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How to Eat Fried Worms

(2006, Fiction - Humor, Written by Thomas Rockwell, Illustrated by Emily McCully)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 7, age appropriate for kids over 9; suggested age 9.
  • Is it any good?

    3.0
  • Common Sense says

    Kids are sure to devour this gross-out book.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 9 and Up

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Males and females have very traditional roles within the family. For example, the fathers are called in to hand out punishments after a fight, and Joe says picking flowers is his sister's job. Alan and Joe cheat in order to win their bet., but they lose out in the end.
  • Violence:

    Nothing too bad. The boys engage in a fistfight, for example. One boy throws a rock at another, hitting him in the eye.
  • Sex:

    A brief, vague mention of teens in the backseat of their car.
  • Language:

    Some minor stuff like "crap."
  • Consumerism:

    The parents promise to take the kids to Friendly's for ice cream.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    One dad drinks a beer.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About How to Eat Fried Worms

Parents need to know that this book's title isn't just a gimmick; it's actually a story about eating real, live worms (or, in some cases, worms that have been cooked and killed). Kids will laugh, but adults are likely to get grossed out. There is a fistfight, and two of the boys cheat to win the bet. And since the book was released in 1973, some gender roles seem outdated.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about why gross-out books are so popular. Why do you like them -- and is there any kind of situation that would be so gross you wouldn't want to read about it? Parents might also want to ask kids what the message here is. Think past the gross stuff: Do the characters end up learning anything? Finally, families who see the movie might want to compare and contrast it with the book. What's different? Which version do you prefer?

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Our Members Say

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See all 16 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 4.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Good role models

    The book is really funny. Good Book

  2. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in Ohio
    I rate this title on for age 7 and give it 5.0

    This book is fun, fun, funny!

    Book Review for How To Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell Reviewed by: Alec Gildone May 27, 2009 How to Eat Fried Worms is a good book and is fun to read. There is a funny part in the book where Tom, Billy, Allen and Joe have a rock war and they were calling each other silly names. My favorite part of the book is when Billy’s friends challenge him to eat fried worms to win a mini bike. It’s my favorite because I like mini bikes and want to get one but my mom won’t let me because she is mean. I think the characters in this book are real people that are just like me and my friends. They bet each other and have wars. The ending was really cool, but I don’t want to give it away. I recommend kids read this book because it is funny and it’s easy for third graders to read, like me.

  3. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    Lives in Wisconsin
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 1.0

    okyrok

  4. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title on for age 6 and give it 3.0

    How to eat fried worms

    One day,there were three boys that bet billy to eat fifteen worms. If billy can do it, he will get $50 to buy a minibike from his friends.

  5. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 3.0

    Great for the boys in your life.

    Definitely a book about the troubles that boys can get into. I like that the parents stayed out and let the boys figure it out by themselves.Reading how the boys tried to get out of this mess that they created was entertaining and imaginative.

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