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Joey Pigza Swallowed The Key
"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 new 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. This title has Common Core connections.
Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key is a 1998 National Book Award Finalist for Young People's Literature.
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 new 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. This title has Common Core connections.
Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key is a 1998 National Book Award Finalist for Young People's Literature.
176 pages, Library Binding
First published January 1, 1998
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5447 people want to read
About the author
Jack Gantos
81 books547 followersJack Gantos is an American author of children's books renowned for his portrayal of fictional Joey Pigza, a boy with ADHD, and many other well known characters such as Rotten Ralph, Jack Henry, Jack Gantos (memoirs) and others. Gantos has won a number of awards, including the Newbery, the Newbery Honor, the Scott O'Dell Award, the Printz Honor, and the Sibert Honor from the American Library Association, and he has been a finalist for the National Book Award.
Gantos was born in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania to son of construction superintendent John Gantos and banker Elizabeth (Weaver) Gantos. The seeds for Jack Gantos' writing career were planted in sixth grade, when he read his sister's diary and decided he could write better than she could. Born in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, and raised in Barbados and South Florida, Mr. Gantos began collecting anecdotes in grade school and later gathered them into stories.
After his senior year in high school (where he lived in a welfare motel) he moved to a Caribbean island (St Croix) and began to train as a builder. He soon realized that construction was not his forté and started saving for college. While in St. Croix he met a drug smuggler and was offered a chance to make 10 000 dollars by sailing to New York with 2,000 pounds of hash. With an English eccentric captain on board they set off to the big city. Once there they hung out at the Chelsea hotel and Gantos carried on dreaming about college. Then, in Jacks own words, "The **** hit the fan" and the F.B.I. burst in on him. He managed to escape and hid out in the very same welfare motel he was living during high school. However, he saw sense and turned himself in. He was sentenced to six years in prison, which he describes in his novel -HOLE IN MY LIFE-. However, after a year and a half in prison he applied to college, was accepted. He was released from prison, entered college, and soon began his writing career.
He received his BFA and his MA both from Emerson College. While in college, Jack began working on picture books with an illustrator friend. In 1976, they published their first book, Rotten Ralph. Mr. Gantos continued writing children's books and began teaching courses in children's book writing. He developed the master's degree program in children's book writing at Emerson College in Boston. In 1995 he resigned his tenured position in order to further his writing career (which turned out to be a great decision).
He married art dealer Anne A. Lower on November 11, 1989. The couple has one child, Mabel, and they live in Boston, Massachusetts.
www.jackgantos.com
Gantos was born in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania to son of construction superintendent John Gantos and banker Elizabeth (Weaver) Gantos. The seeds for Jack Gantos' writing career were planted in sixth grade, when he read his sister's diary and decided he could write better than she could. Born in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, and raised in Barbados and South Florida, Mr. Gantos began collecting anecdotes in grade school and later gathered them into stories.
After his senior year in high school (where he lived in a welfare motel) he moved to a Caribbean island (St Croix) and began to train as a builder. He soon realized that construction was not his forté and started saving for college. While in St. Croix he met a drug smuggler and was offered a chance to make 10 000 dollars by sailing to New York with 2,000 pounds of hash. With an English eccentric captain on board they set off to the big city. Once there they hung out at the Chelsea hotel and Gantos carried on dreaming about college. Then, in Jacks own words, "The **** hit the fan" and the F.B.I. burst in on him. He managed to escape and hid out in the very same welfare motel he was living during high school. However, he saw sense and turned himself in. He was sentenced to six years in prison, which he describes in his novel -HOLE IN MY LIFE-. However, after a year and a half in prison he applied to college, was accepted. He was released from prison, entered college, and soon began his writing career.
He received his BFA and his MA both from Emerson College. While in college, Jack began working on picture books with an illustrator friend. In 1976, they published their first book, Rotten Ralph. Mr. Gantos continued writing children's books and began teaching courses in children's book writing. He developed the master's degree program in children's book writing at Emerson College in Boston. In 1995 he resigned his tenured position in order to further his writing career (which turned out to be a great decision).
He married art dealer Anne A. Lower on November 11, 1989. The couple has one child, Mabel, and they live in Boston, Massachusetts.
www.jackgantos.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,145 reviews
June 18, 2012
My daughter brought this book home from school today as all of the students in her group are reading it as part of their middle school transition program.
After reading the blurb on the back cover, I had some concerns so I read the rest of the book and I am appalled. The book is filled with negative stereotypes about the disabled and so many examples of bad teaching that I cannot believe this is being used in a school environment.
The main character is a little boy with ADHD and possible fetal alcohol syndrome who is misbehaving at school. He's being raised by his grandmother. His mom is an alcoholic. His dad is absent. His medications are inappropriate. At school, he spends little time in the classroom because he's either in the principal's office sorting crayons by color or helping in the cafeteria and library or shelving things in the storeroom or running out to the parking lot to roll up the windows in the teachers' cars when it rains. When he is in the classroom, his behavior is out of control so he is sent out into the hallway with no supervision. The child is receiving no behavioral support whatsoever. There does not appear to be a behavior plan in place let alone an IEP or a 504. The child gets into trouble over and over again, eventually cutting off a girl's nose with a pair of scissors.
The special education students are all segregated in the basement and the severely affected children are sent to a downtown facility. The main character is routinely threatened with being sent to the basement or downtown. Special education is meant to provide help, not as a punishment. This book must have been set thirty years ago.
I'm simply disgusted.
After reading the blurb on the back cover, I had some concerns so I read the rest of the book and I am appalled. The book is filled with negative stereotypes about the disabled and so many examples of bad teaching that I cannot believe this is being used in a school environment.
The main character is a little boy with ADHD and possible fetal alcohol syndrome who is misbehaving at school. He's being raised by his grandmother. His mom is an alcoholic. His dad is absent. His medications are inappropriate. At school, he spends little time in the classroom because he's either in the principal's office sorting crayons by color or helping in the cafeteria and library or shelving things in the storeroom or running out to the parking lot to roll up the windows in the teachers' cars when it rains. When he is in the classroom, his behavior is out of control so he is sent out into the hallway with no supervision. The child is receiving no behavioral support whatsoever. There does not appear to be a behavior plan in place let alone an IEP or a 504. The child gets into trouble over and over again, eventually cutting off a girl's nose with a pair of scissors.
