By Jack Gantos Book Talk Author Study Classroom Connections List of Related Books Web Activity

Awards and Honors Received: A National Book Award Finalist for Young People's Literature An ALA Notable Children's Book An NCSS-CBC Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year A Riverbank Review Children's Book of Distinction A New York Public Library Children's Book-100 Titles for Reading and Sharing A NECBA Fall List Title

Jack Gantos draws readers into the disordered life of Joey Pigza in such a way that the reader is taken by surprised how much they feel towards Joey and his problems.  He suffers from Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). The disorder causes him to get into trouble at school and at home.  Joey was living with his Grandmother, who mentally abused him.  This had a negative affect on Joey.   Joey was left with hurtful memories of his past with his grandmother.  Shortly into the book, Joey’s mother returns to him after leaving him as a baby to chase after his father, who abandoned Joey and his mother.  It is also implied that Joey may have inherited ADD from his father, who may be inflicted with this disorder.  Medicine alone could not help Joey’s suffering with ADD.  Joey’s mother tried to make changes in the household.  At school, Joey still gets into trouble.  Eventually, Joey is made to leave his school, after a dangerous accident occurred, and go to a special school for children with handicaps and special needs.  A teacher at Joey’s new school helps him and his mother make changes with Joey’s doctor, medicine, diet, and living environment.  The teacher gives Joey and his mother guidance.  Joey learns a lot about himself throughout the book.  By the end of the book Joey gets to go back to his old school with a new sense of self-confidence and hope.  Joey’s interesting, sad, and amusing thoughts make the reader feel compassion for him.

This book gives a close look into the life of a child with ADD.  A great understanding of the feelings and emotions of Joey, his mother, and teachers are experienced in this absorbing novel.  In spite of Joey’s situation, optimism and hope is gained. Children can learn a great deal from reading this book.  Joey’s good intentions, whimsical gestures will make a given impression on the minds of all his readers.  Joey’s glory will reassure children who struggle with ADD, parents with children who suffer with ADD, and give understanding and hope to them and their peers.  This book gives the reader a picture from a child’s emotional and psychological perspective.

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Author Study
by Amanda Mitchell

Jack Gantos was born on July 2, 1951 in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania.  While growing up he wanted nothing more than to do what his sister did.  "I had an older sister who was very smart… and I liked to do everything she did" (Something About the Author page 65).  Little did he know that this would start his writing career.  Gantos’ older sister received a diary one afternoon.  She was in the fifth grade and their mother thought she was old enough to have one.  This action caused Gantos to want one as well.  After a temper tantrum and several tears, Gantos’ mother gave in and got him a diary on one condition.  He had to write in it every day.  Gantos’ early writings were of food and weather.  Then they gradually progressed into stories that had personal meanings to him.  The "junk and stuff" that Gantos’ wrote about in his diaries have become the details in many of his writings.  A diary started by a second grade boy has turned into stories written by a famous author.
     Jack Gantos is most famous for his children’s book character, Rotten Ralph "a trouble- making cat whose worst antics fail to disturb his owner Sarah’s love for him" (Something About the Author page 65).  Rotten Ralph has become so well known and loved that he’s becoming animated for his debut on the Disney Channel.  Gantos uses humor to express "the value of liveliness and high spirits over traditional good manners in children" (Something About the Author page 65).  Humor even spills over into his young adult books, such as Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key.  "In his young adult fiction, Gantos tempers the humor with bittersweet reflections on the hardships of growing up" (Something About the Author page 65).  Gantos is a wonderful writer who weaves humor into his stories to hold the interest of the reader as well as connect the reader to his characters.  Gantos’ talent is obvious due to all the awards he has won.  He is currently working on two adult novels, Zip Six and Brasilia and a young adult novel Living in the Library.  If you liked Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key you may want to look into his other works.

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Classroom Connections

By Darren Geraci

Art:

• Students will create a bumper sticker just like Joey Pigza did in the book.  It should be creative with paterns, colors, and  even words.
• The class will make up a bulletine board with colors and patterns.  This board will then be used to display the rules of the classroom.

• Students will write a narrative story of what it would be like to be Joey Pigzas teacher.  They will have to explain the problems they go through with him not paying attention and also their actions to keep him on task.
• The students will write a journal entry of what a day in the life of Joey Pigza would be like.

• The students will discuss different types of living situations, as well as  Joey Pigza's.

Science/Safety:

• Have a nutritionist or a doctor come into the classroom and discuss proper ways of eating and living.  Example: taking care of themselves.

History:

• The students will try to find people in history that have had ADHD or ADD and discuss their accomplishments.
• The students will figure out how a law or rule is made for the community, school, state, and country.

List of related books
By Amy McGlinchey

Gehret, Jeanne.

Eagle eyes : a child's guide to paying attention/ by Jeanne Gehret ; illustrations and design by Susan Covert.  Fairport, N.Y. : Verbal Images Press, c1996 Janover, Caroline.

Zipper, the kid with ADHD / written by Caroline Janover ; illustrated by Rick Powell.  Bethesda, MD : Woodbine House, 1997.

Waiting for Mr. Goose / by Laurie Lears ; illustrated by Karen Ritz.  Morton Grove, Ill. : Albert Whitman & Co., 1999.

Pay attention, Slosh! / written by Mark Smith ; illustrated by Gail Piazza. Morton Grove, Ill. : A. Whitman, 1997

Eaton Stanley and the mind control experiment / David A. Adler ; illustrated by Joan Drescher.  New York : Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers, 1996.

My worst days diary / by Suzanne Altman ; illustrated by Diane Allison. Milwaukee : Gareth Stevens Pub., 1996.

Another kind of Monday / William E. Coles, Jr. New York : Atheneum Books for Young Readers, c1996.

Someone to love me / Jeannette Eyerly.
New York : Lippincott, c1987.

Stink bomb mom / Martha Freeman.
New York : Delacorte Press, 1996

Change the locks / Simon French.
New York : Scholastic, c1991.

Split just right / by Adele Griffin.
New York : Hyperion Books for Children, 1997.

Joosse, Barbara M.

The pitiful life of Simon Schultz / by Barbara Joosse.
New York, NY : HarperCollins, c1991.

Single-parent families

Lynch, Chris.

Gypsy Davey / Chris Lynch.
New York : HarperCollins, c1994.

Fat chance / Lesléa Newmnn.
New York : PaperStar Books, [1996] c1994

Fowl play, Desdemona / by Beverly Keller.
New York : HarperTrophy, 1991, c1989.

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Web activity

By Jackie Rolfes

Rules and Regulations create a safe and orderly environment at school to ensure the welfare of students and teachers.  Through helping students to gain an understanding of how rules protect people’s rights and welfare.  The teacher can lead a discussion reviewing the classroom rules, school rules, and bus rules that are implemented at school.  Then get on the Internet and look through other schools’ rules and regulations.

Do any rules from other schools differ from our school rules?

Do any rules seem unfair?

Do you think the Internet rules are helpful and wise for young students to think about while using the Internet?

In your own opinion what rules would have been the hardest for Joey to follow?  And what rules would have been the easiest for Joey to follow?

If Joey had specific and clear do you think his behavior would have changed?  Why and how?