Module 6: (September 27- October 3)Gantos, J. (1998). Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key. New York, NY: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux.
Summary: Joey Pigza has always been “wired bad,” just like his grandma and his father before him. He can’t pay attention in school, and is always getting in trouble for his impulsivity. He takes pills to help, but they always seem to wear off, and he is once again bouncing off the walls. Eventually, Joey is sent to a special school where he must learn to cope with his ADHD, and is put on a better medication to help him calm down so he can function more normally.
My Impressions: This book really could have gone several different ways, and Joey could have been so much angrier and hopeless than he was. This poor boy was abandoned multiple times and abused, but he still manages to have such a positive, hopeful attitude. This book was all at once sad, funny, and a true commentary about our school and mental health system. I am so glad a character like Joey exists, if nothing else so kids suffering from similar problems can see that he is not a lost cause, and neither are they.
Reviews: “Gantos creates a strong cast of multidimensional characters. Joey is inherently a good kid and just as his teachers want him to succeed, readers will empathize and feel his emotional and physical bruises. References to alcoholism and abuse add realism to the novel without impeding the flow of the plot. In his first-person narrative, Joey relates incidents that are heart wrenching and humorous. From the powerful opening lines and fast-moving plot to the thoughtful inner dialogue and satisfying conclusion, readers will cheer for Joey, and for the champion in each of us.”—Shawn Brommer, Southern Tier Library System, Painted Post, NY. School Library Journal.*
“Joey's hard-won triumph will reassure children fighting his same battle and offer insight to their peers.”—Publisher’s Weekly.*
*(Both reviews from this site). http://libproxy.library.unt.edu:2548/merge_shared/details/RecordDetails.asp?item_uid=52689381&viewItemIndex=0&navPage=1&FullText=&BipAlertQueryString=&BipAlertDisplayQText=
--National Book Award Finalist, 1998.
Library Use: We actually have an “Accessibility Fair” every year at our library, during which local organizations that specialize in assisting the disabled come to our library and talk about their programs and services. Our Fair is coming up next week, and I am in charge of making the display. I’ve started on it already and as part of it I am incorporating juvenile and YA fiction and non-fiction books about people with both mental and physical disabilities. I plan on putting this book in the section with books about ADD/ADHD. I will also be using Al Capone Does my Shirts for the autism section of my display. I really think it will turn out well, and will showcase just some of the books we have on these topics!
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