The special education students are all segregated in the basement and the severely affected children are sent to a downtown facility. The main character is routinely threatened with being sent to the basement or downtown. Special education is meant to provide help, not as a punishment. This book must have been set thirty years ago.
I'm simply disgusted.
February 23, 2009
Summary: Joey Pigza feels wired, and it makes it hard for him to succeed in school. When Joey has one accident too many, he has to work with his teachers, his mom, and himself to learn to make better decisions.
Response: I loved this book. I could not believe how much Jack Gantos put me inside Joey's head - his emotions, his intentions, and his energy level. I felt as exhausted and wired reading each sentence as Joey seemed to feel by telling it. I knew from the beginning that Joey had a big, kind heart, and I was so glad when one of the mom's told him so. I felt myself cheering for Joey, and I was so glad when the adults in his life not only showed good intentions but actually knew what he needed. I could also appreciate how complex his situation was, and I could appreciate the struggles of his teachers and mom to understand why he truly could not get his own behavior under control. Despite the fact that I could feel how much everyone cared for him, it wasn't working to give him reminders - he could not do it.
Joey not only has a disability, but he has his own preconceived notions of what other "special education" kids might be like. Jack Gantos not only gives insight into how Joey feels inside, but how he regards other kids from the outside. Joey grows by not only finding out what's "messed up" about himself, but by discovering what is wrong with and what isn't wrong with other kids, both those whose disabilities are visible and those whose aren't. By asking his readers to get to know Joey, Gantos also helps young readers hear Joey's thoughts on the other kids, which may be similar to their own, and they, along with Joey, can challenge their ideas of what those other kids might be like. Gantos writes so respectfully, sincerely, humorously, and deeply that this book is one of the most well-developed stories I have read.
Response: I loved this book. I could not believe how much Jack Gantos put me inside Joey's head - his emotions, his intentions, and his energy level. I felt as exhausted and wired reading each sentence as Joey seemed to feel by telling it. I knew from the beginning that Joey had a big, kind heart, and I was so glad when one of the mom's told him so. I felt myself cheering for Joey, and I was so glad when the adults in his life not only showed good intentions but actually knew what he needed. I could also appreciate how complex his situation was, and I could appreciate the struggles of his teachers and mom to understand why he truly could not get his own behavior under control. Despite the fact that I could feel how much everyone cared for him, it wasn't working to give him reminders - he could not do it.
Joey not only has a disability, but he has his own preconceived notions of what other "special education" kids might be like. Jack Gantos not only gives insight into how Joey feels inside, but how he regards other kids from the outside. Joey grows by not only finding out what's "messed up" about himself, but by discovering what is wrong with and what isn't wrong with other kids, both those whose disabilities are visible and those whose aren't. By asking his readers to get to know Joey, Gantos also helps young readers hear Joey's thoughts on the other kids, which may be similar to their own, and they, along with Joey, can challenge their ideas of what those other kids might be like. Gantos writes so respectfully, sincerely, humorously, and deeply that this book is one of the most well-developed stories I have read.
January 3, 2016
I am very double minded about this book.
Likes: I really like how this book is written from Joey's perspective. It describes how a child with ADHD might experience his life from his point of view. I think this is an important viewpoint to have available. It is also very well written.
Dislikes: This book is copyrighted 1998, but I had to look twice just to be sure that it didn't say 1968 or 1978. The portrayal of the Special Education classroom as one that is totally segregated and in the basement is so antiquated as to be a lie. Although the school recognizes that Joey has something different about him, the way they handle his behavior is also outmoded - running laps around the playground, running errands to the nurse and/or principal's office, etc. Joey himself says that he spends very little time in the classroom. How is he supposed to get an education? Until Joey is expelled for hurting another student, very little is being done. Joey is told to "be good." Although I am sure that ADHD kids had these school experiences in the past, this book is not written as an historical fiction novel. I am trying to decide if I want to keep this book in my classroom.
Likes: I really like how this book is written from Joey's perspective. It describes how a child with ADHD might experience his life from his point of view. I think this is an important viewpoint to have available. It is also very well written.
Dislikes: This book is copyrighted 1998, but I had to look twice just to be sure that it didn't say 1968 or 1978. The portrayal of the Special Education classroom as one that is totally segregated and in the basement is so antiquated as to be a lie. Although the school recognizes that Joey has something different about him, the way they handle his behavior is also outmoded - running laps around the playground, running errands to the nurse and/or principal's office, etc. Joey himself says that he spends very little time in the classroom. How is he supposed to get an education? Until Joey is expelled for hurting another student, very little is being done. Joey is told to "be good." Although I am sure that ADHD kids had these school experiences in the past, this book is not written as an historical fiction novel. I am trying to decide if I want to keep this book in my classroom.
November 6, 2014
My son has ADHD, so I was curious to see what he would think. This review is based on his reaction, coupled with mine. My son HATED this book. He was offended by Joey! There are so few books that feature kids with ADHD that it is hard to find a kindred spirit. He felt Joey would become the "poster child" for kids with ADHD and everyone would assume his actions are the standard. He cringed at the situations Joey would get in to, as did I. But while I felt sorry for Joey, he felt Joey was "an idiot". I pointed out that Joey had a lot more going on in his life than just ADHD and that contributed to his behavior and problems. He didn't care. His bottom line was that Joey was such an extreme example of all the bad parts associated with ADHD that non-impacted people would assume everyone with the disability behaves this way. He said it's hard enough having ADHD, having people assume you are stupid or slow because they see impulsivity or disorganization, without Joey proving the point. If your child has been newly diagnosed and you were told this would be a great book to read so you can understand his/her world, disregard that well-intentioned advice for now. Joey has a complicated world, and unless you are an alcoholic parent who let your abusive parent raise your kid and your school district doesn't have an inkling about disabilty regulations while still having a special ed department circa 1972, this probably won't give you a lot of insight of the journey you face (although it probably will give you anxiety and stress.) If you ARE an alcoholic parent, etc., etc., read on--- and call a crises center or at least the CHADD helpline. Now. Seriously.
