The Missing 'Gator of Gumbo Limbo

Ecological Mysteries #2

by Jean Craighead George

Vanished?

Liza Poole lives with her mother in one of the last balanced ecosystems in North America -- the Gumbo Limbo Hammock deep within the lush kingdom of the Florida Everglades. Some may think it strange to live outdoors, but Liza feels lucky to live it strange to live outdoors, but Liza feels lucky to live in her small yellow tent amidst tropical birds and exotic plants. And at the center of this natural paradise lies Dajun, the majestic alligator who protects Gumbo Limbo's environment.

Then, one day, a state official arrives with frightening orders. Dajun is scaring people nearby -- he must be killed! Liza takes action to save the invaluable 'gator, but suddenly, he is nowhere to be found. Now, she must find Dajun before it's too late, and her search will lead her into the heart of an exciting eco mystery!

Genres: Mystery, Young Adult, Childrens, Fiction, Middle Grade, Animals, School

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Jean Craighead George wrote over eighty popular books for young adults, including the Newbery Medal-winning Julie of the Wolves and the Newbery Honor book My Side of the Mountain. Most of her books deal with topics related to the environment and the natural world. While she mostly wrote children's fiction, she also wrote at least two guides to cooking with wild foods, and an autobiography, Journey Inward.

The mother of three children, (Twig C. George, Craig, and T. Luke George) Jean George was a grandmother who joyfully read to her grandchildren since the time they were born. Over the years Jean George kept one hundred and seventy-three pets, not including dogs and cats, in her home in Chappaqua, New York. "Most of these wild animals depart in autumn when the sun changes their behaviour and they feel the urge to migrate or go off alone. While they are with us, however, they become characters in my books, articles, and stories."

Reviews

[Gage F]

REALLY GOOD BOOK!!!

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm going to be teaching it for the first time this year, and I am in love with Georg'es beautfully lyrical language as she describes my newly adopted home of Florida. Liza K. is homeless i nthe book, but she has a much more beautiful home than I do--a huge Live Oak in a secluded hammock. I'd like to find this place...

[Jim Poling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book for children to learn about south Florida nature and to appreciate it for what it’s worth. “We love the things we love for what they are” as they sum things up. I remember enjoying this book as a child and wanted to re read it as an adult. It was worth it.

[Julia Perran · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm a 4th/5th grade teacher associate and we read this when talking about ecosystems. Probably an unfair rating from an adult, but even my kiddos were mostly bored from it. I did like the dynamic of the woods people, though!

[Katherine Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as a child and periodically find myself rereading when back home in Florida it’s a quick lil read with lots of great facts and info about the natural south Florida landscape

[Emily Humes · Rating 2 out of 5]

I could’ve done without the ecological parts (which was the majority of the story), but liked learning about the people. My class really liked it.

[Bobby Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember reading this in 5th grade and loving it so much I never returned it to the library, I'm now 40 and still have it and it's a cherished book I have, and I'm planning on rereading it soon, recently cleaned and reorganized all my books and movies and sort of rediscovered this book just chilling In my collection

[Steph · Rating 3 out of 5]

Awesome for those who love science and the environment! The setting is very unique, and it would be eye-opening for middle grade readers to see how their home and neighborhood compares to the one in this story.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

My kids loved this book better than I did. (I am going to start posting reviews of all books I read this year, instead of just ones that I read personally.) It was interesting to learn about the life of the gator and other animals. The woods people intrigued me.

[Christina Mahesse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Started reading this to my son as a bedtime story and fell in love with the story of these “misfit” people who live in the hammock trying to solve the mystery of their missing gator. This book painted such a beautiful picture of natural Florida it really made me miss my home state 🥺❤️

[Rowan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars
It was the first novel I read when I was about 8 and I was like 'My God, I’ve started reading serious books!' I think it’s an appropriate book for that age. It has an interesting story and I learned good things from it.

[Edwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall is was good

[Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lot of ecological information wrapped up in a compelling story.

[Denise Voccola · Rating 5 out of 5]

My grandson and I both enjoyed this read-aloud.

[Rachel Mortenson · Rating 4 out of 5]

read this book as a kid and just found it again. the descriptions are lovely and make you want to live out in the wild with Liza K and her family.

