BIBLIOGRAPHY
Gantos, Jack. (1999). Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key. Read by the Author. New York: Listening Library. ISBN 9780739381144. 3 sound discs (ca. 2 hrs., 58 min.)
SUMMARY
Joey Pigza's got bad wiring, or at least, that's what his mom says. His "dud meds" for his attention deficit disorder don't always work so great and sometimes Joey makes bad choices. He's not bad inside, he just can't help it. He didn't realize that he shouldn't stick his fingers in a pencil sharpener, or what would happen if he ran with scissors, and he really thought the key was still on a string around his neck when he swallowed it. In this audio book, the author, Jack Gantos, reads his own story in this poignant novel which perfectly captures the intensity and challenges in the life of someone with ADD.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Jack Gantos went to 10 different schools when he was growing up and saw a lot of "active" kids that were on the fringes of society; just like himself. It was when he was giving an author lecture in Pennsylvania and saw one of these active kids, that he decided he wanted to write a story about this boy and all the other children he remembered while growing up. Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key is the first book in the "Joey Pigza" series. It was a finalist for the 1998 National Book Award for Young People's Literature and has garnered attention for its sympathetic and realistic view on attention-deficit disorder.
Jack Gantos reads the audio version of Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key and while the quality of the audiobook is not always perfect (we can hear Gantos turn a page), he is able to impart the hyperactivity and worry of someone with ADHD. On occasion his voice doesn't work, after all, Gantos is an adult with a gravely voice, but these times are minimal and we can believe that Gantos has personal experience when Joey says "At school they say I'm wired bad, or wired mad, or wired sad, or wired glad, depending on my mood and what teacher has ended up with me. But there's no doubt about it, I'm wired." This book, and series, would be an excellent addition to public and school libraries. The hyperactivity of the audio version adds to the understanding of someone who has ADHD and makes for a wonderful audiobook.
Grades 4 and up.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
In this roller-coaster of a ride, ingenuously and breathlessly narrated by Joey himself, readers are treated to an up-close and personal introduction to life with attention deficit disorder. -- Horn Book
This novel presents a clear picture of a kid at risk, and shows us ADHD from the inside out. . . Gantos doesn't allow us to pity Joey—he lets us understand him. -- Riverbank Review
*Students may enjoy other books in the series:
-Joey Pigza loses control. ISBN 9780439338743
-What would Joey Pigza do? ISBN 9780060544034
-I am not Joey Pigza. ISBN 9780374399417
*Jack Gantos also writes the "Jack Henry Adventures" which is good for Grades 4 and up.
*Other books on disabilities:
-Lord, Cynthia. Rules. ISBN 9780439443830
-Draper, Sharon M. Out of my mind. ISBN 9781416971718
-Palacio, R. J. Wonder. ISBN 9780375869020
*Here are some Study Guide links:
*Here is a link to an interview with Jack Gantos about writing this book. http://www.ldonline.org/article/5820/
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