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Joey Pigza #2
Joey Pigza Loses Con (Lib)(CD) by Jack Gantos
"He was wired. No doubt about it...Now I know what Mom meant when she said he was like me, only bigger." Joey Pigza really wants his six-week visit with his dad to count, to show him he's not as wired as he used to be, to show his dad how much he loves him. But Carter Pigza's not an easy guy to love. He's eager to make it up to Joey for past wrongs and to show him how to be a winner, to take control of his life. With his coaching, Joey's even learned how to pitch a baseball, and he's good at it. The trouble is, Joey's dad thinks taking control means giving up the things that keep Joey safe. And if he wants to please his dad, he's going to have to play by his rules, even when the rules don't make sense.
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First published January 1, 2000
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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 386 reviews
July 10, 2014
This 2001 Newbery Honor book is well deserving of the award. It is yet another excellent example of the YA genre that resonates with all age groups.
Joey Pigza has ADHD. Well aware that he needs the medicinal patches to control his frenetic behavior, Joey has learned that without the patches, he is another person.
When Joey's mother reluctantly allows him to spend six weeks with his father, it is a test to see who is more out of control -- the son or the father.
Throwing away the patches, Joey's self absorbed father encourages Joey to be a man. Surrounded by an oxygen-toting, chain-smoking grandmother, a six-pack an hour father, while Joey's mind and body are bouncing off the wall, he is the voice of logic and he quickly realizes that his self absorbed father has little thought for others.
This is a humorous, yet poignantly sad tale of a child who is wiser than his father. As he listens to hour after hour after hour of his father's stories while his father takes no time or energy to know him, Joey deeply appreciates the two steady forces in his life, his funny, spunky dog and his loving, kind, other-directed mother.
While deprived of his much needed meds, Joey still has the clarity to call his mother to come to the rescue.
Highly recommended!
Joey Pigza has ADHD. Well aware that he needs the medicinal patches to control his frenetic behavior, Joey has learned that without the patches, he is another person.
When Joey's mother reluctantly allows him to spend six weeks with his father, it is a test to see who is more out of control -- the son or the father.
Throwing away the patches, Joey's self absorbed father encourages Joey to be a man. Surrounded by an oxygen-toting, chain-smoking grandmother, a six-pack an hour father, while Joey's mind and body are bouncing off the wall, he is the voice of logic and he quickly realizes that his self absorbed father has little thought for others.
This is a humorous, yet poignantly sad tale of a child who is wiser than his father. As he listens to hour after hour after hour of his father's stories while his father takes no time or energy to know him, Joey deeply appreciates the two steady forces in his life, his funny, spunky dog and his loving, kind, other-directed mother.
While deprived of his much needed meds, Joey still has the clarity to call his mother to come to the rescue.
Highly recommended!
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September 14, 2018Over the summer,I read Joey pigzes lozes control by Jack Gantos. The genre of the book the book was realistic fiction it’s a book about a kid name Joey and he wants to go over his dads house in Pittsburgh but his mom doesn’t think that’s a good idea because Joey is vs ADHD and his dad is vs addietion. One positive aspect is that the chapter were short. One thing I didn’t like is that it brought up some memories in my life. Anyone would like this book and especially people whit ADHD and addiction or if your bored. This book exceeded my expectations because I didn’t like it but when I started reading it, it got good. I enjoy this book because it relates to some of the things in my life. This was a inspiring book that I think people would like.
April 26, 2020
Big respect for this book. It helped me get back into reading a little bit. Jack Gantos takes a realistic look at severe ADHD and family dynamics. I appreciate the absence of easy fixes and the sense of long-lasting consequences. Also a great portrayal of toxic masculinity. Great suspense. Because this is very much a father/son book, I'm not sure it would appeal as much to female readers.
March 16, 2009
I find the Joey Pigza series to be difficult books to read. Joey is a likeable character but, what happens to him seems at times seems a bit too much to be real. The tone of the Joeys books is like Desperate Housewives just too far out to be real. The adults around Joey you also have to wonder about. Such as why his Mom would allow Joey to be under the care of his out of control father and his somewhat abusive grandmother. I do also wonder how the poor dog is going to survive.
I like Joey but, there is something that doesn't seem to be quite real about the story. I don't know much about ADHD but, I have some experience with it. Overall I think the author is too light hearted about a serious condition.
I know I'm in the minority with my opinion. My thoughts about the book do shift but, on the whole I'm just left feeling uncomfortable and that the author has taken a serious subject and has been too light hearted about it.
I like Joey but, there is something that doesn't seem to be quite real about the story. I don't know much about ADHD but, I have some experience with it. Overall I think the author is too light hearted about a serious condition.
I know I'm in the minority with my opinion. My thoughts about the book do shift but, on the whole I'm just left feeling uncomfortable and that the author has taken a serious subject and has been too light hearted about it.
August 21, 2010
I read this book because it's on the summer reading list for my 7th graders. To say there's a HUGE jump between our 7th grade list and our 8th grade list is an understatement. I found the book childish and juvenile for incoming 7th graders. I also found the characters rather flat, and the plot boring and predictable (seriously, it took 95 pages for the problem to become clear). This is not a book I would have picked up had it not been part of summer reading. I'm curious if any of my future students read and enjoyed it. I'd like to see this book through the eyes of a middle school boy.
September 14, 2012
I am very conflicted about this book.
On the one hand, I loved Joey Pigza. He jumped off of the page as a fully-formed, odd ball kid who was awesome and complex, and I wanted to share him with people in my life.
I wanted to share his internal monologue about the challenges of dual identities - the "Mom" Joey and the "Dad" Joey, since they are not together and in fact barely civil, and both want different things from him - with a certain child of divorced parents in my life, who I thought would need to hear that. I wanted to share his realistic experience with the power of medication to give him himself and his choices back with another child in my life, who is also on medication.
However, I was really unsatisfied by the ending! I know life doesn't come with neat bows on everything, but I still wanted more out of the ending than I got. A lot more. Not just a pat ending. A proper ending. One that gave me closure and would be good to hear for those two kids I had wanted to recommend it to.
In any case, I loved that Joey is so good at throwing things. And his dog Pedro. Cameo appearances by sport & chihuahua alike were key to my enjoyment of the book, prior to feeling let down by the ending.
I wish I had a clearer review, but I was so (two-star style) let down by the ending because the rest of the book was so (four-star style) wonderful. Thus, a deeply conflicted three!
On the one hand, I loved Joey Pigza. He jumped off of the page as a fully-formed, odd ball kid who was awesome and complex, and I wanted to share him with people in my life.
I wanted to share his internal monologue about the challenges of dual identities - the "Mom" Joey and the "Dad" Joey, since they are not together and in fact barely civil, and both want different things from him - with a certain child of divorced parents in my life, who I thought would need to hear that. I wanted to share his realistic experience with the power of medication to give him himself and his choices back with another child in my life, who is also on medication.
However, I was really unsatisfied by the ending! I know life doesn't come with neat bows on everything, but I still wanted more out of the ending than I got. A lot more. Not just a pat ending. A proper ending. One that gave me closure and would be good to hear for those two kids I had wanted to recommend it to.
In any case, I loved that Joey is so good at throwing things. And his dog Pedro. Cameo appearances by sport & chihuahua alike were key to my enjoyment of the book, prior to feeling let down by the ending.
I wish I had a clearer review, but I was so (two-star style) let down by the ending because the rest of the book was so (four-star style) wonderful. Thus, a deeply conflicted three!
