Gantos, J. (1998). Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.Summary
This is an extreme example of acute ADHD. Joey Pigza just can't sit still, can't concentrate and can't seem to do the right thing by the standards of society or his school rules. Through this book we see the effect of medication on controlling Joey's behavior. Joey is a lovable character and even though oftentimes his ADHD leads him to do irresponsible things, like accidentally cutting a classmate while running with scissors, Joey still feels bad about his behavior and realizes that things aren't under control.
My Impressions
While this book can sometimes be painful to read because you feel so bad for the main character Joey, it's a great story about what a child with ADHD experiences. I know people that have this disorder but I never quite knew the extremes to which this disorder can affect behavior. This really made me change the way I felt about the ADHD designation. Joey is an appealing character who tries to do the right thing even when some of the adults in his life can be harsh and unsympathetic towards his condition. I also really liked that this book was written in first person narrative so that readers felt even closer to Joey's thought process.
Professional Reviews
Gr 5-8-Joey Pigza suffers from severe attention deficit disorder and struggles to remain calm when his world chaotically slips through his fingertips. When his medicine wears off, he cannot concentrate or sit still and is constantly in trouble at school. After leaving him for several years in the care of his abusive grandmother, his mother returns to reclaim him and her parental responsibilities. But Joey remains a challenge: he continually disrupts his class, swallows his house key, and runs away during a field trip. Eventually, he injures a classmate and is sent to a special education center for six weeks; here his medication is regulated and he learns how to manage his behavior. Joey leaves the center feeling strong and in control and he triumphantly returns to his old school. 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. --School Library Journal; Shawn Brommer, Southern Tier Library System, Painted Post, NY, 1998. (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)
Gr. 4^-7. Joey Pigza, who lives with his hyperactive grandmother, understands that he's also "wired bad." Despite his best intentions, he can't concentrate and can't hold still. What's more, he can never resist an impulse: when his teacher assigns him to sharpening pencils to keep him from getting into mischief, he sharpens pencils, then chalk, then a Popsicle stick, and finally his own finger. He begins to settle down when his mother returns and gets him started on medication, but unfortunately, his morning pill wears off by noon every day. What makes this unusual is Gantos' sympathetic approach to all concerned. There are no bad guys among the adults, just well-meaning, occasionally exasperated grown-ups trying to help Joey get his behavior under control. Joey tells his own story, giving a vivid, keenly observed, detailed account of his actions and the reactions of others: "By lunchtime my meds had worn off again and I was spinning around in my chair like it was the Mad Hatter's Teacup ride at the church carnival." Gantos sometimes seems to be using Joey to inform readers, and occasionally makes Joey's comments seem too adult, but Joey is warm, lovable, and good-hearted, though maybe just a little too nice to be realistic. (He never even gets angry when he's deprived of the sugary treats he so craves.) Most teachers and students know at least one child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and this book will surely help them become more understanding, even as they enjoy Gantos' fresh writing style and tart sense of humor. --Booklist; Susan Dove Lempke, 1998. (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)
Authentic-sounding first-person narration by a hyperactive boy gives readers an inside view of attention-deficit disorders. Joey Pigza is a "wired-up mess," and he is struggling to get on the right track. But no matter how hard Joey tries to be good, he usually ends up in trouble, sometimes harming himself or others. After an accident in which the tip of a classmate's nose is sliced off, Joey is suspended from school and sent to a special education center. As case worker "Special Ed" predicts, things do get worse before they get better. Joey's fear that "something [is] wrong inside me" escalates before his medications are readjusted and he is finally able to learn how to make "good decisions." Joey's good intentions, off-the-wall antics and their disastrous consequences will ring true to everyone who has had contact with a child suffering from a similar disorder. In addition to offering an accurate, compassionate and humorous appraisal of Joey's condition, Gantos (the Rotten Ralph series; Desire Lines) humanely examines nature (both Joey's father and grandmother are as "wired up" as he) versus nurture (abandonment by Joey's parents, abuse by his grandmother, children's taunts) as factors in Joey's problems. Joey's hard-won triumph will reassure children fighting his same battle and offer insight to their peers. But because the book is so realistic, reading it can be painful and requires patience, just like dealing with a child like Joey. Ages 10-up. --Publishers Weekly, October 1998. (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)
This is such a relevant book because so many children suffer from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder as well as related educational challenges today. This is a great book to recommend to kids dealing with special education concerns. It's also a great recommendation for teachers who are dealing with children with special needs so that they can have a better understanding and more empathy towards their students.
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SLIS 5420/Module 6
Realistic Fiction for Younger Readers
September 27-October 3, 2010
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