Plot Summary

How to Eat Fried Worms is a children's book written by Thomas Rockwell. The book is about a boy named Billy and his group of friends. Billy wants $50 for a new minibike and decides that he will do anything to get one. His friends make a bet with him, in which Billy must eat 15 worms in 15 days. All of his friends come up with many different ways to eat the worms such as broiled, baked, fried, or in a sundae. At the end of the book, Billy won the bet and bought the minibike!

Author & Social Context

Thomas Rockwell grew up in a small town in Vermont. He was always surrounded by farms and artists. Thomas was always good with words and he knew he wanted to write ever since he was very young. He also wrote another 14 books. He recieved the Mark Twain Award, the California Young Reader Medal, and the Sequoyah Award. He found inspiration for his most popular book when he got angry with an editor for not liking his initial manuscript.

Banning History & Opinions

How To Eat Fried Worms is banned based on two reasons: it is socially unacceptable and it promotes gambling and betting. Mostly schools have banned this book because young children are encouraged to make bets and get involved in gross activities. This book causes a lot of diagreements in elementary schools, however it is not much of a problem for students in older schools. It was also on Sarah Palin's list of books to ban in schools.
As a group, we do not think this book should be banned. Just because a student reads about eating worms doesn't mean they will do it. Also, almost all children go through life saying "I bet you can or can't do this and that." No matter what kids will be around gambling throughout their life. If a kid wants to read a fun book about boys their age, they should be allowed to.

Reviews from Educators

Scott Gwinn from a children's magazine says, "It takes a lot of guts to eat fried worms. Whether you're referring to the metaphor for dealing with difficulties in life, or the literal act of chewing down slimy, wriggling fish bait, you need courage and a strong stomach to get through. Thomas Rockwell's How To Eat Fried Worms starts out with the kind of gross-out silliness that comes second nature to ten year-old boys, but finishes with the kind of simple and meaningful life lessons that good kids' stories should rally around."

Frank Mathews, from Amazon Book Reviews says, "How to Eat Fried Worms has happily repulsed children since its original publication in 1973. Narrator Jay O. Sanders gives extra kick and vitality to this already lively yarn. He throws himself into the role of a 10-year-old boy, facing the most revolting bet of his life. Billy must eat 15 worms in 15 days--but the reward will be worth it: $50 for a shiny new minibike. Luckily, Billy's friends cook up these fat juicy grubs in a variety of appetizing ways--drenched in ketchup and mustard, fried in butter and cornmeal, and the pièce de résistance, a Whizband Worm Delight (an ice-cream worm cake). How to Eat Fried Worms is a ghastly gastronomical treat that will dazzle young readers."

Controversial Passages

" 'I bet a hundred dollars you wouldn't really eat a worm. You talk big now, but you wouldn't if you were sitting at the dinner table with a worm on your plate.'
'I bet I would. I'd eat fifteen worms if somebody'd bet me a hundred dollars.'
'You really want to bet? I'll bet you fifty dollars you can't eat fiftenn worms. I really will' " (3).
-This quote happens in the beginning of the book when Billy and Alan are talking about worms. They are aguring and Alan bets Billy that he will not be able to eat the worm. This becomes the entire plot of the story. This shows the part of the book that involves betting and gambling.
"Tom cut another piece, ketchuped, mustarded, salted, peppered, horseradished, and lemoned it, and handed the fork to Billy. Billy slugged it down, smacking his lips. And so they proceeded, now sprinkling on cinnamon and sugar or a bit of cheese, some cracker crumbs or Worcestershire sauce, until there was nothing on the plate but a few stray dabs of ketchup and mustard."
-This quote is about one time when Billy ate a worm. This shows the gross portions of the novel that are not socially acceptable.

Group Recommendation

As a group we would recommend that teachers of young students teach How To Eat Fried Worms after they tell their students that the behavior of the characters should not be copied. We don't think that eating worms is something most kids would do after reading this book, especially if they are our age. Most of the teachers should just warn their students about what they are going to read and if it is still controversial, come up with an alternate assignment.