The Word Eater

Amato, M. (2000). The word eater. (Ryniak, C. illus.). Holiday House. 151 pages. ISBN 0823419401

Primary genre: fantasy

Other elements: friendship, family

Intended reader age: 8 and up

Synopsis:

Lerner Chanse is having a hard time adjusting to her new new school. Her one chance to make it into the popular club was ruined and friends are not as easy to come by as she thought. One day, she finds a tiny worm that has the ability to eat words and once it eats the words the thing itself disappears. Now Lerner finds herself in a position to enact changes to make things go the way she wants. But, with this power comes the questions of right and wrong and how far Lerner will go to achieve popularity.

Review:

I think my favorite part in this novel was the chapter headers that were included. The chapters were given an image similar to day-by-day calendar and on each of these days there was a quote from other children’s novels. Each quote was slightly modified so the word ‘worm’ was included, either in the name of the author, the title, or the actual quote. I feel that this gives readers a chance to either interest them in other works outside of this one or at least interest them figuring out which part of the quote was modified.

The story raises the interesting concept of right and wrong for readers. But, it did become a bit too (almost) preachy with pointing out the exact right way to do things. I think much of this had to do with how the author wrote the characters. They came off as younger than they should have been. When Lerner was thinking over what would happen if people found the worm, her thoughts all centered on how the government would give her a job, and that just came as a bit too far reaching for me. It was also odd how the author made it the worm that found the solution, not the kids involved. 

I was interested in the concept that was the basic story: eating words erased the things. But, it was only the physical things that were removed and not the other words. People were able to write about the missing things, but they could not remake them. They could have the components that made up the things, but if they tried to make the actual thing it disappeared. The premise did remind me of an adult book I read, Elle Minnow Pea. In that story, however, the people had to learn not use letters once they fell from the sign. It also reminded me of The Chocolate Touch, the idea of being careful what you wish for.