The author did his job in creating a memorable character and a well-imagined world to put him in; the issue is it becomes what many assume must be reality. And just as when fiction is created about a minority or under-represented group, the majority may assume it is real and react accordingly--and that becomes another burden.
The author did his job in creating a memorable character and a well-imagined world to put him in; the issue is it becomes what many assume must be reality. And just as when fiction is created about a minority or under-represented group, the majority may assume it is real and react accordingly--and that becomes another burden.
February 22, 2010
This novel was a surprisingly serious and heart-wrenching story about a boy (4th or 5th grade) with ADHD whose life is totally out of control. Joey Pigza's dad ran off when he was just a kindergartener and his mom followed. Left to be raised by a well-intentioned but emotionally abusive grandmother, who shares symptoms of ADHD, Joey is made to feel responsible for his mom's abandonment and his bad behavior. Hopefully waiting at the front window for his mom, day after day, his grandmother would tease, "See, I just saw her walk by and she saw that you were not sitting still and she just kept on walking 'cause your mom does not want to come home to a bad boy." But Joey is not bad, he is out of control because of his ADHD.
His mom does return one day, tries to be a good mom, and must face Joeys problems at school. His teacher expects him to follow all of the rules just like all the other kids; but try as he might, he finds himself compelled to say and do things that get him into trouble. Swallowing his house key is just one of many situations that finally culminate in his getting kicked out of school. His new school, "Lancaster County Special Education Center", finally addresses his academic, physical, social, emotional, and family issues.
I did not find this book humorous, but rather an important cry for help for those children with ADHD. I have worked with students with this disability who shared many similar problems with their medication, family life, and teachers who were unable to handle their behavior issues. Joey Pigza offers a glimpse into what life is like from a child's perspective. These kids are not bad. They don't need punishment, they need help!
I would recommend this book for upper elementary and middle school students. It offers children an important perspective for understanding those with ADHD and provides many important issues for discussion.
His mom does return one day, tries to be a good mom, and must face Joeys problems at school. His teacher expects him to follow all of the rules just like all the other kids; but try as he might, he finds himself compelled to say and do things that get him into trouble. Swallowing his house key is just one of many situations that finally culminate in his getting kicked out of school. His new school, "Lancaster County Special Education Center", finally addresses his academic, physical, social, emotional, and family issues.
I did not find this book humorous, but rather an important cry for help for those children with ADHD. I have worked with students with this disability who shared many similar problems with their medication, family life, and teachers who were unable to handle their behavior issues. Joey Pigza offers a glimpse into what life is like from a child's perspective. These kids are not bad. They don't need punishment, they need help!
I would recommend this book for upper elementary and middle school students. It offers children an important perspective for understanding those with ADHD and provides many important issues for discussion.
May 31, 2012
What an incredible book this is! Joey Pigza is a child with ADHD whose life is gradually spiralling out of control.
For a children’s book this tackles some serious issues brilliantly. Joey is dealing with not only his ADHD but the way others react to it. His peers make fun, adults shout at him and his Grandma even abused him. You can feel the hurt within the text as Joey is put with children with severe disabilities.
Despite the subject matter it’s quite light-hearted and funny. The things that happen are told in a hilarious way despite the fact they are quite serious so you end up with a mix of emotions.
Probably my favourite thing about the book was the way the sentence structure reflected the hyperactivity with long run-on sentences being used. It’s a fantastic technique which really helped seeing in the mind of this child.
F
rom my experience this seems a fantastic insight into the mind of a child with ADHD. For children this book probably gives a great view of special needs that children might not otherwise understand. As an adult it brings up all sorts of questions about how children with ADHD and other special needs should be treated, brought up and educated. This is as good a representation of ADHD as "The Curious Case of the Dog in the Night Time" is for Aspergers.
For a children’s book this tackles some serious issues brilliantly. Joey is dealing with not only his ADHD but the way others react to it. His peers make fun, adults shout at him and his Grandma even abused him. You can feel the hurt within the text as Joey is put with children with severe disabilities.
Despite the subject matter it’s quite light-hearted and funny. The things that happen are told in a hilarious way despite the fact they are quite serious so you end up with a mix of emotions.
Probably my favourite thing about the book was the way the sentence structure reflected the hyperactivity with long run-on sentences being used. It’s a fantastic technique which really helped seeing in the mind of this child.
F
rom my experience this seems a fantastic insight into the mind of a child with ADHD. For children this book probably gives a great view of special needs that children might not otherwise understand. As an adult it brings up all sorts of questions about how children with ADHD and other special needs should be treated, brought up and educated. This is as good a representation of ADHD as "The Curious Case of the Dog in the Night Time" is for Aspergers.
February 8, 2016
I don't think this book has fairly depicted the trials and tribulations of a student like Joey. It feeds to so many misconceptions that, I think should be debunked. First, is the idea of using special ed classes as punishment for not behaving. In the story, if Joey didn't behave, he will be sent to the spec ed class. I don't think that is fair to students who are in these classes. They are not weird and different as depicted in this book. Second, why do we always justify these misbehaviour to absentee, alcoholic parents. Joey was abandoned as a child and had an alcoholic mother who was trying to turn herself around. If we really do know more, ADHD was not cause by being abandoned. Let's stop blaming home environment. Also, Joey's family is poor and his mother was having difficulty participating in his school life. I think it is a judgment for poor, working parents. Third, there is always these concepts of kids in medication. If they are misbehaving, take some pills. This may be threading in some deeper water, but I just don't want students like Joey to think that ADHD is equal to medication. There are so many things that this book raises that I do not agree. I feel readers should take precaution if they will really accept this as a mirror of who they are or how they see other people.
December 21, 2019
This is a very interesting book about one ADHD kid and his cringey mistakes.
