Chomp

Chomp is a young adult novel by Carl Hiaasen first published in 2012, and set in Hiaasen's native Florida. It is his fourth young adult novel. His previous three, also about Florida wildlife, are Hoot, Flush and Scat. Plot summary Wahoo Cray and his father, Mickey Cray, a professional animal wrangler, are hired to help with the latest episode of a reality series titled Expedition Survival! As Mickey was injured shortly before by an iguana falling on his head and is suffering the aftereffects of a serious concussion, Wahoo takes it upon himself to accept for both of them while his mother is on a business trip in China. In addition to helping with the animals, Wahoo has to restrain his father, who becomes dangerously short-tempered while dealing with the show's flabby, obese, pampered, and obnoxious star, Derek Badger, who has little experience dealing with actual nature and no interest in learning. While buying supplies at a Walmart in Florida City, the Crays are joined by Tuna Gordon, a teenage classmate of Wahoo's, fleeing her abusive, alcoholic father, Jared Gordon. Unsure what else to do, Wahoo invites her to join them on their camping trip into the Everglades.