May 1, 2012
I had read another of Jack Gantos'books, Dead End in Norvelt, which I enjoyed very much but this book I found very disturbing. It may have been the plot in which Gantos described a dysfunctional family system extremely vividly. It is a story about a boy from a split family. He has an mental and emotional disorder ( hyperactivity ) for which he is medicated with a patch. His Mom, with whom he lives, is very nurturing. Out of curiousity, Joey decides that he'd like to go visit his Dad for the summer. His Dad is alcoholic and the polar opposite of his Mom. As the absentee Dad he is not all that confidant and decides that he will make a man out of his son by flushing all his patches down the flush. The rest of the story depicts Joey without his medication living with his domineering Dad and grandmother. Joey is bound and determined to follow his Dad's will to the demise of his own self-control. The book is compelling and unsettling as Gantos delves into the disease of alcoholism and its detrimental effects on the family system.
October 17, 2016
If you have read Joey Pigza Swallows the Key, you will love the sequel, Joey Pigza Looses Control. In the book, the main character Joey wants to get to know his father and have a relationship with him. He decides to stay with his dad Carter and his grandma for the first time. Unfortunately, things do not go the way Joey expected. He finds out that his dad drinks and that his Grandma is a smoker. Joey then has to deal with his dad’s ignorance and irresponsibility. The parts of the book that show how rough and tough Joey’s father is, made me feel sad. The book also made me appreciate my father more. Joey Pigza is a strong character because even though both he and his dad suffer from attention disorder, Joey is more responsible than his father. I would recommend this book to any one who likes funny stories with a good message.
May 28, 2013
I just love this book I think it is truly amazing. In the book a boy named Joey Pigza spends the summer with his dad, and during the summer many cray things happen. I just truly love this book. I love how the book has its twist and turns. In the end you just want to start over again.
December 15, 2019
As someone who shares in being diagnosed with ADHD, I relly found this book to be an interesting and insightful read. Joey has ADHD and has figured out easily enough that he is basically two different people when on and off of his medication. After seeming to find the right dose of medicine, he sets off with a new confidence to impress his dad and show him that he's not weird. This story gives the reader a good look at what it's like to be inside of a child's mind who feels different from the people he is surrounded with.
December 10, 2017
joey spends his summer with his dad but things get out of control
January 16, 2014
Imagine your parents are divorced and you live with your mom , but your dad never came to visit you , one summer your dad calls and asks for you and asks you if you want to go with him.You say yes.Your finally there and the whole summer your trying to get him to tell you why he never came to visit you , and he never tells you why.How would you feel.The genre of this book is realistic fiction because Joey talks about stuff that actually happens in real life. My opinion is that the book is very good,I enjoyed it.
The setting is in a big city(time is in the afternoon and in the evening). Well the story starts of with joey and his mom are in the car together, he explains were hes going and why. He says hes going with his dad that he hasn't seen in a long time.He said that he had butterfly's in his stomach and is very nervous,but just before he got off his mom said open the glove compartment,and there was an envelope full of quarters to call his mom.When he gets off he said that he was very very happy to finally see his father. Well after a couple days his dad has a baseball team,and ask's Joey if he wants to play joey said hes not good,but still played. He found out he liked baseball. so he called his mom with the money she gave him, and told her that he liked baseball and she starts to talk about how she liked baseball too.and then the next day him and his dad play some catch.Joeys dad had to work so he left joey by himself in the city and joey is all alone and is supposed to meet dad at a building at 4:30 but joey never payed attention to were he was going so he got lost.then joey finds his way back. joey tries to make his dad tell him why he never came to visit him, but his dad always cuts him off.Joey never finds out, and just dont ask someone for something if they just dont tell you. The conflict is person vs person because the whole time joey with his dad he tries to get his dad to tell him why he never came to visit..Joey is a very careful kid he doesnt like to miss his medication,and is very loving and carrying.Pablo (dog) is very awesome he will defend for you when your hurt, he will let you grab him when ever you want.Dad is a very hard guy he yells when you do something wrong,he doesnt like you to him what to do.Mom is a nervous wreck she is way over protective.
The main character changed because his dad told him to man up and not just to believe that just because he takes it he will get better. I was hoping that joey could hit the ball every time he went to bat because every time he went up to bat he said that he was nervous. I felt like yelling because joey actually was really good at pitching.I couldn't believe car sick when joey forgot his dog in the glove box because Pablo was a little car sick and he wuouldn't feel as much when hes in the car box.
I was like what his grandma smokes and she needs an Oxygen Tank, I was confused but she said "my doctor says that i should of been dead by now but keep doing it if you want but i don't recommend it" and I was like LIES?! The main character (joey) is like me because if my dad that i havnt seen in a long time would just leave me in a big city I would get really mad too.
I think this book is really good because it is just a really good book.I would rate this book a 10+ because the book is wrote with emotion, I almost felt like punching the book when the dad would scream at joey. I would recommend this book to people that like good written books and that have read Joey Pigza swallowed thee key.Just follow what Joey said dont keep on asking someone if they dont tell you.
The setting is in a big city(time is in the afternoon and in the evening). Well the story starts of with joey and his mom are in the car together, he explains were hes going and why. He says hes going with his dad that he hasn't seen in a long time.He said that he had butterfly's in his stomach and is very nervous,but just before he got off his mom said open the glove compartment,and there was an envelope full of quarters to call his mom.When he gets off he said that he was very very happy to finally see his father. Well after a couple days his dad has a baseball team,and ask's Joey if he wants to play joey said hes not good,but still played. He found out he liked baseball. so he called his mom with the money she gave him, and told her that he liked baseball and she starts to talk about how she liked baseball too.and then the next day him and his dad play some catch.Joeys dad had to work so he left joey by himself in the city and joey is all alone and is supposed to meet dad at a building at 4:30 but joey never payed attention to were he was going so he got lost.then joey finds his way back. joey tries to make his dad tell him why he never came to visit him, but his dad always cuts him off.Joey never finds out, and just dont ask someone for something if they just dont tell you. The conflict is person vs person because the whole time joey with his dad he tries to get his dad to tell him why he never came to visit..Joey is a very careful kid he doesnt like to miss his medication,and is very loving and carrying.Pablo (dog) is very awesome he will defend for you when your hurt, he will let you grab him when ever you want.Dad is a very hard guy he yells when you do something wrong,he doesnt like you to him what to do.Mom is a nervous wreck she is way over protective.
The main character changed because his dad told him to man up and not just to believe that just because he takes it he will get better. I was hoping that joey could hit the ball every time he went to bat because every time he went up to bat he said that he was nervous. I felt like yelling because joey actually was really good at pitching.I couldn't believe car sick when joey forgot his dog in the glove box because Pablo was a little car sick and he wuouldn't feel as much when hes in the car box.
I was like what his grandma smokes and she needs an Oxygen Tank, I was confused but she said "my doctor says that i should of been dead by now but keep doing it if you want but i don't recommend it" and I was like LIES?! The main character (joey) is like me because if my dad that i havnt seen in a long time would just leave me in a big city I would get really mad too.
I think this book is really good because it is just a really good book.I would rate this book a 10+ because the book is wrote with emotion, I almost felt like punching the book when the dad would scream at joey. I would recommend this book to people that like good written books and that have read Joey Pigza swallowed thee key.Just follow what Joey said dont keep on asking someone if they dont tell you.
October 26, 2009
Summary and Analysis:
Joey Pigza Loses Control is the second book in the Joey Pigza series and is appropriate for upper elementary or middle school students.
