Squirm

The Dedication to Squirm reads, “For all those who stand up” (v). While these words might initially seem cryptic, they represent the core theme of the novel, for Squirm is filled with characters who stand up for those who are vulnerable. As the larger message of the plot unfolds, the protagonists act proactively to thwart a variety of bullies who harass women, children, and animals. However, Billy is not the only character who exhibits a tendency to defend the weak; all the major players have at least one episode in which they stand up for what’s right. For example, although Billy’s mother, Chrissie, is often portrayed as a slightly wacky mom who loves eagles, she also has the moral strength to kick a passenger out of her Uber when he makes a pass at her while simultaneously calling his wife and pretending to be a faithful husband. Chrissie’s action is intended to teach a cheater a lesson, and it also helps to establish the ethical tone of the story as a whole. Similarly, when Summer is eight years old, she attacks her abusive father with a snow shovel after he beats her mother, Lil, and this incident proves to be his final abusive episode before he is carted off to jail.