January 10, 2011
I believe that families with children suffering from behavioral disorders all face many of the same problems, and the fact that none of my children are ADHD-diagnosed did not interfere with my deep sense of connection with Joey and his mother (though, having read this, I wonder about my five-year-old for whom Asperger's is currently the leading guess amongst me and his teachers). In many ways, she and I suffer from the same devastating problem, of walking into a public school building and instantly expecting everyone does not like your child. This, and the pervasive discomfort and apologizing a parent of a behaviorally-challenged kid experiences around parents of his peers, hit home like a hammer.
The trips through Joey's head, and seeing his continual accidents from his innocent eyes, was also illuminating and heartening. I've seen so many children's actions be horribly misconstrued -- it wouldn't have surprised me for his teachers and administrators to have far more severe reactions (describing, for instance, his several accidents as "self-mutilation"). I wept for Joey when he wasn't allowed to have the same treats as the other kids in his class (and felt all buzzy for him when he ate the whole pie).
What really concerned me -- kept me from loving this book through-and-through -- was the depiction of his mother as everyone's prejudice of the mother of a "bad" kid. Sure, there was some redemption in the book (she comes back to him, she loved him enough to kick the bottle, sorta, she goes to work every day to provide for him, she makes some good decisions and has some remorse for the entirety of her parental role) but I was deeply disappointed that the author subtly suggested Joey's ADHD was the result of her drinking during pregnancy. Sure, his tortured childhood sounds like the sort of thing that would screw anyone up. But must it always be the parents' fault?
I'm the parent of a behaviorally-challenged kid who *didn't* drink, didn't work near chemicals in a hair salon, barely even painted my toenails while I was pregnant, drank a doctor-approved amount of caffeine, for goodness' sake. I'm the one who always shows up for meetings, who cooks vegetables (organic!) for dinner and makes sure everyone has breakfast. This book only confirms my (admittedly purple) suspicion that the whole system, stem to stern to all the parents who glance at me in veiled horror across the playground, blames me.
And for the record, I've rarely seen doting attendant parents in special ed classrooms. Those special ed schools? Not nearly so welcoming and lovely as they're depicted here. At least, not in Portland, Ore.
I love this book for what it does, and I think it's a rare gem of a book for a kid who's been in something approaching Joey's shoes. I read the book in a day, with interest and eagerness. I can't say I'm pleased, though, with the way parents of emotionally-challenged kids come off.
The trips through Joey's head, and seeing his continual accidents from his innocent eyes, was also illuminating and heartening. I've seen so many children's actions be horribly misconstrued -- it wouldn't have surprised me for his teachers and administrators to have far more severe reactions (describing, for instance, his several accidents as "self-mutilation"). I wept for Joey when he wasn't allowed to have the same treats as the other kids in his class (and felt all buzzy for him when he ate the whole pie).
What really concerned me -- kept me from loving this book through-and-through -- was the depiction of his mother as everyone's prejudice of the mother of a "bad" kid. Sure, there was some redemption in the book (she comes back to him, she loved him enough to kick the bottle, sorta, she goes to work every day to provide for him, she makes some good decisions and has some remorse for the entirety of her parental role) but I was deeply disappointed that the author subtly suggested Joey's ADHD was the result of her drinking during pregnancy. Sure, his tortured childhood sounds like the sort of thing that would screw anyone up. But must it always be the parents' fault?
I'm the parent of a behaviorally-challenged kid who *didn't* drink, didn't work near chemicals in a hair salon, barely even painted my toenails while I was pregnant, drank a doctor-approved amount of caffeine, for goodness' sake. I'm the one who always shows up for meetings, who cooks vegetables (organic!) for dinner and makes sure everyone has breakfast. This book only confirms my (admittedly purple) suspicion that the whole system, stem to stern to all the parents who glance at me in veiled horror across the playground, blames me.
And for the record, I've rarely seen doting attendant parents in special ed classrooms. Those special ed schools? Not nearly so welcoming and lovely as they're depicted here. At least, not in Portland, Ore.
I love this book for what it does, and I think it's a rare gem of a book for a kid who's been in something approaching Joey's shoes. I read the book in a day, with interest and eagerness. I can't say I'm pleased, though, with the way parents of emotionally-challenged kids come off.
March 11, 2013
I have been teaching for over fifteen years and have taught both high school and middle school. I have spent much of that time teaching Language Arts or English to students with mild to moderate learning disabilities; I have, however, spent time with students who have attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder. This book, with a main character who runs with scissors and snips off a classmate's nose, sits on the floor on all fours in a public shop and howls like a dog, etc., is supposed to be about a child with ADHD. (There are also a couple of sentences devoted to his mother drinking too much, including when she was pregnant, but none of that is gone into in any depth.) The child does NOT have ADHD, the child has a serious mental disorder, and that distinction is never made. There is also no heart to the story, no one to root for, just a cast of characters who are all, to some extent, ugly on the inside, including mom, grandma, the teachers. You can't hate the Joey Pigza character because he is mentally ill and unable to control himself but it would be nice if the author had had a clue what he was writing. An awful book by an author you could not pay me enough to read again.
October 6, 2015
I found this book on a list of books for children with ADHD. Before handing it over to my 3rd grader (with ADHD) I decided I should read it first, and I'm glad I did.
The story is told from Joey's perspective, which was definitely interesting. The reader gets to follow his random thought process as he gets in trouble for random things all the time. I did enjoy the insight into Joey's thoughts.
As a special educator, I was extremely disappointed with the references to special education in this story. Special education in schools is very different from how it was presented. I don't even think there was a reference to an IEP and Joey definitely wasn't presented with any specific goals to work on. I also would have liked to hear more about his experiences with lessons in school. So many students experience frustration with lessons to help with behavior and I think it would have been interesting to read Joey's perspective on this.
The story is told from Joey's perspective, which was definitely interesting. The reader gets to follow his random thought process as he gets in trouble for random things all the time. I did enjoy the insight into Joey's thoughts.
As a special educator, I was extremely disappointed with the references to special education in this story. Special education in schools is very different from how it was presented. I don't even think there was a reference to an IEP and Joey definitely wasn't presented with any specific goals to work on. I also would have liked to hear more about his experiences with lessons in school. So many students experience frustration with lessons to help with behavior and I think it would have been interesting to read Joey's perspective on this.