In this book, the story picks up right where Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key left off. Joey has just finished a year of school and the medicine patches that he now uses as a result of his stint at the special school are still working wonderfully. He feels like he is a different kid entirely. However, Joey is now alone every day, as his mother is at work. He tries to amuse himself by playing with his Chihuahua, Pedro, and practicing the trumpet but he finds himself getting into some trouble - not because he's "wired" but because he's bored. Finally, Joey finds out that he will be spending several weeks with his father in Pittsburg - as his father has approached lawyers about visitation rights and custody issues. Against her better judgment, Joey's mother brings him to see his father, Carter Pigza - who is living with Joey's grandmother.
As he was described in Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key, Carter Pigza is truly a large version of Joey. Carter displays a lot of the same ADHD symptoms that Joey had, along with a criminal record, a smoking habit, and alcohol abuse. Although Joey really wants to have a relationship with his father, he feels torn because of Carter's behavior and the fact that they never truly have a conversation due to the fact that Carter speaks a mile a minute. Things begin to look up for the father and son when Carter discovers Joey's amazing pitching arm and Joey joins the baseball team that Carter coaches, as a part of Carter's mandated community service stemming from a DUI. However, problems begin to start for Joey when his father flushes all of his medicine patches down the toilet and begins to talk about Joey moving in with him permanently. Joey becomes frightened of his father's wild mood swings and intense temper as well as his own deteriorating focus and winds up running away during the final game of the baseball championship. Luckily, Joey is able to contact his mother, who comes just in time to take him home safely.
I must say that I enjoyed this book just as much as the first one in the series, Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key. Both books were short, quick reads because of the way that Jack Gantos pulls the reader into the story. Joey is a likeable character and I found myself really pulling for his success. The interesting thing about this book is the contrast between how Joey is in the first book and how he is in this book. As Joey says himself in Joey Pigza Loses Control, there are two Joeys - the old wired Joey and the new Joey. He fears that the old wired Joey will come back because he is just around his father and once he is without his patches - the old Joey really does come back. The scary thing is that Joey didn't even realize, initially, when the "old Joey" was back. After a few days of being off of his medication, Joey spent an entire day running around Pittsburg doing the craziest things. Joey, as he described what he was doing, was complimenting himself on staying in control and being normal. It wasn't until the very end of the book that Joey realized how bad things had become for him again, and reached out to his mother for help.
I think the Joey Pigza books are a great resource for anyone who knows a child with ADHD. It was very insightful for me to see into the mind of a child with this condition and to see what their thought processes are and how they really do try to be "normal" even though it might not seem like it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 12, 2016
Originally rated A by Amanda Bobick
The above review focuses on the negative situations that occur in the book. I will not deny that they exist, but I will add that the WAY these situations are portrayed is Negative. The author doesn't encourage the reader to do these things, rather the focus is on how uncomfortable, scared, angry and frustrated Joey feels. Through such passages as stated above, Joey's dad is gradually revealed to be the kind of adult a kid shouldn't live with alone grow up to be. Joey himself comes to this conclusion on pages 165-167.
Other possible problems for sensitive audiences:
Joey's grandmother makes him buy her cigarettes at the local drug store. Nowadays, this would never happen, but the whole scenario enforces the fact the his grandma is dying from smoking, but refuses to quit. (She can't get her own cigarettes because she can't breath to walk to the store.)
Joey's father drinks beer. Again, the whole incident is given a very negative/disapproving portrayal. Joey is angry with his father for drinking again, and wishes he'd stop.
The positive aspects of this book greatly outweigh and objections raised earlier. While visiting his dad for the summer, Joey goes through many of the emotions and dilemmas faced by kids with divorced parents. Whether we like it or not, Joey is representative of a lot of our students, meaning they identify with him. In the first book, we see life through the eyes of a student with ADHD before he has medication, counseling, and a stable home life. In this installment, we see what happens what happens as Joey goes off his meds. His father wants Joey to "be a man" and beat his ADHD without a crutch. However, Joey quickly realizes that his meds aren't a crutch and he can't solve his problems alone. Page 167, Joey admits to himself that he needs to listen to his mom because her rules were to help him, not anybody else.
Again, I feel that this book is a MUST for any school that has kids with; ADHD, learning disabilities, divorced parents, single parents, or messed-up parents.
******Please Read*****
Review by Ellie Dubus
There are many things which I find objectionable for a 4th-8th grade audience, among them:
p. 6- Joey puts his dog Pablo in the glove compartment of the car, snaps the door shut and leaves him there for the rest of the trip
Perhaps the most frightening is
pgs 164-169 His father takes Joey to Storybook Land after the park is closed. They climb over the fence and go to the bumper cars. His father finds the switch and turns on the electricity. Joey loses control and will not stop bumping his car into his father's car. His father tries to climb out of the car, is zapped by electricity & burns his hand. Then he tells Joey not to worry because "When I was a kid Granny used to give me a paper clip and tell me to put it in the wall socket because she know a zap settle me down. Heck, even these days a couple of kilowatts now and again helps put me to sleep."
There are other things in this book which are questionable, but this alone makes this book inappropriate for a school library.
The above review focuses on the negative situations that occur in the book. I will not deny that they exist, but I will add that the WAY these situations are portrayed is Negative. The author doesn't encourage the reader to do these things, rather the focus is on how uncomfortable, scared, angry and frustrated Joey feels. Through such passages as stated above, Joey's dad is gradually revealed to be the kind of adult a kid shouldn't live with alone grow up to be. Joey himself comes to this conclusion on pages 165-167.
Other possible problems for sensitive audiences:
Joey's grandmother makes him buy her cigarettes at the local drug store. Nowadays, this would never happen, but the whole scenario enforces the fact the his grandma is dying from smoking, but refuses to quit. (She can't get her own cigarettes because she can't breath to walk to the store.)
Joey's father drinks beer. Again, the whole incident is given a very negative/disapproving portrayal. Joey is angry with his father for drinking again, and wishes he'd stop.
The positive aspects of this book greatly outweigh and objections raised earlier. While visiting his dad for the summer, Joey goes through many of the emotions and dilemmas faced by kids with divorced parents. Whether we like it or not, Joey is representative of a lot of our students, meaning they identify with him. In the first book, we see life through the eyes of a student with ADHD before he has medication, counseling, and a stable home life. In this installment, we see what happens what happens as Joey goes off his meds. His father wants Joey to "be a man" and beat his ADHD without a crutch. However, Joey quickly realizes that his meds aren't a crutch and he can't solve his problems alone. Page 167, Joey admits to himself that he needs to listen to his mom because her rules were to help him, not anybody else.
Again, I feel that this book is a MUST for any school that has kids with; ADHD, learning disabilities, divorced parents, single parents, or messed-up parents.
******Please Read*****
Review by Ellie Dubus
There are many things which I find objectionable for a 4th-8th grade audience, among them:
p. 6- Joey puts his dog Pablo in the glove compartment of the car, snaps the door shut and leaves him there for the rest of the trip
Perhaps the most frightening is
pgs 164-169 His father takes Joey to Storybook Land after the park is closed. They climb over the fence and go to the bumper cars. His father finds the switch and turns on the electricity. Joey loses control and will not stop bumping his car into his father's car. His father tries to climb out of the car, is zapped by electricity & burns his hand. Then he tells Joey not to worry because "When I was a kid Granny used to give me a paper clip and tell me to put it in the wall socket because she know a zap settle me down. Heck, even these days a couple of kilowatts now and again helps put me to sleep."
There are other things in this book which are questionable, but this alone makes this book inappropriate for a school library.
