Joey Pigza #1: Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key
To the constant disappointment of his mother and his teachers, Joey has trouble paying attention or controlling his mood swings when his prescription medications wear off and he starts getting worked up and acting wired.
"They say I'm wired bad, or wired sad, but there's no doubt about it--I'm wired."
Joey Pigza's got heart, he's got a mom who loves him, and he's got "dud meds," which is what he calls the Ritalin pills that are supposed to even out his wild mood swings. Sometimes Joey makes bad choices. He learns the hard way that he shouldn't stick his finger in the pencil sharpener, or swallow his house key, or run with scissors. Joey ends up bouncing around a lot--and eventually he bounces himself all the way downtown, into the district special-ed program, which could be the end of the line. As Joey knows, if he keeps making bad choices, he could just fall between the cracks for good. But he is determined not to let that happen.
In this antic yet poignant novel, Jack Gantos has perfect pitch in capturing the humor, the off-the-wall intensity, and the serious challenges that life presents to a kid dealing with hyper-activity and related disorders.
Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key is a 1998 National Book Award Finalist for Young People's Literature.
| SKU | M9892 |
|---|---|
| ISBN | 9781250061683 |
| Language | English |
| Page Count | 176 |
| Product Type | Paperback Books |
| Book Type | Middle Grade Novels |
| Primary Contributor | Jack Gantos |
| Age Groups | Ages 10 to 12, Ages 13 to 15 |
| Publisher | Macmillan |