Contemporary Realistic Fiction

JOEY PIGZA LOSES CONTROL
by Jack Gantos

BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Gantos, Jack. 2000. JOEY PIGZA LOSES CONTROL. New York: Harper Collins. ISBN: 9780064410229.

PLOT SUMMARY:
This book is the fictional story of a boy named Joey Pigza, who is sent by his mother to live with his father for six weeks of the summer. His father, who is ADD just like Joey, talks constantly and has different ideas of what it means to be a parent. Joey battles his desire to do what is right with his desire to please his well-meaning father.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
This book's genre is described as "contemporary realistic fiction", and that categorization could not be more meaningful. Many children today deal with the reality of ADD, divorced parents, and the struggle between family members. The voice in the story is that of the young boy that Joey is, and it really puts the thoughts and fears of kid struggling with attention disorders into perspective. The book also touches on dealing with alcoholism and on maintaining control, even after his father takes him off of his medication. This is a book that many children will be able to relate to, and all will enjoy reading.

EXCERPT REVIEWS:
New York Times Outstanding Book of the Year
ALA Notable Children’s Book
ALA Booklist Editors’ Choice
Newbery Honor Book
Bulletin Blue Ribbon (The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books)
Horn Book Fanfare

“Jack Gantos’ readers will finish this book and wonder how long they’ll have to wait for another about a great kid who is funny and thoughtful and yes, wired.” ~ The New York Times Book Review

CONNECTIONS:
This fictional story would make a wonderful read aloud in any upper elementary classroom. It could be used to increase awareness of different learning styles in the classroom setting.
Other books by Jack Gantos include: JOEY PIGZA SWALLOWED THE KEY, WHAT WOULD JOEY DO?, and I AM NOT JOEY PIGZA.