The true blue scouts of Sugar Man Swamp by Kathi Appelt
Atheneum Books for Younger Readers, 2013. ISBN 9781442421059.
(Age: Upper primary - lower secondary) A quaint novel for Australian
readers with unfamiliar language and sayings which make the story
hard to follow at times, yet fascinating. Set in the slow-moving
Bayou Tourtelle in the deep southern part of America, the racoon
brothers Bingo and J'miah have become the Official Scouts of the
Sugar Man Swamp. They have additional orders from ordinary Swamp
Scouts: in the event of an emergency wake up the Sugar Man. The
Sugar Man hadn't been seen for many years and has a pet rattle
snake, Gertrude. The Sugar Man has 'legs and arms - like the new
cedar trees... tough and sinuous. His hands were as wide as big
palmetto ferns... the rest of his body was covered in rough black
fur'. He's grown old and sleepier but he can 'spin an alligator over
his head and toss him into orbit' when required. The racoons live in
an old De Soto bought by Chap's grandfather Audie in 1949 and lost
by him when chasing the rarely seen ivory-billed woodpecker. It was
overgrown with vines but home to the two racoons. There's much
language unfamiliar to students but the storyline is strong and
clear. Sonny Boy's relative Alouicious Beaucoup bought the land in
Thomas Jefferson's time and now wants to collaborate with Jaeger
Stitch, the World Champion Gator Wrestler of the Northern Hemisphere
to change the Sugar Man Swamp into the Gator World Wrestling Arena.
Chap and his mother make and sell sugar pies in the area and are
devastated at the thought for they need a boat load of money to buy
the land from Sonny Boy and have no visible way of achieving this
without the help of 'The Sugar Man' who hasn't been seen for many,
many years. The language belongs to the local area but for a good
reader who enjoys reading it's a quirky, unusual and funny book.
Words like 'bayou', 'Coyoteman Jim', and little phrases such as
'nostros somos paisanos', 'we are fellow countrymen' permeate the
story adding life and laughter. The language is cleverly written to
match the characters' personalities and the two racoon brothers have
a great affection for each other as do Chap and his Mother. The
theme is good versus evil! It's a fascinating and different book but
quite addictive once begun.
For good readers of upper primary and lower secondary.
Sue Nosworthy
Editor's note: This was a finalist in the US National
Book Awards 2013.