[Jodotha · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is another book I picked up for research purposes. I liked the premise - an Ecological Mystery. And for the most part it lived up to that. This book was clearly written as an attempt at educating kids about the delicacies of nature, and how fragile that balance is.
It did a decent job. I could see this being assigned reading for a fourth grade project for just that reason. Trouble is, I can't see it being a book a kid would pick up to read and then see it through to its conclusion.
It feels like a PBS afternoon kids show - the kind where you learn as you're entertained. While that's a brilliant format for a half-hour show, it could easily get tedious in the hours it take for a kid to read a book.
That said, there's still potential here. A child who is already interested in nature might get a kick out of this. Or maybe a boy who just think alligators are cool (cause, YEAH THEY ARE).
For kids with those kinds of special interests, this is right up their alley. And for me, as well. I learned a LOT of things that I hadn't been able to glean easily from more adult-sized research material. So I'm glad I personally picked it up.
Bottom line: Choose your audience wisely.

[Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story was about a girl in the swamp and one day she got lost in the swamp and she couldn't find her way home. She saw an alligator and it took off so she ran after it farther into the swamp so she was farther away from her house. The main characters are Dajun and that's the girls name. Her parents names are Limbo and Gumbo. The problems they ran into was losing each other and getting food and water cause all they had to use are sticks and rocks. Dajun didn't have any tools until she found a stick and a sharp rock. She sharpened it with the rock and she tried it but she missed it and broke the stick.

I liked the book. The book was great. My favorite part in the book is when she had to run away from the alligator and she found a rock on the ground and she picked it uip and ran until she had enough time to turn around and throw it not at it so it would distract it so she could run and try to find her house without having a alligator running after her. Yes I would recommend it.

[Chana Billet · Rating 3 out of 5]

This must-read for young readers, especially those living in Florida's sub-tropics, is a tale of how a young girl and her mother find acceptance and community among drifters living in one of the last natural hammocks in the Florida Everglades.

Dajun, a majestic alligator takes his place in the food chain as the "purifier of the swamp" and protects Gumbo Limbo's natural environment. By doing so, he provides a much-needed sanctuary to young Liza Poole, her mother, and their community of drifters.

As hunters arrive to kill Dajun, the eco-mystery becomes two-fold -- how Liza and her friends can prevent the Gumbo Limbo hammock from being developed into condos and drained for development, and how their community can find a place in the world.

[Angela]

Grade: 3-5
Topic: Habitats

This is a great chapter book that can be used in learning about habitats. The main characters are searching for a missing gator in their home of the Florida Everglades. The book gives great details about the animals and their habitats. The students could use the descriptions in the book to create their own map of Gumbo Limbo.

[Patty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jean Craighead George has managed to pack a lot of fascinating information about alligators and their important contributions to their habitat into a sweet story of a homeless girl living in Gumbo Limbo with her mother and the other Woods People. Cute and informative!

[Sofia · Rating 3 out of 5]

The missing gator, is missing. Liza k. ( the main character) is freaking out because Travis the hunter is hunting him. Liza k. And the woods people freak out because dajun ( the gator) keeps the water, ground EXC. CLEAN what will happen read on?

[Angela Jones-Cuéllar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in 4th grade and it has taken me 12 years to finally remember what the heck the title was!!!! I FEEL SO ACCOMPLISHED. THIS HAS BEEN BOTHERING ME FOR OVER A DECADE. I CAN NOW REST THAT LITTLE PART OF MY BRAIN! haha but seriously, I can't believe I finally figured this out.

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple novel that provides ample opportunity for lessons in environmental science, ecology, and sociology.

[Cws]

JM4 Geo

[Isabel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have to read this for school two! Kill me

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting and fact filled read. Lots of info about the Florida Everglades. Really enjoyed it.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

i read this book mainly because it was about an animal. i loved how the author described the characters and how the chacters would unrap themselves through out the story

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another interesting eco-mystery, and I like that this one also included the topic of homelessness.

[Shay · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not a fan of "ecological-mysteries"

[Lisa M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for a lit for children class. Good premiss and interesting .