Like Hiaasen's other books for youth, there are some unsavory deeds being done by uncaring meanies in the wilds of Florida. This book concerns Nick, Marta, & their crazy biology teacher, who goes missing on a field trip into the swamp. Missing teacher Bunny Starch was last seen trooping back into an apparent wildfire to snag a student's lost inhaler. Initially, the fire and disappearance seem to hang on juvenile delinquent Smoke, whose name indicates his past tendencies to set fire to things. But as Nick and Marta investigate, there seems to be more at stake than a little fire & a missing woman. Like Hoot, Hiassen uses endangered species as a vehicle for the mystery. The greed of developers again puts Floridian settings and people at risk as they attempt to make a quick buck off the rapidly spoiling natural wetlands. As usual, Hiassen expertly weaves young people's lives into the sordid doings of adults to create a story that reveals the impact of human dealings on the natural world and on each other.