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After stumbling onto and thoroughly enjoying Chomp (a YA animal adventure set deep in the Florida wilderness) I grabbed Squirm from my library’s audiobook collection. I’m on a bit of a YA kick these days, hunting for wholesome humor. I figured I’d give this one a shot. Carl Hiaasen appears to have a knack for blending environmental themes with quirky young heroes and heroines. (Hoot, Flush, Scat, and more!) So, I popped on the audiobook and dove back into Florida’s wild side.
My Squirm by Carl Hiaasen Book Review:
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Squirm by Carl Hiaasen Book Summary
Squirm follows 13-year-old Billy Dickens, a snake-loving teen who’s used to moving often. They shift to a new place whenever his eagle-obsessed mom finds a new nest to live nearby. Billy hasn’t seen his father (Dennis Dickens) in years and barely knows anything about him. But when a mysterious package arrives and some online sleuthing leads Billy to Montana, he sets off on a cross-country mission to track his dad down and get some answers.
What he finds is unexpected: his dad is involved in covert government drone surveillance! Billy quickly gets swept up in a high-stakes operation involving Lincoln Chumley — a violent, trigger-happy animal poacher known for killing endangered species for fun. Along the way, Billy meets his dad’s new family, including his tough and resourceful stepsister, Summer.
Together, they brave wilderness threats and blended family awkwardness as they work to stop Chumley from bagging some rare critters. With themes of environmental protection and family reconnection, Squirm is a fast-paced, wildlife-packed (and sometimes humorous) adventure.
Now onto the rating! Squirm by Carl Hiaasen Book Review:
My innovative system for rating humor books is explained here
Wholesomeness Score: 5/5
Sure, there are a few mild swears, some family tension, and a genuinely angry animal poacher. But it’s still Carl Hiaasen writing for YA. Nothing ever gets too intense or too mature. It’s solidly kid-appropriate, even with drones, snakes, and people getting tased.
Hilarity Score: 2/5
There were a few funny moments — mostly in the character quirks and banter. Billy’s stereotypical drama-queen sister and her boyfriend-of-the-week antics added some chuckles. But overall, it wasn’t laugh-heavy. I didn’t find it nearly as funny as Chomp (my review here!) Still entertaining, just not comedy-first.
Overall Book Awesomeness Score: 3/5
I liked the father-son reunion angle, and the drone surveillance subplot added a fun twist. But compared to other Hiaasen books, this one didn’t hit quite as hard for me. Still a solid read — just not my favorite of his.
Things I liked:
- Animal/Nature advocacy. Easy for kids to root for the good guys (Billy, Dennis, Summer) and against the bad guys (poacher, Lincoln Chumley)
- The complex relationship story between Billy and his dad, Dennis
- Obsession with bald eagles – I’m fascinated too
- Lincoln Chumley – what a perfect name for a spoiled, rich, trigger-happy villain!
Things I didn’t like:
- Snakes. I mean who actually likes snakes?
- Not as funny as I was hoping for. Hiaasen’s Chomp had more humorous dialogue and characters with consistent comedic relief. Squirm was a bit more serious in tone.
Conclusion: Squirm by Carl Hiaasen Book Review
Squirm isn’t Carl Hiaasen’s funniest outing (in my funny book-seeking expert opinion.) It didn’t quite reel me in the way some of his other books did. But if you like family drama, eco-thriller action, drone surveillance, Montana and Florida wilderness, or snakes… you might want to check this out. Plus, you get a villain named Lincoln Chumley. Pretty hate-able name, if I must say. For me, it wasn’t the best Hiaasen, but still a solid adventure.
Got thoughts on Squirm? What’s the weirdest villain name you’ve ever read? Lincoln Chumley sets the bar pretty high. Comment below.