February 17, 2015
I find this book abhorrent to children and families of children who have ADHD! That any school would put this on their required reading list as representative of what a "typical" child with ADHD is like is bothersome. Not ALL children with ADHD are destructive to themselves or others, nor do they require medication to "fix" them!
December 7, 2011
Here is my blackboard post on Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key, the first part of a three-part series that I need to read after this semester.
Overall Response: When respectively looking at and reading the front and back cover of Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key, I was expecting to engage in a silly novel about a hyperactive child who struggled with his impulse control, resulting in entertaining misadventures that would prompt some laughs and insight into what I perceived to be ADHD. While JPSTK certainly had his fair share of funny moments, including Joey’s early chapter catchphrase of “Can I get back to you on that?” (p. 5) whenever asked a question, this novel was much more to me, stirring a wide range of powerful feelings, including far more unexpected and painful sadness when learning more about Joey’s home life, which to me was incredibly disturbing and added an incredible twist to this story. At the end of reading this novel, I certainly felt a bit tired, as if entrusted to watch Joey Pigza, yet happy for this wonderful child, who is a good kid after all despite what he has been led to feel. Having never read Jack Gantos before, I came away very impressed with JPSTK, making me want to read the rest of the book in this series.
Specifics:
● In Chapter 9 of Children’s Books in Children’s Hands, TMY write about the role that setting plays in realistic fiction, noting that “…the setting influences the way the story moves along” (p. 311). JPSTK takes place around but not in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where Joey’s alcoholic father and abusive grandmother apparently live. Like the internal and external conflicts that Joey faces as a result of his “wiring” (p. 8), a symbol for his attention deficit and impulse control problems, Pittsburgh is a place of conflict for the wild yet sensitive boy, who hopes to find his father in Pittsburgh but ultimately finds some much needed assurance at the end of the book, when a medical test reveals that his brain is not messed up like he has been told and led to believe by far too many people in his life.
While the city of Pittsburgh has an important role in JPSTK, this story essentially takes place in Joey’s school, where he is viewed as dangerous to his classmates because of his roller-coaster behavior, and his home, which we find out is far more unstable than we could imagine at the beginning of this story, when his struggling grandmother is taking care of the boy, who has been abandoned by father and mother. While Gantos does a strong job of casting how we, as current and/or future educators, tend to see ADHD in terms of how it affects the classroom, his depiction of its effects inside the underrepresented setting of the home is an incredibly revealing and disturbing perspective.
Just how bad is Joey’s home? Tired by Joey’s unpredictable behavior, his grandmother tries to force him to take a timeout inside a refrigerator. Even a kid like Joey, who struggles with his decision making, knows that “there were good rules and bad rules, and having a time-out inside a refrigerator was a bad rule” (p. 13). No freaking kidding! With his Mom out of the picture, until she returns early in the book after staying with her drunken husband, Joey is tormented by his grandmother, who calls him an idiot, literally treats him like a dog, telling him to roll over, smacks him with a flyswatter when he doesn’t comply, and engages in a sick game in which she provides the boy with false hope that his mother is coming home.
As seen in the above descriptions, Gantos uses the dual setting of school and home to show ADHD in an entire new light, resulting in a much different and heartbreaking story than I expected.
● In terms of plot, TMY notes a big difference between events in real life, “…in which the lion’s share of our days is full of meaningless details…” (p. 311), and realistic fiction, in which “…just about every detail…is meaningful” (p. 311). This point is especially important when considering how Gantos depicts the unpredictability of not only Joey but his ADHD, thus providing the reader with an incredible perspective on what it’s like to struggle with this disorder, whether dealing with it in the shoes of the child, teacher, parent, behavioral social worker, etc.
Consider how Gantos describes a hyperactive Joey literally bouncing off the walls of the school hallway at the beginning of the story (p. 5). Not only is every detail of Joey the literal and figurative tornado examined, including how he uses his belt and shoelaces to spin himself around, but the entire paragraph, “I nodded, and when she was gone I wrapped the belts and laces around my middle and gave it a good tug and began to spin and spin and slam…” (p. 5), is a run-on sentence and fitting symbol for the craziness that consumes Joey’s ADHD and life in general.
● In terms of theme, JPSTK deals with the contemporary issue of ADHD in a very intriguing light. Like Adriana insightfully noted, we saw how the ADHD affects other characters beside Joey, including his grandmother, mother, fellow classmates, teachers, etc. While the point of view is primarily from Joey’s perspective, we see how others treat him through Joey’s own recollections, which are not easy for him to deal with.
What especially strikes me about Gantos’ depiction of ADHD beyond the incredible details of its physical manifestations is its mental effects on Joey, a sensitive soul who is always blaming himself for things, many of which are out of his control. Gantos essentially provides the reader with unique insight of the incredible pains, isolation and fear that Joey feels because of his attention disorder, which includes him being called such insensitive names like “…Retard, or Brain-Damaged, or Zippy the Pinhead” (p. 82), providing just a few examples. What’s especially disturbing is that Joey is called such names by not only some mean children but awful “adults”, including his grandma and the father of a female classmate whom Joey accidentally injures with scissors during one of his “bad” moments when he struggles to make a “good” decision. Instead of describing symptoms of ADHD, Gantos makes us feel for Joey and better understand what he deals with both physically and emotionally with his disorder, which is interestingly not mentioned as an “attention disorder” until page 114. Two pages later, we learn that Joey has been physically abused by his grandma in the past. In my opinion, these three pages (114-116) really took the story to a whole new level, allowing me to have even more compassion and empathy for Joey.
Gantos also seems to be making a powerful message about the dangers of throwing medication without thinking about their effects on children who have problems like ADHD. Self-described as a “… a good kid with dud meds” (p. 76), Joey does not seem to make progress until he is paired with a social worker and doctor when moving from his school to a special education center downtown, whom analyze the disorder in far greater detail than just solving it with medication.
