Review: Wuftoom
Wuftoom by Mary G. ThompsonMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
If you are looking for a book that isn't quite like anything else, Wuftoomis an excellent choice. I have seen other reviewers compare it to Kafka's Metamorphosis, and it is similar in that the main character, Evan, transforms from a sixth grader into a giant worm---a Wuftoom. Another shared trait between Wuftoom and Metamorphosis: the ick factor. Readers with weak stomachs, consider yourselves warned. Evan's transformation is chronicled in painstaking detail complete with sights, sounds, textures, scents, and tastes. It gets really gross. While this may be a turn-off for some adult readers, the good news is this book should be a hit with the age 10 and up crowd.
While my husband wouldn't be suprised if I gave a book five stars on gross-out factor alone, the reality is, I just wouldn't do that. Sure, Wuftoom has some wonderful passages you can use to antagonize the ninnies in your household, but the story raises some interesting questions about what it means to belong, to be human, and to be a friend.
After Evan's transformation, two different night creatures propose offers to him in exchange for his loyalty. The viscious Vitflies promise not to harm his mother if he helps them defeat the Wuftoom. The Wuftoom can promise Evan long life and companionship even though he knows he will never completely fit in with them, and joining them means giving up life on the surface and living in the dark forever.
This is a terrific book, but be warned: once you start reading, it will be hard to stop.