January 23, 2016
Have you ever known what it is like to never know what your Dad looks like or their personality. Then all of a sudden go meet them. Well, that is what Joey Pigza’s life is like. In the sequel to Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key, Joey Pigza Loses Control by Jack Gantos Joey goes to meet his father for the first time. I read this book because I saw it on the shelf and the cover photo made the book look interesting.
When they meet up Joey sees the grown up version of his old hyperactive self, the way he was before his stint in special ed, the way he was before he got his new meds. Joey wants to have a good relationship with his long lost father. During their summer visit together, Carter (Joey’s father) is eager to make up to his son for past wrongs. He wants to teach Joey how to be a winner. Joey is willing to do anything his dad says, but in his high energy situation, it might hurt him more than it will help him. His grandma always has to carry around an oxygen tank because she used to smoke a lot. The tank always get in the way of Joey.
The ending was not that great because all of this time Joey's dad Carter has spent with him has gone to waste. My favorite part was when Joey didn’t keep his dog contained in his room and he left his room and peed on his grandma’s slippers.
I liked this book because I never really had a mother figure in my life until I was 12, so I know what Joey was going through. I also liked how the story flowed, the story would get slow and then all of a sudden there would be an altercation between Carter and grandma or between Joey and his dad.
When they meet up Joey sees the grown up version of his old hyperactive self, the way he was before his stint in special ed, the way he was before he got his new meds. Joey wants to have a good relationship with his long lost father. During their summer visit together, Carter (Joey’s father) is eager to make up to his son for past wrongs. He wants to teach Joey how to be a winner. Joey is willing to do anything his dad says, but in his high energy situation, it might hurt him more than it will help him. His grandma always has to carry around an oxygen tank because she used to smoke a lot. The tank always get in the way of Joey.
The ending was not that great because all of this time Joey's dad Carter has spent with him has gone to waste. My favorite part was when Joey didn’t keep his dog contained in his room and he left his room and peed on his grandma’s slippers.
I liked this book because I never really had a mother figure in my life until I was 12, so I know what Joey was going through. I also liked how the story flowed, the story would get slow and then all of a sudden there would be an altercation between Carter and grandma or between Joey and his dad.
April 4, 2016
What an extraordinarily vivid picture of treatable ADHD, and how it feels to go from treating it to not treating it. Not having it myself, I can't tell if it's accurate, but I completely sympathize with Joey and anyone else who might share his experience of ADHD, having issues of my own. Joey's family is dysfunctional but not uncaring, despite the level of crazy (his mom driving with an expired license, his dad drinking despite his drinking problem, his grandmother turning off the oxygen for her emphysema to smoke...).
Warning: in the first chapter Joey shuts his chihuahua in the glove compartment, and forgets to take it out, but it is unharmed. Clearly that wouldn't work in a modern car and besides it's pretty scary for the rest of us.
But Joey is a goodhearted boy and he knows he wants to stay in control, to keep himself together. He also wants to get his dad's admiration and get his parents back together. But in the end, he realizes that he has to do what he needs to do to keep himself safe. His granny is a nutcase, stuck living with her son who she knows is doing crazy stuff, his dad, despite multiple attempts to get his life together, is backsliding like crazy and has similar problems. His mom wants to keep Joey safe, but when his dad wants Joey to visit for the summer, she knows she can't stand in the way. But what will Joey do when his dad dumps his medication down the toilet and demands that Joey win a baseball championship on his dad's behalf?
Warning: in the first chapter Joey shuts his chihuahua in the glove compartment, and forgets to take it out, but it is unharmed. Clearly that wouldn't work in a modern car and besides it's pretty scary for the rest of us.
But Joey is a goodhearted boy and he knows he wants to stay in control, to keep himself together. He also wants to get his dad's admiration and get his parents back together. But in the end, he realizes that he has to do what he needs to do to keep himself safe. His granny is a nutcase, stuck living with her son who she knows is doing crazy stuff, his dad, despite multiple attempts to get his life together, is backsliding like crazy and has similar problems. His mom wants to keep Joey safe, but when his dad wants Joey to visit for the summer, she knows she can't stand in the way. But what will Joey do when his dad dumps his medication down the toilet and demands that Joey win a baseball championship on his dad's behalf?
November 25, 2011
Joey Pigza is a little boy with ADHD who goes to live with his dad for the summer. He wants to make the best out of his time with his dad and wants to show him that he has changed and is not as hyper as he use to be. Joey's dad is a lot like him though. When he was young, he was a lot like Joey and the last thing he wants for his son is to grow up and be like he is now. Joey's dad, Carter Pigza, wants to make up for what he has done in the past and wants to show Joey how to be " a winner" and to take control of his life. Read this book and find out what happens to Joey after spending six weeks with his dad who is not much different than himself.
This is a fun and entertaining book that kids will enjoy reading. I remember reading this book in fourth or fifth grade and being able to relate to different parts of the story. Children will be able to relate to Joey and many of his thoughts and ideas and hopefully see how they effect Joey and his family. The cover of this book is very colorful and draws the reader in through its title.
This was one of the books I uses for my book talk/commercial.
This is a fun and entertaining book that kids will enjoy reading. I remember reading this book in fourth or fifth grade and being able to relate to different parts of the story. Children will be able to relate to Joey and many of his thoughts and ideas and hopefully see how they effect Joey and his family. The cover of this book is very colorful and draws the reader in through its title.
This was one of the books I uses for my book talk/commercial.
December 7, 2013
Joey Pigza is the story of a boy who has ADHD and needs to be on medication at all times or else he loses control. Joey's father would like him to come stay with him for the summer but his mother doesn't feel it's a good idea. Joey brings his little chihuahua along on the journey. He spends the summer trying to reconnect with his father, play baseball, and ditch the patch. Joey's father throws away all of his medication patches and tells him its all mind over matter. Eventually Joey loses it and calls his mom to come and get him.
This book has a reading level of 5.2 and is a good book for older students to read. If I were to teach a lesson using this book I would have students list the good and bad choices Joey Pigza makes and explain if they would do the same. Its also a good book for teaching students about ADHD, and some students will be able to relate to Joey or know someone like Joey.
This book has a reading level of 5.2 and is a good book for older students to read. If I were to teach a lesson using this book I would have students list the good and bad choices Joey Pigza makes and explain if they would do the same. Its also a good book for teaching students about ADHD, and some students will be able to relate to Joey or know someone like Joey.
August 6, 2012
Did this one as a read aloud for my class of challenging boys...many of whom are MUCH like Joey Pigza. They seemed to identify with much of what he was going through as a kid with ADHD. He gets into a lot of tough situations because of his challenges and his wacko family. Interestingly enough, they were able to point out his poor choices and what he could have done differently.
The only things that made this a tough one for reading to the class were all the references to drinking and smoking and such. I sometimes creatively edited as I read just because my group was a little young for some of the content.
The only things that made this a tough one for reading to the class were all the references to drinking and smoking and such. I sometimes creatively edited as I read just because my group was a little young for some of the content.
May 2, 2013
I'm not sure what I would have thought of this book had I read it as a middle-schooler, but as an adult, it troubled me. Joey's dad is a horrible father, and he had no business taking care of a child. The grandmother wasn't much better, although I do believe she cared for Joey.
I hated the way the poor boy was manipulated and used by these two. I hated the way the father lied to, yelled at, and belittled Joey. I hated the way the grandmother treated the dog.
I liked that Joey was a real kid with real issues, and I realize that dysfunctional families are real issues that children face. I was just horribly unsettled with the whole thing.
