Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Unavailable
    Finding the Worm: Twerp
    Unavailable
    Finding the Worm: Twerp
    Unavailable
    Finding the Worm: Twerp
    Audiobook7 hours

    Finding the Worm: Twerp

    Written by Mark Goldblatt

    Narrated by Everette Plen

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    The New York Post praised Twerp as "reminiscent of The Perks of Being a Wallflower." Finding the Worm is a sequel that stands on its own--an unforgettable coming-of-age story about life, loss, and friendship. Perfect for fans of The Sandlot and readers who love books by Jennifer L. Holm, Andrew Clements, and Rebecca Stead.

    It's not a test unless you can fail. . . .

    Trouble always seems to find thirteen-year-old Julian Twerski. First it was a bullying incident, and now he's been accused of vandalizing a painting. The principal doesn't want to suspend him again, so instead, he asks Julian to write a 200-word essay on good citizenship. Julian writes 200 no's instead, and so begins an epic struggle between Julian and his principal.

    Being falsely accused is bad enough, but outside of school, Julian's dealing with even bigger issues. His friend Quentin has been really sick. How can life be fair when the nicest guy in your group has cancer? Julian's faith and friendships are put to the test . . . and the stakes have never been higher.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateFeb 10, 2015
    ISBN9780553552430
    Unavailable
    Finding the Worm: Twerp
    Author

    Mark Goldblatt

    Mark Goldblatt is a widely published columnist, essayist, and philosopher. He is the author of two novels, Africa Speaks and Sloth. He teaches religious history and developmental English at Fashion Institute of Technology of the State University of New York.

    Related to Finding the Worm

    Related audiobooks

    Children's Humor For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      Bob Odenkirk Has A New Memoir And A Starry Career That Began Here — Look At The Ways Naperville Creeps Into His Writing. What Does He Think Of Where He Is Now?

      Mar 2, 2022

      Bob Odenkirk Has A New Memoir And A Starry Career That Began Here — Look At The Ways Naperville Creeps Into His Writing. What Does He Think Of Where He Is Now?
      10 min read

    • Article

      Past IMPERFECT

      Oct 2, 2023

      Past IMPERFECT
      10 min read

    • Article

      Jo Hopper, Woman in the Sun

      Feb 26, 2018

      Jo Hopper, Woman in the Sun
      10 min read

    • Article

      Thinkers, Writers And Storytellers

      Jun 30, 2022

      John Self is The Critic’s lead fiction critic. He lives in Belfast ‘‘I LOVED IT AND COULD HAVE read a thousand more pages of it,” said novelist Emma Cline of Elif Batuman’s debut novel The Idiot (2017). Well, Emma, will 350 pages do instead? My tone

      5 min read

    • Article

      Holiday Reads By The Recently Departed

      Jul 27, 2023

      FOR THIS YEAR’S HOLIDAY READING special — where The Critic suggests some older fiction that might more profitably fill your beach-y or gîte-y afternoons than the latest screamers from the bestseller lists — the theme is, well, death in summer. We off

      6 min read

    • Article

      Books

      Apr 3, 2024

      Books
      16 min read

    • Article

      The talented Mr Scott

      Apr 7, 2024

      The talented Mr Scott
      6 min read

    • Article

      Radio Valerie Grove

      Dec 15, 2021

      Gyles Brandreth, in his riveting memoir Odd Boy Out, waxes nostalgic about BBC spoken English. The infant Gyles heard Alvar Lidell on a crystal set under his pillow. ‘I loved Alvar Lidell’s voice. I loved its clarity and authority.’ Clarity, authorit

      2 min read

    • Article

      The Old Un’s Notes

      Dec 15, 2021

      The Old Un’s Notes
      5 min read

    • Article

      Knocking At The Door Of The Booker Prize

      May 25, 2023

      WHEN I MENTIONED ON Twitter that I was reading Tan Twan Eng’s third novel, writer Richard Osman commented that “The House of Doors is the exact title I’d use if I had to invent an imaginary Booker Prize-winning novel in a book”. Cynicism aside, he’s

      6 min read

    • Article

      Crime Master

      Jun 17, 2023

      Crime Master
      5 min read

    • Article

      Tomorrow & tomorrow

      Aug 28, 2022

      Tomorrow & tomorrow
      8 min read

    • Article

      Malorie Blackman

      Aug 14, 2019

      Children can be brutal to their parents. In 2010, Tinie Tempah released “Written In The Stars”, in which the rapper declared himself to be “a writer from the ghetto like Malorie Blackman”. Cue Blackman and her daughter, Elizabeth, going online to che

