Scholastic’s Shooting Star series features believable stories with realistic characters and situations. Worm Pie tells a straightforward story about a young girl named Tara who is coping with two big problems: a new teacher, whose unorthodox methods upset her, and her best friend Tam, who is furious with her ever since Tara threw a worm at her one rainy day. Eventually Tara begins to appreciate her new teacher and makes up with Tam. Settling her quarrel with Tam takes time, however, and in the process Tara is invited to Tam’s house for supper. Tara presents Tam with a pie for dessert; a pie that is decorated with “gummi” worms. Tam is at first horrified, and then, rather too abruptly, finds the situation hilarious, and shares a good laugh with Tara. The use of the worm pie to help patch things up is a weak resolution of one of the major plot conflicts, but, overall, this is a readable story that kids will enjoy.