I hated the way the poor boy was manipulated and used by these two. I hated the way the father lied to, yelled at, and belittled Joey. I hated the way the grandmother treated the dog.
I liked that Joey was a real kid with real issues, and I realize that dysfunctional families are real issues that children face. I was just horribly unsettled with the whole thing.
May 6, 2009
This is realistic fiction alright. Joey Pigza is a very lovable protagonist who suffers from ADHD. He spends the summer with his estranged father who encourages him to quit taking his medication. In a less courageous book, this situation would be played only for laughs, but the book deals with the very serious (though, yes, often funny) consequences of this. I was shocked by the ending. It was very bittersweet. This book is clearly aimed at kids who are capable of handling an ending that doesn't wrap things up in neat package.
March 17, 2019
Joey goes to stay with his estranged dad for the summer, hoping to form a relationship with him, but his mother's warnings about how wired and weird his dad can be may prove too true, and Joey is also still learning a new balance of meds to help with his own excess of wired energy.
This is a Newbery Honor Book and has won other acclaims, but I can't seem to figure out how to appreciate Gantos' stories. I've tried other of his books, and for some reason he's just not my cuppa. I'm happy that others appreciate his work, though.
This is a Newbery Honor Book and has won other acclaims, but I can't seem to figure out how to appreciate Gantos' stories. I've tried other of his books, and for some reason he's just not my cuppa. I'm happy that others appreciate his work, though.
November 14, 2010
WOW! I don't know what the point of this story was, it was sooooo dumb! I couldn't stand any of the characters. Mind you I haven't read any of the other Joey Pigza books, though why would I since I couldn't stand anything about this story. I can't understand why this book received the Newberry Honor Book Award. It sucked and was right up there for one of the worst books I've ever read in my entire life!
November 2, 2012
I did not really care for this book. I read it for a Name That Book competition but I'm still trying to figure out how it got a Newbery Honor, personally I would not want my own children to read this book until they are well into their teenage years and know right from wrong because this kid and his parents obviously don't have a sense of that.
December 16, 2012
While the book might be good for some kids, it is not something that I personally want my kids to read at this point. The whole plot emphasizes a dad who self-medicates with alcohol, a grandma who continues to smoke through her emphasema, and a kid who must deal with the effects of having his medicine taken away from him.
July 18, 2013
The book had me feeling jumpy and out-of-breath. I guess that means it was a well-written book, bit it was a stressful read for this educator and mother of two twelve year-old boys). What a picture this book paints of a life no one wants but many people have! I do hope my children steer clear of this one. Back to the library it goes.
April 26, 2016
Absolutely no one in this book is anywhere near being perfect, which will make it a good read for all kids. Kids from strong, stable homes may come away with a better understanding for what some of their classmates are dealing with, while other kids may find the story to be like a mirror, and help them look at their own situations.
And, kids like the story.
And, kids like the story.
June 16, 2017
The first time I read any of the Joey Pigza novels I was excited to see books written about boys w/ ADHD - and Joey is a textbook case! However, since reading many of Mr. Gantos short stories those have become my love. What he's about to create in just a few pages has so much more impact than the full novels - just my opinion...
April 11, 2012
2001 Newbery Honor
WOW-now I understand why people love Mr. Gantos. I'm not a fan of his book that won the Newbery, but this book was CRAZY AWESOME!
WOW-now I understand why people love Mr. Gantos. I'm not a fan of his book that won the Newbery, but this book was CRAZY AWESOME!
May 10, 2015
Review 1
The first two chapters are good because it explains a little bit about the characters. First, the main character is Joey and his parents are divorced. Joey has his partner of life called Pablo. For example, whenever Joey does something bad, Pablo follows him and does it. They were all in their way to go to Joey's father and Joey is a crazy boy and he annoys his mom and makes her mad a lot. For all of these bad things his doctor gave him medications to calm him down because before the medication it is impossible to sit still for more than 5 seconds. He would scream and do all sorts of crazy stuff. Sometimes he would even break stuff. " Before I had gone to special ed and got my new meds it would have been impossible for me to sit still and make a list of good and bad things."(Gantos 9) His father got divorced with his mom because the father started to drink a lot and he lost his job, so it was normal to divorce. Even though his mom still has feelings for him. As the usual Joey annoys her and in the road to his father, he starts to tell her that she brought him him to his father because she wanted to see him. Then problems start to happen in the road. These are the reasons why the book is good and also funny.
It was a very crazy and dangerous road for Joey's family for several reasons. First, it gets very crazy with Joey and his mom. He creates a song which annoys his mom so much that she cant even drive. " Mom and Dad, sitting in a tree, K-i-s-s-i-n-g!!" (Gantos 8) She got mad, but then she admitted that she has feelings and she is thinking about him a lot. After that she does not talk to Joey for a while during the road. Then she went fast so she could get there quick, but Joey started screaming because he was scared if something happens to his dog, Pablo. Pablo get car sick very fast and he can do all of gross stuff such as pee, poop, vomit and more. So, there were lots of holes in the road they were going on and Pablo's tummy was about to turn upside down. Then his mom did not want to turn around the holes and she continued without listening. Second, something that was expected to happen, happened. He obviously did his business which his mom hates. She started screaming and almost crash to somewhere. Then she stopped and put him in the glove box where there was napkins. Thats why it was a tuff road to Joey's father.
This book will interest friends for several reasons. First, they will like all the humor and funny parts. For example, when Joey annoys his mom and the conflicts between them. Second, they will also llike the calm and lovely part of the book. When his father and mother miss each other and when Joey want to know all about his dad. If he loves him or not, and if he is nice or if he is mean. If he is crazy and more of questions. "What if he's not nice? What if he's crazy as nasty? What if he hates me? What if he drinks and gets nasty? What if they make Pablo sleep outside?" (Gantos 1). These were the questions Joey asked before they even ride in the car. These are the reasons why friends will be interested in this book.
Review 2
In continuation of the other chapters Joey does some huge trouble. First, he was left home alone because his mom was working in the salon. So, she left Joey and Pablo alone in the house but she still was not sure if everything was going to be all right or not. While she was working in the salon, Joey had nothing to do so he went outside and started aiming rocks on targets he wanted. Then, he heard something break so he ran inside with Pablo and hid behind the couch. A man knocked on the door, but Joey was too afraid to open the door so he stayed quiet. After 2 minutes the man started saying bad words and then he left. So Joey decided not to go outside anymore. After staying inside for 5 minutes, he started looking for something to do. Then he went to the attic and found some games. He took darts and started playing. “That’s when I searched the house for new things to do and found the dart set in the attic.” (Gantos 11) This was all what happened before Joey gets into the dart game.
