

Walking a fine line between the fantastic and the realistic, Key creates a scary, page-turning adventure spun from his own experience (set forth in an author's note). . .This compelling cryptid fantasy has its big feet planted firmly in realistic survival fiction.

Key's adrenaline-packed story chops through palm fronds with a machete, trudges through soul-sucking mangrove mud, and struggles to breathe above the merciless, snake- and alligator-infested currents of adventure as Adam, armed with supplies and a stolen boat, revisits the site of his parents' accident to track the Bigfoot. . .A thrilling journey of determination, ideal for fans of Hatchet by Gary Paulsen, as well as Call of the Wild.

Adam Parks remembers seeing something in the road that night and despite the policeman's suggestion, it definitely was not a bear. After a car crash leaves Adam in the hospital and his parents missing, presumably dead, the news reports that he saw a Sasquatch and his lucidity is now in question. Adam, not even knowing what a Sasquatch is, looks it up online and finds hundreds of hits with descriptions of "Bigfoot'"and "Sasquatch." Off to prove himself, Adam takes off into the black snake and alligator waters of Suwanee River in search of the mysterious creatures and proof that he is right. There, Adam finds an answer and learns that the secrets of the Suwanee are more beautiful than he could have ever imagined. The heavy topics of losing parents and graphic descriptions of eating from dead carcasses may make this title appropate for an older middle grade audience. VERDICT As with all of Keys's amazing books, give this to the reluctant reader seeking an outdoors adventure or to someone who loves survivalist fiction.—Stephanie Wilkes, Good Hope Middle School, West Monroe, LA

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