Squirm

Funny in the dry/sarcastic voice of a teen who loves snakes and doesn't understand why so many people are afraid of them, though uses this fact to his advantage. As when he put an Eastern diamond rattlesnake in his locker (with its mouth taped shut, of course!) so all the kids who have his combination and have been stealing his stuff, stop immediately. The dedication - "For all those who stand up" - refers to Billy's protection of both snakes (and all wildlife) and people. When Billy sees a motorcycle driver purposely run over a harmless king snake, he first buried the snake, then stole the motorcycle and dumped it in the canal. He also steps in to protect a fellow student from bullies.

I like the family dynamics and the acceptance of show more the new wife and step-daughter. Billy's Mom, Christine, seems neurodivergent, but it's not spoken of - she's who she is, loving bald eagles and moving her family to another bald eagle area if the nest she's currently following is damaged or abandoned. Going to view the eagle nest every Sunday is the family's form of church. show less

Billy has moved from home to home as his single mother insists that they must always live near an active bald eagles' nest. As a result, he hasn't made a lot of friends. But what concerns him more is spending time in nature, especially with snakes. And what really eats at him is wondering about the father he doesn't remember. When he tracks down his father's whereabouts in Montana, he goes out to meet him and his new family. And, when he learns that his father is attempting to stop a poacher from attacking endangered animals, Billy is all in.

This was a rather odd book as it kept taking turns that were unexpected. I would have thought from the first chapter or so that it would be a fairly typical middle school book about fitting in and show more making friends. Then it seemed like it would be a book about reuniting with with an absent father and restoring family ties. But about half of the book is really about tracking down the poacher and stopping him. It was a rather unusual subject, and not necessarily one that I think kids will find relatable. However, it's not bad for them to learn about the natural world and caring for it.

I'm just not sure who exactly the audience for this book is. While there are kids who LOVE survival stories like Hatchet, this book isn't quite as into the nitty-gritty of man vs. nature so I'm not sure this would appeal to them as well. There was also a bit of mature content, including deleted expletives, which makes me pause about recommending this book for younger kids. It actually seemed almost like an adult book that just happened to have a young protagonist so it's considered a kids book.

For what it's worth, it sounds like I'm saying a lot of bad stuff about this book but I did enjoy it on the whole; I'm just not sure what child I would recommend it to, unless they happened to be a fan of Hiaasen's other novels for kids. show less

Well, he has done it again. Carl Hiaasen has written a book that kids will find hard to put down once they start. Billy Dickens like snakes (ewwwwweeeeeee). He is a friend to most animals and with a mother like his you can understand why. His mom is crazy about Bald Eagles. She follows them around Florida, and spends the weekends on family eagle watching outings. Everytime the eagles abandon the nest where she lives, she has to find a new nest to live near. This means Billy has spent plenty of time moving. This time he just wants to stay put. His current place has great snakes.

But, Billy is curious about his father. When dad walked out he never looked back. He supports his kids financially, but never a letter, never a call. Just the show more monthly check. But Billy wants to see his dad. Upon finding his father’s address on the envelope, he plans a trip to Montana. Come heck or high water he is going to meet the man that he only knows by name. And since this is a Hiaasen novel you know there will be some type of trouble with animals and/or an environmental concern, and Billy has to help.

This adventure is going to see Billy and his step sister, Summer Chasing-Hawks, watching out for grizzly bears in Montana, and and panthers in Florida. You have to throw in some high tech drone action, plus all the snark you can handle.

I did love this story, but to me it does not live up to the level Hiaasen reached with Chomp. I think part of it was the back and forth between Montana and Florida. Plus the meet ups with dad. You really start to hate the man as you read this book, and I think that the forgiveness part comes too soon, and too quick. I really want to hand my galley to my nephew but fear this book will come too close to his current situation with his father. And I won't lie, that maybe what colors some of my opinion.

Overall, this book is a great adventure. Readers young and old will fall in love with Billy and Summer, and maybe even forgive the adults for their faults. And for those people like me who are not fond of snakes, there is a little snake action, but nothing to fear. I would put this book at a 4th+ reading level, but think it could be a fun read aloud for younger kids. show less

Billy likes snakes. Not the poisonous kind. Well, mostly not those. He and his sister and his mother live in Florida. His dad left when he was little and the only contact he's had with Dad is a monthly check. His mom is careful to cut up the envelope the check comes in so the kids won't know where dad lives. But Billy finds out and hops a plane to Montana where he meets his stepmom and stepsister, but not Dad. This unleashes a whole series of adventures during which Billy saves his dad's life - in more ways than one. In typical Hiaasen fashion this is a very readable book with a plot that moves quickly and keeps the reader engaged as it "squirms" back and forth like a snake. Great characters and an intriguing plot combine to make this show more another good read for the Hiassen fan or for your first of his books! show less

Carl Hiaasen writes some quirky dark mysteries based in Florida for adult readers. I always enjoy those especially the ones with the character Skink who lives in the swamps and subsists mainly on roadkill. Skink was once the Governor of Florida but one day he got so fed up with the corruption that he just walked out of his office and disappeared into the Everglades. Hiaasen also writes Young Adult YA fiction and Squirm is one of those. Even though I am an adult who is far from young I thoroughly enjoy reading Carl Hiaasen's YA offerings. In Squirm Billy is in the early part of high school, likes snakes, get bullied and has a absent father. When Billy, in Florida of course, finally locates his absent father in Montana adventures ensue. show more Billy flies to Montana against his mother's wishes and not only finds his father but mets the new family and his step-sister Summer who is a member of the Crow Tribe and was born on a reservation. Billy and Summer gang up to save their father from a violent big game poacher. show less

Of course, the premise is outlandish, it is written by Carl Hiaasen. As a reader of his books for adults and children, I am never disappointed. I did squirm when I read this, but I also laughed. The concept is crazy, and as an adult I had lots of questions about how in the world could this possibly happen. But who cares, for a kid who isn’t old enough to have these doubts this adventure about saving endangered animals will be a hit.

Billy has a great deal in common with Skink, though he seems to have more respect for the law, which I was glad to see. I was very entertained by this story and it made me laugh out loud more than once (cue the knife dropping scene). It was nice to get out of Florida and to learn about eagles and grizzlies. If I were Belinda I would have given my father considerably more attitude than she did. All in all a lot of fun.