After Joey found the dart set, he started playing and then got tired. So when it got boring, he tried to make it much more fun. In Joey’s logic more fun is to make something more dangerous or make it hard that a bad thing can happen. So he changed the rules of the game, instead of just taking a dart, aiming and throwing. He made a rule that he has to turn around in his place until he is dizzy and throws it in the dart table, which can cause huge trouble. So, he stayed playing that game because he loved it. After playing a lot he made a throw and heard a cry, which was Pablo’s. Joey threw a dart and it went right into Pablo’s ear and made a whole in his ear. Joey could not do anything for 5 minutes because he was so dizzy and his eyes could not focus. When he was focused he stressed and ran to his mom with Pablo in a towel. When he came to the salon his mom had a lot of work, but she got so mad at him because he could not let her work without getting worried about them in the house alone. She left the client and asked her to patient for 5 minutes. Joey’s mom ran to a room in the salon and gave the treatments for Pablo, which he needed to not bleed a lot. “She opened a first-aid kit and put iodine on Pablo’s ear, and then a Band-Aid on either side of the hole.” (Gantos 14)
The rating of this book will go up until 5 for several reasons. First, a lot of more fun and interesting parts occur in the book. For example at the end of the chapter they arrive at Joey’s father’s house and then it gets so weird between Joey’s mother and his father. Something very bad happens in front of Joey’s eyes, which was when they get out of the car to go to the house they see Joey’s grandma sitting and then Joey’s mother goes and says hi. When she says hi, Joey’s father tries to kiss her in the lips, but she did not want so she leaned backwards in front of Joey. Joey was very shocked so he went back to the car and he had an idea in his head that he really wanted to, which was to jump in the trunk and stay there so that his parents come looking for him and they wont be weird between them. “Before he said anything to me he tried to kiss mom but she yanked her head back as if dad’s lips were electrified.” (Gantos 17) These are all the reasons why this book should be rated up to a 5 star.
Review 3
As the book continues Joey’s father is a very nice guy. He introduced himself and told Joey to call him Carter but Joey did not he was waiting a long time to use that important word, dad, but Joey did not know when to use it. As his mom went, he took Joey to the Storybook land where they had lots of fun. They went to every character and started to relate it to them and their experiences. Then during that time grandma stated to be a bit annoying to Joey because she was trying to teach him manners. So, Joey and his father went and put her in the miniature golf club, where she sits down and plays golf for hours. First Joey and his father went to The Wizard of Oz. In their path lots of teens dressed into storybook characters passed by. Then they passed to the most important character because it is there where all Carter’s life changed. His life changed because one night he went there after drinking and then he slept there because he was drunk. Then the morning he was in a hangover, so a teen girl dressed in a storybook character woke him up and told him to leave or else she will call the police. Then he looked around him and then saw that Humpty-Dumpty in the wall. So after he started thinking am I as dumb and bad as he is. Every time he goes there, the more he stares at him, the less he likes himself. It is from there that he stopped drinking. “ I stood up and stared at over at old Humpty-Dumpty and I thought, I’m as bad as he is. I thought, Man, I can learn a lesson from that Humpty-Dumpty dude.” (Gantos 26) After this story told by Carter to Joey, they both continue their way through other characters and places. These are the reasons why Joey’s father is a nice guy.
After almost finishing the Storybook land park they pass to the Crooked House and then they had fun playing that they are crooked. Then his father started to act like a narrator. “There once was a crooked man, who lived in a crooked house. He had a crooked dog—“ (Gantos 30) After this sentence everything changes and a huge problem starts. When Joey hears dog, he then shouted so loudly everyone could hear him. He recognized that when they were in the road, his dog Pablo was car sick, so they put him in the glove box and he realized he forgot him. So he ran everywhere looking for a phone to call his mom so she can come back to the house. His father was puzzled and did not know what to do. When Joey told him that he had a dog and he left him in the glove box. His father calmed him down and did not let him call. He did what he had to do as a father, but Joey ran to the car waiting for his father and his father ran and got his grandma in the golf club. While Joey was waiting for them to arrive to the car, he got all these bad thought like, Pablo is going to die and all different thing in his mind. Then his grandma stated screaming and insulting his Chihuahua. Before she even got see him she started to give him bad names because she did not get what she wanted, which was to finish her golf course. So Joey and his grandma got in a fight. As Carter was trying to solve the problem, he calmed down Joey’s grandma and calmed down Joey. He told him good thing and he said that his mom already brought him and I think he is in the front porch. Carter was doing his best to change Joey’s mind positive.
When they arrived at their house, they finally found Pablo in the front porch as his dad told him to keep his mind positive. Joey was so happy he stated kissing him and hugging Pablo like if never saw him before because Joey was very scared he would die. When Joey puts the dog down eh looks around and finds “Miss you already!” in lipstick in a window from his mom. Then he saw that and laughed. After he went and hugged his dad with one of his joyful moments of his life. Then Joey asks his dad, “How did you know he’d be here?” and his dad answered, “Hey, what are dads for?” (Gantos 33) As soon as they finished hugging and finished their joyful moment. Joey and his father started to talk about baseball because Carter was a coach of a baseball team. Before they even had this good experience to know each other, Joey’s father asked Joey if he wanted to join his team, but Joey rejected because he still did not know him a lot. So now Joey accepted and wanted to join his father’s team. His father asked if he was good at throwing the baseball or he needs practice. After thinking for a little bit, Joey said he was fine and he did not need practice because he though if he was good at throwing rocks in a specific target then he can throw a baseball in a target. The next morning, his father came to his room and put a paper on the ground so he could measure his feet to get a pair of baseball cleats and a baseball glove.
review 4:
During the adventure Joey was having with his father, he was having a lot of fun. After learning that he was going to be in his father’s team he was very happy and excited so he went and called his mom to let her know about his days with his father. While he was talking in the phone with his mom, his nosey grandma sneaked to listen what he was going to tell his mom. When she learned that he is having fun, he loves his dad, and that his dad is going to buy him a lot of things. She came up to Joey and told him a lot of bad things about his dad just to make him hate him. “Oh, he’s got a steady job but he still sneak-drinks now and again he’s got himself a girlfriend that hasn’t figured out what a loose screw he is. Just know that he hasn’t turned into the squeaky-clean Boy Scout he says he is, even though he’s a neat freak. (Gantos39) Now it is very hard for Joey because he is very confused, he doesn’t know if he needs to believe that his father is a nice guy or to believe his troublemaker grandma.
After Joey’s grandma told him all this bad stuff, he went directly up to his room and stayed there for hours. After that his grandma came up to him and told him that she had plans for the afternoon that fitted both of them, but actually it fitted just her because she was very selfish. Then the plans were to go to golf courses. Joey does not want but he does not know if he is allowed to say no. So he just picks up her golf bag and her oxygen tank he goes to the park with her and Pablo. When they went to the park to play golf, all Joey did was to go far in the field and gather the balls that she swings and bring them back to her. He did not get to swing once. So it was very boring for him. After a while, he became very lucky because his grandma started to bleed next to her mouth and she was feeling sick so they had to go home. When they arrived home his father came in and had two baseball patches so he can play and test Joey. Then they started playing baseball and in the same time talking, but after one throw from Joey his father was shocked. “ You have an arm like a cannon, dude.” (Gantos 50)
The rating of this book would be a 5 star for several reasons. First, it is a book that has a lot of fun inside it. For example, when Joey’s grandma falls or cant breath anymore or when him and his dad have fun. Second reason is that the book has a lot of suspense. For example, when Joey’s grandma tells Joey about his dad that he is a jerk. “Oh, he’s got a steady job but he still sneak-drinks now and again he’s got himself a girlfriend that hasn’t figured out what a loose screw he is. Just know that he hasn’t turned into the squeaky-clean Boy Scout he says he is, even though he’s a neat freak. (Gantos39) The suspense is weather Joey will believe her or his father. These are the reasons why the book will be a 5 star.