● In terms of characters, which TMY notes are created in realistic fiction “…through physical descriptions, through their actions , through their thoughts and speech, and through their relationships with others” (p. 311), Gantos certainly paints Joey as a character to be remembered rather than disregarded by society. Despite what others may think about Joey’s messed-up brain, he is a far more introspective and perspective person that some of the assumed “normal” people in the story. Consider Joey’s reaction to meeting some of the special education students at the downtown center. When meeting Special Ed and talking about some of his new classmates whom deal with extremely serious physical and cognitive impairments, Joey notes “…how every kid here has been punished” (p. 96). Such a powerful statement makes the ending of the story especially more powerful for the likable Joey, who is told by the mother of a wheelchair bound student that “the medication has helped you settle down, but you have been a good kid all along” (p. 153). Amen to that.
Curricular Connections: Adrian did a nice job of describing how this book can be used to teach students about ADHD. An additional power of this book lies in its message of treating people like Joey, who are deemed different because of certain impairments that are often out of their control, with respect and the dignity that you would want to be treated. This book is more about tolerance or mere acceptance; it’s about looking at the Joeys of the world beyond the surface level and as unique human beings who experience a wide range of emotions.
September 23, 2025
This book is such a good reminder for teachers to be aware of internal dialogue and attention disorders when responding to students who can't seem to control their behavior. There is much more than meets the eye happening in our children's brains. I appreciated that Joey could tell when his meds were working and when they weren't, because I have heard that exact experience from friends with attention disorders. That gave the book a feeling of authenticity for me.
Despite reviews criticizing how the special ed system is portrayed in this book, I thought the outcome was actually quite optimistic. Joey eventually got a counselor, doctor, and parent who all truly seemed to care about the outcome of his situation. Even his teacher (who dealt with the key and nose situations) went out of her way to care for him. I'm afraid there are a lot of real life situations that haven't turned out half as well.
I recommend to anyone involved in elementary education and for mid to upper grade children.
Despite reviews criticizing how the special ed system is portrayed in this book, I thought the outcome was actually quite optimistic. Joey eventually got a counselor, doctor, and parent who all truly seemed to care about the outcome of his situation. Even his teacher (who dealt with the key and nose situations) went out of her way to care for him. I'm afraid there are a lot of real life situations that haven't turned out half as well.
I recommend to anyone involved in elementary education and for mid to upper grade children.
October 10, 2019
A really interesting novel about a child with ADHD and his journey through school environments, family changes and trying to find ways of coping when he feels like his 'brain is full of bees'. I really enjoyed this book, there are some funny elements amongst some sad elements and the whole time I feel like this book is a really good way of teaching both adults and students about how children like Joey Pigza are very normal children and just need some extra support sometimes. The only thing I'd note is that it is very American which doesn't affect the enjoyment of reading the book, but maybe it is something to make children aware of as there is some language differences and it could just avoid confusion. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and it opened my eyes a bit more to if I had a child like Joey Pigza in my class and how I definitely would not treat that child, and what I could do to help them, a very beneficial read and I was hooked from start to finish.
March 27, 2012
Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key by Jack Gantos was a good and enjoyable book to read. This book is about a boy named Joey who has some tough times when it comes to certain things and paying attention. This book shows the perspective of different people in Joey’s life and what they think of him.
I think this story is very well written. The setting of this book is very clear and easy to follow, along with the plot. I think the characterization of this book has a lot of insight on a learner with ADHD. This book shows a lot of difficulty that child faces and how they view things. I am certain that the characters in this book resemble real people in our world today. Many children in the world today are diagnosed with ADHD, and it isn’t the easiest thing to handle. It can be extremely frustrating, for both the child and those around him. The events that take place is the book are also very believable. Things the author pointed out that happened within Joey and with other characters are basically what a child with ADHD does go through.
I really liked this book. I thought it was a very touchy story through the things Joey had to face besides the fact of his ADHD. How his mother was an alcoholic, and his teacher always pushing him. I can easily relate this to my life as an educator. I will more than likely have a student or multiple students in my classroom with ADHD and it will be job to help them and make sure they are getting the help they need. I could use this book in my classroom for sure to help show students a better insight on ADHD. They will possibly have peers or classmates who have ADHD and this book could help educate them and help them understand what exactly it entails.
I think this story is very well written. The setting of this book is very clear and easy to follow, along with the plot. I think the characterization of this book has a lot of insight on a learner with ADHD. This book shows a lot of difficulty that child faces and how they view things. I am certain that the characters in this book resemble real people in our world today. Many children in the world today are diagnosed with ADHD, and it isn’t the easiest thing to handle. It can be extremely frustrating, for both the child and those around him. The events that take place is the book are also very believable. Things the author pointed out that happened within Joey and with other characters are basically what a child with ADHD does go through.
I really liked this book. I thought it was a very touchy story through the things Joey had to face besides the fact of his ADHD. How his mother was an alcoholic, and his teacher always pushing him. I can easily relate this to my life as an educator. I will more than likely have a student or multiple students in my classroom with ADHD and it will be job to help them and make sure they are getting the help they need. I could use this book in my classroom for sure to help show students a better insight on ADHD. They will possibly have peers or classmates who have ADHD and this book could help educate them and help them understand what exactly it entails.
December 3, 2007
Summary: Joey Pigza is a student with ADHD, and as hard as he tries he cannot control his actions. He is a sweet child who wants just to please the adults around him. However, both his parents left when he was very young and he has been left in the care of Gandmother who could care less about his well-being. When he mother comes back for him Joey has extremely mixed feelings, finally loving her as if she had never been gone. Joey cannot control himself in a regular classrooom and is sent to spend time in a Special Education classroom. Joey's behavior time and time again proves to be less than satisfactory and culminates in a wild fit on a class field trip. When Joey gets back to school after the trip he is working on a project to change the world inspired by ab assembly he snuck into. While working he steals the teachers sharpe scissors and trips resulting in cutting off the end of a classmates nose. Joey is sent to a special ed. school and there learns to make friends and gets control of his behavior with help from his teacher, mother and doctor.
