The Mealworm Diaries

By Anna Kerz

Mealworms are small creatures that live in dark secret places. Jeremy is a bit like that when he leaves his home in rural Nova Scotia and moves to Toronto with his mother. Lots of things keep him from enjoying his new life, but the worst is his science partner, Aaron, who is more annoying than sand in a bathing suit. Jeremy is also burdened by the secret he carries about the motorcycle accident that injured him and killed his father. Although Jeremy is haunted by his past, he starts to feel at home in Toronto when he realizes he has some skills he can share with his classmates. And when his mealworm project yields some surprising results, Jeremy is finally able to talk about his part in the fatal accident.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Orca Book Publishers
• Release date: Apr 1, 2009
• ISBN: 9781551439846

Anna Kerz

Anna Kerz's first book, The Mealworm Diaries, was shortlisted for many awards, including a Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Award. In her spare time, she tells stories to audiences of all ages and teaches students how to tell stories of their own. She lives in Scarborough, Ontario, with her husband, Frank, and their dog, Bailey.

Reviews for The Mealworm Diaries

[curioussquared · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I got this book from the Early Reviewers program and I'm glad I did! While not something I would have picked up on my own, I enjoyed The Mealworm Diaries much more than I expected to based on the synopsis and cover. I expected to read a boring, juvenile, and trite story written for third graders, but instead I found an insightful, interesting book that, while readable for third graders, still held my attention for the two hours or so it took to read it. While not my favorite book I've ever read, as it still retained a bit of that cutesy feel, I definitely enjoyed The Mealworm Diaries and I will probably recommend it to the younger people in my life.

[yummyfishmeister · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I got this book from the Early Reviewers program and I'm glad I did! While not something I would have picked up on my own, I enjoyed The Mealworm Diaries much more than I expected to based on the synopsis and cover. I expected to read a boring, juvenile, and trite story written for third graders, but instead I found an insightful, interesting book that, while readable for third graders, still held my attention for the two hours or so it took to read it. While not my favorite book I've ever read, as it still retained a bit of that cutesy feel, I definitely enjoyed The Mealworm Diaries and I will probably recommend it to the younger people in my life.

[librarybrandy · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

After the death of his father, Jeremy and his mom move away from their home in rural Nova Scotia to live with an aunt in Toronto. Jeremy's adjusting to the move just fine--making friends, doing okay in school--but the memories (and guilt) about the accident that killed his father haunt him, particularly in his dreams. School is mostly okay, though--until he gets paired up with the most annoying boy in the class for the mealworm project. Aaron is such a pain and so hard to deal with that Jeremy almost can't help being mean to him, and that goes double when he finds out that Aaron considers Jeremy his best friend.

There's a lot of boy-appeal here, despite its tendency toward the sentimental. Themes of grief and loss, friendship, identity, and acceptance are all present and balanced against each other; no particular theme is superimposed too obviously over the others. While the author never talks down to children, her word choices are occasionally a little elderly. Still, a worthwhile book even just for not treating Jeremy's nightmare-induced bedwetting as shameful.

(Upper-elementary, maybe grades 4-6?)

[4sarad_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This was really quick and easy to read, but just didn't wow me. I realize it's written for younger readers, but there was no excitement there. Even when you find out the big secret the main character was hiding, it just kind of came out. There wasn't a big lead up to it, there was this huge heart-wrenching scene... it just happened. It was a cute story and had good meaning behind it, but it just didn't do anything for me.

[thelittlebookworm · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Jeremy has a secret. When he and his mom moved to a new town so his mother can finish school, he carries his secret around with him, trying not to let it affect him except in his dreams, where he has no control. In science class, each student is assigned a meal worm to study and Jeremy ends up with not only a meal worm of his own, but with Aaron's too, the most hyperactive kid in the class. Through studying the meal worm and interacting with Aaron, Jeremy learns how to treat people when they are different and how to let go of his secret.This is one of the sweetest books I've read in a while. Jeremy is a typical boy, wanting to be cool and kind at the same time. I got a little teary at the end when Jeremy admits the secret he'd been carrying around about his father's death and was gratified by the ending. This is a good quick read with a lot of heart and very realistic characters.

[moonsoar_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I got a copy of this book through the LibraryThing Early Reviewer’s program. I’m really happy I did, because it might not have been something that would have immediately caught my eye in the bookstore with all the other childrens and YA books I have on my TBR list.The Mealworm Diaries is about Jeremy, a young boy who moves with his mother from Nova Scotia to Toronto after a horrible accident that kills Jeremy’s father. Starting any school is hard, but it’s especially hard for Jeremy who still hasn’t completely recovered from his father’s death. He was also involved in the accident – his leg isn’t completely healed from it, and he’s now suffering from nightmares. Things at school aren’t as bad as they could have been – Jeremy’s made a couple of friends, and there’s a cute girl he likes, but he’s been partnered with Aaron to study mealworms. And Jeremy thinks Aaron is one annoying kid – he is constantly bouncing around, has no attention span, and very few social skills. But soon Jeremy realizes that there is a lot more that he can learn from Aaron than he expected.I sat down with this book to dinner last night. I didn’t move from the table until two hours later when I finished the last page. I devoured this book, and enjoyed every second of it.It deals with some heavy issues, but does so in a way that is very relatable. It doesn’t make a big deal out of these issues, just treats them like everyday, normal things. Which is awesome. For example, Aaron – his mother had cancer, and was given radiation treatment before doctors realized she was pregnant with Aaron. The radiation DID have a huge effect on Aaron, and he has some disabilities as a result. While this is evident, it’s not something that is outright spoken about. It goes into kids picking on other kids with disabilities because they don’t know what’s going on, and does it in a way that lets the reader know that it’s not a cool thing to do without sounding preachy. Other tough subjects it mentions include bed wetting and the recent death of a parent. But, as I said, it was done in an awesome way that kids will be able to understand and relate to, even if they didn’t go through those situations themselves.But it wasn’t just a book that talked about serious stuff – I actually care for the characters as well, and what they were going through, and was impressed that (even though these heavier topics were covered) it was such a light, easy and entertaining read.Does anyone know, has Anna Kerz written other books? Her bio in the back of the book just mentions that this was her first book with Orca Book Publishers, and I can’t find any info of her online. If she has written more stuff, I want to read it… if she hasn’t, then I’ll definitely be keeping my eye out for her in the future.I definitely recommend this book. It was thoroughly enjoyable and it will be something I will, no doubt, return to.

[mrsbond_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Jeremy's life is in massive upheaval: father dies in a terrible motorcycle accident, Jeremy is hurt in that same accident, dog is missing, he and his mother move from the farm to the city, and new teacher pairs him with the most annoying kid in school (who has ADD?). Through this drama Jeremy adjusts, growing to love his new home and even like that annoying kid. The story is interesting but not exciting, the mood and tempo were consistent on each page.

[sunnysd_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A move from rural Nova Scotia to the big city of Toronto puts Jeremy in a new classroom, but it can't stop the nightmares that wake him wet and terrified most nights. He likes the new school well enough, but the secret he's hiding weighs on him. He isn't happy to be partnered with the hyperactive Aaron for a science class project on mealworms. Aaron can't even take responsibility for his own mealworm - how is he supposed to make a good partner?A realistic story about grieving, guilt, the nature of friendship and second chances, it's well written and short enough to make it appeal to reluctant readers. Strong and readable, with no objectionable subject matter.