Review 5:
During Joey’s time with his father, they get to know each other better. When his father comes home they had their first father-to-son talk together. Then they found out that they had lots in comment between him and Joey because they do the same things and like the same things. Such as: they both like baseball, they both do the peanut attack which is when they put a peanut in their nose and start shooting and many different things. When Joey starts to talk to his dad, he starts feeling that he two Joeys in the same time. He feels like if when he is with his father, he likes bad stuff like a tattoo because he wanted to do one like his father and with his mom he would never dare to say the he likes tattoos or wants one. “ I was thinking that being away from mom made me feel different, like there was one Joey for mom and a different Joey for dad and that I was becoming two Joeys.” (Gantos 52)
In continuation Joey loved the talk with his dad about old days, but his father didn’t. He asked him to stop the father-to-son talk because he said that he did not have good memories of the pas and his past was bad and ugly with no good memories. So Joey accepted and stopped. After they stopped his father’s had a game coming up, so his father had to go to the stadium and Joey went with him. Before they went in the stadium, Joey’s father told him not to be sad if he doesn’t play because he has to [play the old ones that are good. He told him to stay ready because if he has a chance to make him play than he will go in. Joeys father went to do some drills for the team before the game starts. “ I don’t think you’ll be playing, but don’t feel bad.” (Gantos 54)
As Joey is waiting in the stadium, a woman comes up to him and starts talking to him. She asks him if he was the new player Carter, his father, brought. So Joey said yes, and the woman put her big bag that she brought with her with materials. Joey was very happy that he would have materials. So she started to get them out of the bag. She had a cap; a jersey with J.Pigza printed in the back with the number 17 his lucky number, cleats, and a sweatband. Then she recognized that his father forgot to tell her to bring pants, so she asked Joey what’s his waist size but Joey did not know. So she came and measured it. “Skinny, you need to fatten up a bit. Its just if you play the game, you need a couple extra pounds.” (Gantos 59) So the lady started to talk to Joey and then she knew that Joey was a nice boy. So, she asked him if he liked pizza and he said yes because it is his favorite meal. The she went to her phone and ordered a pizza to the stadium. So that Joey can eat and gain pounds.
The first two chapters are good because it explains a little bit about the characters. First, the main character is Joey and his parents are divorced. Joey has his partner of life called Pablo. For example, whenever Joey does something bad, Pablo follows him and does it. They were all in their way to go to Joey's father and Joey is a crazy boy and he annoys his mom and makes her mad a lot. For all of these bad things his doctor gave him medications to calm him down because before the medication it is impossible to sit still for more than 5 seconds. He would scream and do all sorts of crazy stuff. Sometimes he would even break stuff. " Before I had gone to special ed and got my new meds it would have been impossible for me to sit still and make a list of good and bad things."(Gantos 9) His father got divorced with his mom because the father started to drink a lot and he lost his job, so it was normal to divorce. Even though his mom still has feelings for him. As the usual Joey annoys her and in the road to his father, he starts to tell her that she brought him him to his father because she wanted to see him. Then problems start to happen in the road. These are the reasons why the book is good and also funny.
It was a very crazy and dangerous road for Joey's family for several reasons. First, it gets very crazy with Joey and his mom. He creates a song which annoys his mom so much that she cant even drive. " Mom and Dad, sitting in a tree, K-i-s-s-i-n-g!!" (Gantos 8) She got mad, but then she admitted that she has feelings and she is thinking about him a lot. After that she does not talk to Joey for a while during the road. Then she went fast so she could get there quick, but Joey started screaming because he was scared if something happens to his dog, Pablo. Pablo get car sick very fast and he can do all of gross stuff such as pee, poop, vomit and more. So, there were lots of holes in the road they were going on and Pablo's tummy was about to turn upside down. Then his mom did not want to turn around the holes and she continued without listening. Second, something that was expected to happen, happened. He obviously did his business which his mom hates. She started screaming and almost crash to somewhere. Then she stopped and put him in the glove box where there was napkins. Thats why it was a tuff road to Joey's father.
This book will interest friends for several reasons. First, they will like all the humor and funny parts. For example, when Joey annoys his mom and the conflicts between them. Second, they will also llike the calm and lovely part of the book. When his father and mother miss each other and when Joey want to know all about his dad. If he loves him or not, and if he is nice or if he is mean. If he is crazy and more of questions. "What if he's not nice? What if he's crazy as nasty? What if he hates me? What if he drinks and gets nasty? What if they make Pablo sleep outside?" (Gantos 1). These were the questions Joey asked before they even ride in the car. These are the reasons why friends will be interested in this book.
Review 2
In continuation of the other chapters Joey does some huge trouble. First, he was left home alone because his mom was working in the salon. So, she left Joey and Pablo alone in the house but she still was not sure if everything was going to be all right or not. While she was working in the salon, Joey had nothing to do so he went outside and started aiming rocks on targets he wanted. Then, he heard something break so he ran inside with Pablo and hid behind the couch. A man knocked on the door, but Joey was too afraid to open the door so he stayed quiet. After 2 minutes the man started saying bad words and then he left. So Joey decided not to go outside anymore. After staying inside for 5 minutes, he started looking for something to do. Then he went to the attic and found some games. He took darts and started playing. “That’s when I searched the house for new things to do and found the dart set in the attic.” (Gantos 11) This was all what happened before Joey gets into the dart game.
After Joey found the dart set, he started playing and then got tired. So when it got boring, he tried to make it much more fun. In Joey’s logic more fun is to make something more dangerous or make it hard that a bad thing can happen. So he changed the rules of the game, instead of just taking a dart, aiming and throwing. He made a rule that he has to turn around in his place until he is dizzy and throws it in the dart table, which can cause huge trouble. So, he stayed playing that game because he loved it. After playing a lot he made a throw and heard a cry, which was Pablo’s. Joey threw a dart and it went right into Pablo’s ear and made a whole in his ear. Joey could not do anything for 5 minutes because he was so dizzy and his eyes could not focus. When he was focused he stressed and ran to his mom with Pablo in a towel. When he came to the salon his mom had a lot of work, but she got so mad at him because he could not let her work without getting worried about them in the house alone. She left the client and asked her to patient for 5 minutes. Joey’s mom ran to a room in the salon and gave the treatments for Pablo, which he needed to not bleed a lot. “She opened a first-aid kit and put iodine on Pablo’s ear, and then a Band-Aid on either side of the hole.” (Gantos 14)
The rating of this book will go up until 5 for several reasons. First, a lot of more fun and interesting parts occur in the book. For example at the end of the chapter they arrive at Joey’s father’s house and then it gets so weird between Joey’s mother and his father. Something very bad happens in front of Joey’s eyes, which was when they get out of the car to go to the house they see Joey’s grandma sitting and then Joey’s mother goes and says hi. When she says hi, Joey’s father tries to kiss her in the lips, but she did not want so she leaned backwards in front of Joey. Joey was very shocked so he went back to the car and he had an idea in his head that he really wanted to, which was to jump in the trunk and stay there so that his parents come looking for him and they wont be weird between them. “Before he said anything to me he tried to kiss mom but she yanked her head back as if dad’s lips were electrified.” (Gantos 17) These are all the reasons why this book should be rated up to a 5 star.