Response: This a book that i think should be required for all teachers to read! If gave a view me such an amazing view of what it would be like to step into the shoes of a student who wanted so much to be good, but just couldn't help himself. The author uses great vocabulary and imagry to describe exactly what joey is going through and how difficult it is to be him. I would recommend this book to anyone who has sympathy for their students.
Response: This a book that i think should be required for all teachers to read! If gave a view me such an amazing view of what it would be like to step into the shoes of a student who wanted so much to be good, but just couldn't help himself. The author uses great vocabulary and imagry to describe exactly what joey is going through and how difficult it is to be him. I would recommend this book to anyone who has sympathy for their students.
March 3, 2009
Joey Pigza swallowed the key
By: Jack Gantos.
This book was about a young boy named Joey and he has trouble paying attentition in school and needs help because, his parents ran way when he was very young. I would say that this book would have a disability factor in it because; Joey is learning how to do things right so he doesn’t get in trouble any more or else he will get kicked out of school for good. I would say my cousin is most like Joey because; he has A.D.H.D. Joey and Buddy have alot in common because it sound like Joey has A.D.H.D. because; this is the same way my cousin is. I believe this book was meant for children who’s between the ages of eight to ten years old with the same disabilties like he has. Many people don’t think this book was a very good book because they thought Joey was a bad influennece for their kids. Hes tring to teach children not to do wrong unlike he did because, he wants children to do better then he did.
I thought this was a good book because; im going to need as much backgound on students with special needs because; I want to be a special ed. teacher to deal with students like this. Besides the entertainment I would have to say Gantos wrote this book because; he wanted to teach other kids not to swallow a key or anything unlike he did, because he got into trouble. With all this said i would give this book a four because; there where parts that where very confusing but i really enjoyed this book.
September 16, 2012
Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key is one of the most heartbreakingly humorous stories I've ever read. Joey has ADHD and can't control his actions most of the time and it doesn't help that he had been left with his mentally abusive grandmother while his mother was off drinking. Joey's mom finally sobers up enough (although doesn't stop drinking completely) to come back for Joey and care for him.
At school, Joey is disruptive, disobedient, fidgety, and all over the spectrum of highs and lows. Joey is not a bad kid, the decisions he makes are bad. Mrs. Maxy, his teacher, spends much of the class's school day trying to reel Joey in. He is a constant worry to himself and others. When he accidentally hurts another child by breaking the classroom rules, he is sent to a Special Education Center downtown. He is examined, tested, and put into the care of doctors and teachers who try desperately to figure out what makes Joey tick. Finally, his medication is adjusted and he seems to be adjusting to life in a normal and calm fashion.
There is hope for Joey, as there is hope for all kids with any kind of disability. It just takes caring parents, teachers, doctors, and caregivers to figure out what is best. This book is a real eye-opener for kids and adults.
At school, Joey is disruptive, disobedient, fidgety, and all over the spectrum of highs and lows. Joey is not a bad kid, the decisions he makes are bad. Mrs. Maxy, his teacher, spends much of the class's school day trying to reel Joey in. He is a constant worry to himself and others. When he accidentally hurts another child by breaking the classroom rules, he is sent to a Special Education Center downtown. He is examined, tested, and put into the care of doctors and teachers who try desperately to figure out what makes Joey tick. Finally, his medication is adjusted and he seems to be adjusting to life in a normal and calm fashion.
There is hope for Joey, as there is hope for all kids with any kind of disability. It just takes caring parents, teachers, doctors, and caregivers to figure out what is best. This book is a real eye-opener for kids and adults.
October 30, 2012
Joey has the problem of always being high stung and he can't seem to get himself to concentrate on anything. Lately, his attention disorder has been manifesting in ways where people get hurt and Joey must now go to a special school to figure out how he can improve. Joey must learn to change his behaviors, accept his home life, and he must also become accustomed to new medication.
I really didn't like this book. There was just a push for the child to constantly be medicated and the abusive homelife is hardly addressed in therapy. No one takes the time to explain to Joey that he isn't being punished, so he thinks that he's a bad kid that needs to be sent away. I learned that there are other books that are attached to this one--companion books or part of a series--and it's unclear if these issues are resolved in those installments. Either way, the professionals in his life should have explained things to him and the absence of that conversation still bothers me.
I really didn't like this book. There was just a push for the child to constantly be medicated and the abusive homelife is hardly addressed in therapy. No one takes the time to explain to Joey that he isn't being punished, so he thinks that he's a bad kid that needs to be sent away. I learned that there are other books that are attached to this one--companion books or part of a series--and it's unclear if these issues are resolved in those installments. Either way, the professionals in his life should have explained things to him and the absence of that conversation still bothers me.
April 30, 2012
I thought this book was a little insensitive and irreverent towards kids with ADHD. I was therefore unable to finish the book, even though it is rather short. It bothered me too much. I'm not sure if this is what the book's point was, but it seemed to me to suggest that ADHD kids were simply problem children who need to go to special schools and take Ritalin to be socially acceptable. Don't get me wrong, special ed schools and Ritalin are good things, its just that the 'conform or be ostracized' mentality is not. And this is the message that I thought this book was trying to preach. (I could be wrong though, I never finished the book...)
However, it would seem to make a good primer for what new grade school teachers might need to watch for. Though, it does not provide any insight into how to work with ADHD children.
However, it would seem to make a good primer for what new grade school teachers might need to watch for. Though, it does not provide any insight into how to work with ADHD children.
July 10, 2020
Joey Pigza’s first book is no doubt, a wired but potential diamond in the rough. We follow out-of-control Joey who, after his mom returns to his life, tries to be on the straight path for her sake. Sadly, it takes a huge 180 after Joey unintentionally injures a student and how it will put him in a special education school, and even make his family life more straining. A entertaining and distressing dramedy as we see Joey do whatever he can to make his life good. A- (91%/Excellent)
May 8, 2018
This is the first book in the Joey Pigza series by Jack Gantos. It was published about twenty years ago, but I'm discovering it for the first time. I really like way that he describes Joey's thought processes and how the medication helps and subsequently stops helping him to focus.
