How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell
Oh, the memories! I remember reading How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell when I was younger and have always wanted to reread it. This was a total nostalgic read for me that I really enjoyed even though I felt like throwing up at every chapter. Seriously, I want to gag right now and let’s be thankful that I’m not pregnant because if I was I don’t know if I could have handled the thought of huge, gooey, withering, slimy worms being fried up and eaten with horseradish.
When Billy makes a bet with his rival friend Joe that he can eat fifteen worm in fifteen days, he’s in for a whole lot of trouble. But if he can do it, he’ll win fifty bucks! Joe supplies the fattest, longest earthworms that he can find and comes up with a myriad of ways to cook them. When Billy doesn’t seem to have a problem gulping the worms down, Joe gets worried and starts to cheat. Each new day brings a new worm. Who will win? Billy or Joe?
For some reason, I really enjoyed Billy’s family. When his parents find out about the bet they don’t try to stop him. They call the doctor to find out if it’s safe, and even his mother whips up a ice cream sundae with worm. How to Eat Fried Worms was really fun and boys and girls alike will devour this book (but hopefully not worms).
Have you seen the movie? I haven’t. I can see a lot of changes (for the best), but it looks like kids would love it:
I read How to Eat Fried Worms during Banned Books Week. Will you believe that people have tried to ban this book on the premise that eating worms is socially unacceptable? If anything, this book made me not want to eat worms. What are they worried about, that I’d whip up some worms for dinner? And seriously, if some little kid decides to eat a worm after reading this book, I say so what? Should gummy worms be taken off the shelves too?
Apparently, they don’t have a problem eating worms in Vietnam:
Another reason How to Eat Fried Worms is banned is because it promotes betting and gambling. What kid has gone through childhood without taunting another little kid and saying, “I bet you can’t do this! or I bet you can’t do that!” Show me a kid who reads this book and then becomes addicted to gambling. Not likely.
So if you had to eat a worm, without chopping it up or blending it up, how would you eat it? Maybe with spaghetti?
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Category: Book Reviews, Fiction, Middle Readers
Tags: banned, banned books week, book to movie, E-H Title, Q-T Author
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OH, I loved this book SO much! I remember my friend and I reading it aloud to each other. She kept saying “Geez” with a hard-g sound and I kept correcting her, but she didn’t believe me.
My daughter has read this book a few times now and loves it.
on October 2nd, 2008 at 4:27 pmI remember reading this for school. It was awesome . . . and we had to write earthworm stories afterward. Worms showed up in my stories for years.
on October 2nd, 2008 at 10:29 pmThis was one of my favorite books as a kid. When my own kids seemed interested (probably because of the movie) I searched and searched for my book and couldn’t find it anywhere! It makes me sad that that beat up, well-loved old thing appears to be lost. Ah, well. Maybe it will turn up one of these days.
on October 2nd, 2008 at 10:49 pmI think you’re so right. Who would ever want to eat worms after reading this book? Gross me out! Not at all! But it sure sounds like a funny book for kids- to see the consequences of someone trying to carry out that dare.
on October 3rd, 2008 at 10:27 amI have a copy of this book sitting on my bookshelf right now. It’s one of my old books that I rescued from my parents house after threats that I hadn’t lived there in 10 years, my stuff should not still be there.
Banning because eating worms is socially unacceptable?? Okay make sure we ban Fear Factor. That show has made me want to vomit more than once.
Social taunting a reason for banning a book? Isn’t the whole 7-14 (maybe older for boys) age all about social taunting?
The movie is a bit off from the book…my kids didn’t care for it. I thought it was okay.
on October 3rd, 2008 at 4:30 pmWhat seriously ridiculous reasons for banning a book. I remember reading this one with my brothers. I think we may have even fried up some worms ourselves!
on October 4th, 2008 at 8:44 amI haven’t read the book, but I’ve seen the movie and I absolutely loved it!
on October 5th, 2008 at 5:04 pmWhat a silly reason for wanting to ban a book. I swear… people are really ridiculous sometimes.
Anyhow, I might have to read it! I really loved the film and now I’m actually thinking of watching it again
kids movies are so great
haha. that was such a long time ago that i read that book. i haven’t seen the movie but i think i was okay with the book in not a little bit disgusted. lol. =]
on October 6th, 2008 at 2:25 pmi really like this book even though it is a bit gross it’s still hilarious and the movie is just distusting I reall admire the author
he is a very down to Earth person and i’m pretty sure that everyone around him is very blessed and thanks God for him being there on earth :]]]
on November 13th, 2008 at 8:03 am(:tyeshamalynnsmith:)
that really aint my name my name is AngeliaCelesteConley ha ..:D
on November 13th, 2008 at 8:04 am[...] of the dead turtle not the fact that the turtle was swallowed, which reminds me of my review of How to Eat Fried Worms from last years Banned Books Week because people said it encouraged kids to eat worms. Crazy [...]
on September 28th, 2009 at 1:47 am