How to Eat Fried Worms

Rockwell, Thomas. (1973). How to Eat Fried Worms. New York: F. Watts

Plot Summary: Billy is a 10 year old boy with not a lot to do, it is summer vacation and he has found an easy way to make $50. His buddy Alan has bet him he can’t eat 15 worms, 1 worm a day for the next 15 days. Let the fun begin. First they have to decide the rules, the worm has to be cooked, he can put whatever he likes on the worm as long as he is still eating the worm, and he has to eat the worm in bites. He has to chew it. Of course their other buddies Joe and Tom have to be witnesses to this. So they begin, worm number one. They fry it up like a catfish, as long as you can forget that this is a gigantic earthworm from the manure pile, it doesn’t look to bad. Billy has success! The worm goes down. And then the next day another worm and Billy eats this one with less trouble then the first! What is Alan going to do?! The fun begins as Alan and Joe begin to try to trick Billy so they don’t have to pay him the $50. First they make up a story about worms poisoning you if you eat them in July. Then they glue two worms together and try and convince Billy that it is one. Nothing works! Then the best idea yet! They trick Billy into forgetting about eating a worm! Lucky for Billy he remembers right before midnight and eats a worm raw in front of the whole neighborhood! The tricks and pranks continue until finally they lock Billy away on the last day so that he can’t get to a worm all day long. As anybody who has made a bet before knows, it is no fun to lose.

Genre: humorous-fiction

Suggested Age Range: 9-12 years

Subjects/themes: worms; young boy friendships

Awards:

• Child Study Children's Book Committee: 1995

Reviews:

• Kirkus starred 1/1/1995

Character List:

• Billy- 10 year old boy who bets with Alan that he can eat 15 worms in 15 days. In the process he wins $50 and develops a love for fried worms.
• Alan-bets with Billy that he can’t eat 15 worms in 15 days and then precedes to try and trick Billy and ends up losing.
• Tom-Billy’s side kick that spends time convincing that worms are yum.
• Joe- Alan’s side kick who tries to get Billy not to eat worms in support of Alan winning the bet.

High-interest Annotation: A funny story for any tween boy that loves to dare and doesn’t mind a little fun and tricks as well. This book was made into a motion picture and has many discussion guides and teacher supplements available for it. A true classic that will make anybody chuckle at the crazy pranks that are thought up.