The Word Eater

By Mary Amato, Christopher Ryniak (Illustrator)

A magical worm erases words, altering reality. Can Lerner change her fate?

5.5/7 Bookroo expert·3.7/5 Goodreads · 1,144 ratings

151 pages· 26,708 words· Est. 3.5 hour read

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Bookroo's summary

Lerner Chanse is stuck in a school hierarchy where the MPOOE Club dominates, leaving her among the SLUGs. Her life takes a turn when she discovers Fip, a worm that devours printed words, making them vanish from existence. With this power, Lerner faces a choice: reshape her world or risk unforeseen consequences. What will she erase, and what will remain?

From the publisher

Life is miserable for sixth grader Lerner Chanse at her new shool, where the MPOOE (Most Powerful Ones On Earth) Club ruthlessly rules over the SLUGs (Sorry Losers Under Ground). It looks as if Lerner is destined to be a SLUG, until she finds a magical worm that eats printed words instead of dirt. If Fip eats a word, that item simply disappears from the world – forever.

At a glance

Format
Pages: 151
Words: 26,708
Reading age: 8–12
Audience: Middle Grade
Lexile: 670L

Themes & topics

Books about worms Books about words Books about magic Books about school Books about magic and wonder

For the grown-ups

The parent guide

What families may want to know

Every family reads differently. These are the concepts our editors noticed in this book — worth seeking out for some readers, worth knowing about for others. The list isn't exhaustive, but it's a spoiler-light head start.

Violence

This book includes a character, Mr. Mack, who uses thumbtacks on puppy's paws to make them mean. He also makes kids work like slaves making the thumbtacks. The story mentions that the dogs, called Attackaterriers, attack a baby.

Sex

This book contains one instance where the students' teacher "cracked open a paperback book with a red foil cover" called "Burning Heart of Desire."

Scary Villains and Characters

This book includes some "secret clubs at school" run by bullies that dare you to get in the club or not.

After the last page

Talk about it together

When Fip eats a word, that thing disappears in the world. What would you have Fip eat, if he was your worm?

Lerner finds out quickly that there are consequences to Fip eating a word. Did you see any of those ramifications coming? If Lerner was less responsible, what could have happened?

What readers & critics say