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 another good read for the Hiassen fan or for your first of his books! ( )

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 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. ( )

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. 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. ( )

I loved Squirm. But I love all of Carl Hiaasen's fiction. He teaches us about animals and ecosystems while delivering good feels and laughter. I also like it when the bad guys get caught. ( )

I really enjoy Hiassen's books, preferring his adult fare. This book is written for tweens, not even young adults. The humor is pretty dumbed down (e.g., MeTube and other misnamed social media platforms.) The basic story made little sense. Father abandons family, but sends a monthly check. Mother is kind of cuckoo and moves around Florida to be near bald eagle nests. The son decides to track down father despite his simmering anger, and finds him with a new Crow Indian family in Montana, where he has a mysterious job involving nature and drones. Somehow he gets over his anger. Highlights of the book were the son's unwavering war on bullies, and affinity for nature (very Hiassenesque.) Just didn't work for me. ( )