Book Review: The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp

Kathy Appelt's True Blue Scouts

The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp follows twelve individuals (some human, some animals, one mythical), all of whom live or are connected to the Sugar Man Swamp, on the far end of the Bayou Tourterelle in Texas. Two of the main characters, Bingo and J’miah, are raccoons who work as Information Scouts keeping the swamp safe. They’re tasked with waking the mythical Sugar Man (a cousin of the Yeti and Sasquatch) and alerting him to any dangers that may affect the swamp. When a strange rumbling begins, the scouts have found their first real mission. The other main character is Chap, a 12 year old boy who must become “the man” of the house now that his beloved grandfather has died. Chap and the swamp are both in trouble: Chap and his mother may lose their house and their pie-making business to the greedy Sonny Boy Beaucoup and Jaeger Stitch, who have plans to bulldoze the swamp and turn it into an alligator wrestling stadium. Appelt’s writing is laugh-out-loud humorous and has a folksy quality that is pleasant and welcoming. And although it’s a fun read, the flow of the story meanders slightly and the resolution seems to occur before it really begins. Readers may not mind this, however, as the characters and their adventures are so engaging. This is a good read with a light ecological focus. A strong choice for readers, 9-12.