George Brown, Class Clown 16 – Revenge of the Killer Worms

Nancy Krulik's Revenge of the Killer Worms is a silly, big-hearted George Brown, Class Clown story for 6 year olds about a film star, a promise and a very nosy classmate.

What happens

George has a secret. Ever since his family arrived in Beaver Brook, a magic super burp has been following him around. When it bursts out, George isn't in charge of his own body any more. Trouble always comes with it.

In the very first chapter it takes over in the comic shop. George climbs a ladder, swings from the rafters like an ape and crash-lands on a pile of comics. His friend Chris is delighted, because the one comic he'd been hunting for was in that pile (the shop owner is less delighted).

Then comes Pay It Forward Day, when the whole town volunteers. George signs up with Alex's family to serve dinner at the shelter. Easy.

Except George's hero, the action star Dirk Drek, is coming to town that very Saturday for his new film. And Louie Farley, who never volunteers for anything, is planning to meet him.

Worse, Louie keeps knowing things he shouldn't. The skateboard George has his heart set on. The fact that George can't bear the idea of putting a worm on a fishing hook. Things George has only ever written in his private class journal.

So George has a promise to keep, a hero he might miss and a sneaky classmate to sort out. What's a boy with a burp problem supposed to do?

It's the sixteenth book in the series, and it's great fun to read. The burp scenes are pure slapstick, and George's thoughts are the cheeky ones children have and keep to themselves. Louie is SO smug that you'll be itching for him to get what's coming.

There's heart in it too. It's about keeping your word when something shinier comes along. It's also about how much it stings when someone reads what was meant to be private.

What to read next

If your reader loves a class clown and a proper baddie to boo, this is an easy one to love. And if they're after more burps and more Louie, the George Brown book with Alex's record-breaking ball of other people's chewed gum is Eww! What's on My Shoe?