Scat

Nick Twisp and Marta Gonzalez investigate the disappearance of their biology teacher, Mrs. Starch, following a panicked wildfire evacuation during a field trip to Black Vine Swamp. While many believe Mrs. Starch fled the smoke, the students suspect a connection to illegal oil drilling operations on nearby protected land. The plot centers on the secretive Red Diamond Energy Corporation and a reclusive character known as Smoke. The narrative tracks the biology of the Florida Everglades, specifically the nesting habits and preservation of the endangered Florida panther, while detailing the environmental consequences of horizontal drilling and habitat fragmentation.

This book is for middle-grade readers interested in conservation biology and environmental law. It attracts those who value realistic depictions of field science and the tension between corporate interest and ecological stability. Readers finish the book with a technical understanding of tracking predatory mammals through scat analysis and footprint identification. They learn how individual conservation efforts contribute to the legal protection of fragile wetlands against industrial encroachment, identifying the specific bureaucratic and physical tools used to defend wilderness areas.