      3 min read

    • Article

      Debutant Novels And Great Expectations

      May 27, 2021

      PULL UP YOUR CHAISE LONGUE for a tale of two debut novels which gives an insight into publishing in Britain. Debuts are fragile but commonplace things: like dandelion spores, they are sent out in their thousands in the knowledge that most will fall o

      6 min read

    • Article

      The World Of Writing

      Oct 7, 2021

      The World Of Writing
      4 min read

    Reviews for Finding the Worm

    4/5

    12 ratings5 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 4/5
      Not just for kids - made me cry...that's all I'm going to say.
    • 5/5
      Quentin is ill, seriously ill, but the all school interruption on the intercom for Quentin's closest friends to hightail it to the counseling office forbodes a far worse possibility. Miss Medina's encouragement of a positive prognosis falls on deaf ears, and Rabbi Salzburg, who bares physical resemblances to Mr. Magoo of cartoon fame, does little to assuage Julian's fears for Quentin and uncertainties about heaven. Rich characterization from Twerp provides depth and familiarity with the colorful cast of characters, yet, with Goldblatt's wit and humor while tackling a serious subject, this sequel easily stands on its own.For young people: You will laugh, celebrate, and even shed a few tears with your favorite characters, who continue to grow up alongside you. Danley makes yet another surprising appearance, giving you pause to reflect on what's really important in life.For teachers: Attention to location details makes this book a perfect choice for combining a Google Lit-Trip with historic research, especially in regard to the Browne house.For adults: While following the storyline of a youth preparing for his bar mitzvah, Finding the Worm unveils the realities of life and the sometimes painful metamorphosis of a boy becoming a man.For all: If you ever have an opportunity to invite or to hear this amazing author in person, do so! You will be glad you did! (More than 500 students and teachers would attest to this).Thank you to Random House Children's for sharing this ARC with me.
    • 2/5
      Maybe I needed to read Twerp first (which I haven't read) in order to fully appreciate this book or maybe I couldn't relate to the characters but for whatever reason, I clearly didn't have the same response that lots of other reviewers had. I didn't hate it enough to throw it out, but I certainly wouldn't give it a prime spot on my shelves. Just didn't do much for me.
    • 5/5
      The story line, characters and detailed descriptions of the places were good.
    • 5/5
      In Finding the Worm, Mark Goldblatt revisits Julian "Twerp" Twerski and his friends and this outing is just as charming and thought-provoking as its predecessor, Twerp. This newest release is also a lot more poignant as thirteen year old Julian and his pals learn one of life's harshest lessons when one of their friends is diagnosed with cancer.

      Just before Christmas of 1969, Julian and his friends, Lonnie, Eric, Howie, Shlomo and Beverly are called to the guidance counselor's office where they are learn that their close friend, Quentin, has been diagnosed with a brain tumor. The group is shaken by the news and although they are reassured that he will be fine, the kids are still worried. Julian takes his concerns to Rabbi Salzberg (whom they have nicknamed Magoo) who then uses Julian's bar mitzvah preparation to give him a few life lessons in addition to his haftarah instruction.

      While Julian is trying to make sense of Quentin's illness, the school principal accuses him of defacing a painting. Since he was suspended from school the previous year, Julian's punishment is to write a 200 word essay on good citizenship. His pleas of innocence fall on deaf ears, and Julian is soon locked in a battle of wills with the principal as week after week, he turns in essays that are about everything except good citizenship. Since he refuses to take the punishment seriously, the principal ups the ante and Julian knows he is beat, but it is not until Julian discovers the perpetrator's identity that he turns in an incredibly insightful essay that shows remarkable maturity.

      Despite their worries and Quentin's fragile health, Julian and the gang find plenty of time to enjoy being kids. They spend quite a bit of free time at Quentin's apartment since he is still recovering from surgery but they do get a few opportunities to have some outdoor fun as well. Baseball player Bobby Murcer makes a guest appearance that shows the depth of Quentin and Julian's friendship although all of the kids benefit from Murcer's generosity.

      Finding the Worm is another entertaining and very heartwarming novel of friendship by Mark Goldblatt. Both humorous and heartbreaking, I highly recommend this marvelous story to readers of all ages. Although it is the sequel to Twerp, the story can be read as a standalone.