I have not had a great deal of exposure to children who have been diagnosed with ADHD (at least to my knowledge), but I do see some of the classic behaviors associated with the disorder in some of the children I interact with. I understand that the use of medication is often a blessing to those who interact with these children on a daily basis, but I fear sometimes that it is too often the first path that is taken instead of the last. Enough of my soapbox...
The story itself is very engaging and I couldn't help but wonder what more could be done to help Joey channel his energy, enthusiasm, and creativity in a useful or helpful way. I am not a child psychologist, but I hope that somehow Joey will find his passion and pursue it in a productive manner.
Mr. Gantos narrates the story very well and I wondered if he had experience with ADHD himself, but I learned that the inspiration for the book came from a student he observed. Overall, it's an interesting and fast read.
I have not had a great deal of exposure to children who have been diagnosed with ADHD (at least to my knowledge), but I do see some of the classic behaviors associated with the disorder in some of the children I interact with. I understand that the use of medication is often a blessing to those who interact with these children on a daily basis, but I fear sometimes that it is too often the first path that is taken instead of the last. Enough of my soapbox...
The story itself is very engaging and I couldn't help but wonder what more could be done to help Joey channel his energy, enthusiasm, and creativity in a useful or helpful way. I am not a child psychologist, but I hope that somehow Joey will find his passion and pursue it in a productive manner.
Mr. Gantos narrates the story very well and I wondered if he had experience with ADHD himself, but I learned that the inspiration for the book came from a student he observed. Overall, it's an interesting and fast read.
March 19, 2021
This is a fantastic book if you want to better understand what is going on in the mind of a hyperactive child. And you'll probably laugh and cringe a lot too. I have two children with ADHD, and I cried as I listened to "their" side of experiences we have together all.of.the.time that I have approached from the entirely wrong perspective.
It loses a star for glossing over how difficult it really is to get your child the help and support they need for ADHD. With my kids, it's one step forward and three steps off the wall, out of left field, and a tour de side effects. How did this family have insurance? And if they didn't, how did he get the care he did? And a brain scan in the same week his doctor ordered it? It was a little too unrealistic to read as a parent, but for a kid who does or doesn't have behavioral or neurodiverse issues, it's a great read.
It loses a star for glossing over how difficult it really is to get your child the help and support they need for ADHD. With my kids, it's one step forward and three steps off the wall, out of left field, and a tour de side effects. How did this family have insurance? And if they didn't, how did he get the care he did? And a brain scan in the same week his doctor ordered it? It was a little too unrealistic to read as a parent, but for a kid who does or doesn't have behavioral or neurodiverse issues, it's a great read.
May 15, 2020
This is a really excellent book from the perspective of a child with ADHD and an alcoholic single mother.
Joey's narration was hectic and distracted, giving even an adult reader a sense of the itchiness that plagues him so often.
Even so, his emotions are poignant. His fear of special ed programs, his suspicion of all the adults who tell him that these programs are trying to help him, not punish him, his love for his mother despite the turbulent history of their relationship all come across in bright, vivid colors full of highs and lows.
I would definitely recommend this book to a parent of a child struggling with ADHD (or even who is struggling due to a sibling/classmate with ADHD), leaving it to their judgment whether their child might like this.
Joey's narration was hectic and distracted, giving even an adult reader a sense of the itchiness that plagues him so often.
Even so, his emotions are poignant. His fear of special ed programs, his suspicion of all the adults who tell him that these programs are trying to help him, not punish him, his love for his mother despite the turbulent history of their relationship all come across in bright, vivid colors full of highs and lows.
I would definitely recommend this book to a parent of a child struggling with ADHD (or even who is struggling due to a sibling/classmate with ADHD), leaving it to their judgment whether their child might like this.
November 26, 2017
The main character Joey is a young student (I would guess maybe 5th grade) who is "wired". He can't sit still, remember his rules, or control his impulses. The real trouble starts for Joey when one of his accidents at school injures one of his classmates and he is removed from his class and sent to a Special Education center. While it is easy to feel frustrated reading about how his teacher, principal, and classmates have to deal with his impulsivity, I couldn't help but feel compassion for Joey. His life at home is very chaotic and definitely contributed to his many issues.
Jack Gantos did a great job showing readers Joey's mind to help them connect with him. We've all had experiences with kids like Joey, but for readers who want to understand their struggles, Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key would be a great read.
Jack Gantos did a great job showing readers Joey's mind to help them connect with him. We've all had experiences with kids like Joey, but for readers who want to understand their struggles, Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key would be a great read.
March 6, 2020
Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key By Jack Gantos is a trade book about a third grader who has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). At the beginning of the story Joey lived with his grandmother but then his mother came back to take care of him. The story is told by Joey so we really get an insight on how ADHD affects him throughout his day at school. Joey really tries to listen and stay still but he struggles because of the disorder. He gets into a lot of accidents at school that they decide to put him in a different school. Joey tries different medications that help him calm down and at the end is able to return to his old school.
November 21, 2023
That was actually beautiful! I love stories with a child's perspective that focuses on bigger issues. The trauma attached to the familial relationships, dealing with adults with mental illness and substance issues, and feeling like your brain is messed up and it's your fault as a child was so well written. I was rooting for Joey the entire book :( I was not expecting the content to be this mature, but it was nicely done.
July 23, 2023
I had to read this for class and for me personally it was an ok book. I liked getting to read from Joey’s perspective and getting to be in his head and I thought it was a fun book. But some of the chapters just felt disconnected from the chapter before it and it felt like it was it’s own little story. It also made it so hard to follow a time line of events throughout this book. This book also had some problematic language that I felt wasn’t necessary. Overall it wasn’t an amazing book for me but I think younger readers might really enjoy it!
July 12, 2018
Joey Pigza is a quirky boy with ADHD and causes all sort of ruckus in the classroom without even trying. As a fellow person who grew up with ADHD, this book really spoke to me. The mind is a wondrous organ and his ADHD gets the best of him sometimes. Joey sees himself as a normal child, with a bit more energy than most. This book is a gem and seeing life through the eyes of someone with ADHD is truly eye-opening. Through reading, I could feel Joey's frustration with just trying to get through a single day of being good. 2 thumbs up, 5 stars!
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