Review 3
As the book continues Joey’s father is a very nice guy. He introduced himself and told Joey to call him Carter but Joey did not he was waiting a long time to use that important word, dad, but Joey did not know when to use it. As his mom went, he took Joey to the Storybook land where they had lots of fun. They went to every character and started to relate it to them and their experiences. Then during that time grandma stated to be a bit annoying to Joey because she was trying to teach him manners. So, Joey and his father went and put her in the miniature golf club, where she sits down and plays golf for hours. First Joey and his father went to The Wizard of Oz. In their path lots of teens dressed into storybook characters passed by. Then they passed to the most important character because it is there where all Carter’s life changed. His life changed because one night he went there after drinking and then he slept there because he was drunk. Then the morning he was in a hangover, so a teen girl dressed in a storybook character woke him up and told him to leave or else she will call the police. Then he looked around him and then saw that Humpty-Dumpty in the wall. So after he started thinking am I as dumb and bad as he is. Every time he goes there, the more he stares at him, the less he likes himself. It is from there that he stopped drinking. “ I stood up and stared at over at old Humpty-Dumpty and I thought, I’m as bad as he is. I thought, Man, I can learn a lesson from that Humpty-Dumpty dude.” (Gantos 26) After this story told by Carter to Joey, they both continue their way through other characters and places. These are the reasons why Joey’s father is a nice guy.
After almost finishing the Storybook land park they pass to the Crooked House and then they had fun playing that they are crooked. Then his father started to act like a narrator. “There once was a crooked man, who lived in a crooked house. He had a crooked dog—“ (Gantos 30) After this sentence everything changes and a huge problem starts. When Joey hears dog, he then shouted so loudly everyone could hear him. He recognized that when they were in the road, his dog Pablo was car sick, so they put him in the glove box and he realized he forgot him. So he ran everywhere looking for a phone to call his mom so she can come back to the house. His father was puzzled and did not know what to do. When Joey told him that he had a dog and he left him in the glove box. His father calmed him down and did not let him call. He did what he had to do as a father, but Joey ran to the car waiting for his father and his father ran and got his grandma in the golf club. While Joey was waiting for them to arrive to the car, he got all these bad thought like, Pablo is going to die and all different thing in his mind. Then his grandma stated screaming and insulting his Chihuahua. Before she even got see him she started to give him bad names because she did not get what she wanted, which was to finish her golf course. So Joey and his grandma got in a fight. As Carter was trying to solve the problem, he calmed down Joey’s grandma and calmed down Joey. He told him good thing and he said that his mom already brought him and I think he is in the front porch. Carter was doing his best to change Joey’s mind positive.
When they arrived at their house, they finally found Pablo in the front porch as his dad told him to keep his mind positive. Joey was so happy he stated kissing him and hugging Pablo like if never saw him before because Joey was very scared he would die. When Joey puts the dog down eh looks around and finds “Miss you already!” in lipstick in a window from his mom. Then he saw that and laughed. After he went and hugged his dad with one of his joyful moments of his life. Then Joey asks his dad, “How did you know he’d be here?” and his dad answered, “Hey, what are dads for?” (Gantos 33) As soon as they finished hugging and finished their joyful moment. Joey and his father started to talk about baseball because Carter was a coach of a baseball team. Before they even had this good experience to know each other, Joey’s father asked Joey if he wanted to join his team, but Joey rejected because he still did not know him a lot. So now Joey accepted and wanted to join his father’s team. His father asked if he was good at throwing the baseball or he needs practice. After thinking for a little bit, Joey said he was fine and he did not need practice because he though if he was good at throwing rocks in a specific target then he can throw a baseball in a target. The next morning, his father came to his room and put a paper on the ground so he could measure his feet to get a pair of baseball cleats and a baseball glove.
review 4:
During the adventure Joey was having with his father, he was having a lot of fun. After learning that he was going to be in his father’s team he was very happy and excited so he went and called his mom to let her know about his days with his father. While he was talking in the phone with his mom, his nosey grandma sneaked to listen what he was going to tell his mom. When she learned that he is having fun, he loves his dad, and that his dad is going to buy him a lot of things. She came up to Joey and told him a lot of bad things about his dad just to make him hate him. “Oh, he’s got a steady job but he still sneak-drinks now and again he’s got himself a girlfriend that hasn’t figured out what a loose screw he is. Just know that he hasn’t turned into the squeaky-clean Boy Scout he says he is, even though he’s a neat freak. (Gantos39) Now it is very hard for Joey because he is very confused, he doesn’t know if he needs to believe that his father is a nice guy or to believe his troublemaker grandma.
After Joey’s grandma told him all this bad stuff, he went directly up to his room and stayed there for hours. After that his grandma came up to him and told him that she had plans for the afternoon that fitted both of them, but actually it fitted just her because she was very selfish. Then the plans were to go to golf courses. Joey does not want but he does not know if he is allowed to say no. So he just picks up her golf bag and her oxygen tank he goes to the park with her and Pablo. When they went to the park to play golf, all Joey did was to go far in the field and gather the balls that she swings and bring them back to her. He did not get to swing once. So it was very boring for him. After a while, he became very lucky because his grandma started to bleed next to her mouth and she was feeling sick so they had to go home. When they arrived home his father came in and had two baseball patches so he can play and test Joey. Then they started playing baseball and in the same time talking, but after one throw from Joey his father was shocked. “ You have an arm like a cannon, dude.” (Gantos 50)
The rating of this book would be a 5 star for several reasons. First, it is a book that has a lot of fun inside it. For example, when Joey’s grandma falls or cant breath anymore or when him and his dad have fun. Second reason is that the book has a lot of suspense. For example, when Joey’s grandma tells Joey about his dad that he is a jerk. “Oh, he’s got a steady job but he still sneak-drinks now and again he’s got himself a girlfriend that hasn’t figured out what a loose screw he is. Just know that he hasn’t turned into the squeaky-clean Boy Scout he says he is, even though he’s a neat freak. (Gantos39) The suspense is weather Joey will believe her or his father. These are the reasons why the book will be a 5 star.
Review 5:
During Joey’s time with his father, they get to know each other better. When his father comes home they had their first father-to-son talk together. Then they found out that they had lots in comment between him and Joey because they do the same things and like the same things. Such as: they both like baseball, they both do the peanut attack which is when they put a peanut in their nose and start shooting and many different things. When Joey starts to talk to his dad, he starts feeling that he two Joeys in the same time. He feels like if when he is with his father, he likes bad stuff like a tattoo because he wanted to do one like his father and with his mom he would never dare to say the he likes tattoos or wants one. “ I was thinking that being away from mom made me feel different, like there was one Joey for mom and a different Joey for dad and that I was becoming two Joeys.” (Gantos 52)
In continuation Joey loved the talk with his dad about old days, but his father didn’t. He asked him to stop the father-to-son talk because he said that he did not have good memories of the pas and his past was bad and ugly with no good memories. So Joey accepted and stopped. After they stopped his father’s had a game coming up, so his father had to go to the stadium and Joey went with him. Before they went in the stadium, Joey’s father told him not to be sad if he doesn’t play because he has to [play the old ones that are good. He told him to stay ready because if he has a chance to make him play than he will go in. Joeys father went to do some drills for the team before the game starts. “ I don’t think you’ll be playing, but don’t feel bad.” (Gantos 54)
As Joey is waiting in the stadium, a woman comes up to him and starts talking to him. She asks him if he was the new player Carter, his father, brought. So Joey said yes, and the woman put her big bag that she brought with her with materials. Joey was very happy that he would have materials. So she started to get them out of the bag. She had a cap; a jersey with J.Pigza printed in the back with the number 17 his lucky number, cleats, and a sweatband. Then she recognized that his father forgot to tell her to bring pants, so she asked Joey what’s his waist size but Joey did not know. So she came and measured it. “Skinny, you need to fatten up a bit. Its just if you play the game, you need a couple extra pounds.” (Gantos 59) So the lady started to talk to Joey and then she knew that Joey was a nice boy. So, she asked him if he liked pizza and he said yes because it is his favorite meal. The she went to her phone and ordered a pizza to the stadium. So that Joey can eat and gain pounds.
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