Dead End in Norvelt
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Won the Newbery-Anyone Read It?
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I haven't, but I would like to know the opinions of those who have.
I read it a few months ago. Really great off the wall read!
I am halfway through it and it is already sooo good. I recommend it!
Miranda wrote: "I am halfway through it and it is already sooo good. I recommend it!"Maybe I'll read it after finishing the thick and heavy Les Miserables. :)
I think that is a good idea :)
I just finished and I thought it was a cute story that reminds me so much of adults that I grew up around, especially the old folks. I do not believe that young people will appreciate this book as much as an older generation that appreciates history and who understand people around that time period. My son read it and did not finish it because he could never relate to the characters in the story.
A great book. Baby boomers who know the early 60's would enjoy the story. I wonder if early teens would appreciate the history and lessons about life that Gantos has incorporated.
Dead End in Norvelt was selected as the 2012 Newbery Award Winner. About ten years ago, I made (and met!) a goal to read all the Newbery Award winning books from the inception of the award in 1922 to that date. Since that time, I look forward to the announcement of the year's Newbery winner so that I can read it and keep my achievement current. Winners of this prestigious award are quite often remarkable literary works (as one might expect), but sometimes the selected book makes me shake my head and wonder what the Newbery selection committee could possibly have been thinking. Unfortunately, Dead End in Norvelt falls into the latter category.This book belongs in a genre that might be called "how-can-we-get-boys-to-read," complete with fart jokes and baby-talk cursing (cheeze us crust). It is peppered with historical "facts" of dubious authenticity. On page 214, Gantos even has Mrs. Volker, the character spouting most of the "history," tell Jack "If you don't know your history you won't know the difference between the truth and wishful thinking." When Jack wants to know whether what she had told him is truth or wishful thinking, she tells him "Look it up for yourself."
Speaking of research, Gantos has one of the minor characters selling Girl Scout Cookies. The year is 1962, and he has the girl quote a price of 20 cents per box. Ten seconds of research would have been sufficient to determine that the price per box of Girl Scout Thin Mints was 50 cents in the late 1950s and early 1960s. To further expose his ignorance of Girl Scout cookie sales, he later states that this girl is selling the cookies to make money for her family. That's just sloppy, lazy writing.
One final irritation: the author, Jack Gantos, has named his main character...wait for it...Jack Gantos! Is this work of fiction meant to be autobiographical (Lord, I hope not), or is Gantos just that egotistical?
It's a good thing I have had practice as a Cubs fan, because the only thing I can say about the Newbery Award is "Wait 'til next year!"
I didn't care for this book either and was kind of shocked that it won. I enjoyed another nominee "Okay for Now" SO much more. I felt that the book had some serious socialist and to a minor extent, an anti-American government slant to it which bothered me. I don't mind that he has that opinion but putting it into a children's book does!
Mari Anne wrote: "I didn't care for this book either and was kind of shocked that it won. I enjoyed another nominee "Okay for Now" SO much more. I felt that the book had some serious socialist and to a minor exten..."I expect Gantos was trying to portray the fear of Communist gov'ts in the 60's. i.e. the Cuban Missile Crisis
@Mari Anne I enjoyed "Okay For Now," too. I was expecting it at least to be an Honor book. :(
@Trudy What a great goal to conquer! I have read a few winners and one that I personally did not think worthy to win was Higher Power of Lucky.
Well, maybe I'll put it a bit lower down on the to read list... thanks for the comments, they helped!
I thought it was worth the read but I would recommend the audio book which is narrated by the author. I think Jack Gantos' narration adds even more humor to this story. I enjoyed both the book in the audio version. I think it was a good story but didn't really see it as an award winner.
Marilyn wrote: "Mari Anne wrote: "I didn't care for this book either and was kind of shocked that it won. I enjoyed another nominee "Okay for Now" SO much more. I felt that the book had some serious socialist an..."...And the fact that the town was built by E. Roosevelt as a social experiment for a more dignified sort of public housing project for out of work industrial workers. The book IS semi-autobiographical - Gantos grew up in Norvelt. His dad hated the town, built a plane and flew out of it. I've included a link if you are interested in reading more about the town, its origins etc. There are other neighbohoods built under the same program, including one in Phoenix.
http://www.lib.iup.edu/depts/speccol/...
I really enjoyed it! I laughed out loud a few times. A good, light read. And yes, I think boys would like to read it (I teach grades 7-12).
I loved the book. I think that it offers a historical perspective on the happenings of the early 60's.
Thanks for the link. This makes the book even more interesting. The East Coast had what they called defense housing for WW II vets.
I really liked the book, and I think it's well worth reading. I already like Jack Gantos; I've read quite a few of his books, from Rotten Ralph on up through Hole in my Life, which is autobiography. I'm not sure if I think it was a Newbery-caliber book. I think Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key, one of his earlier books, was really better. I can't think of a better kids' book from last year off the top of my head, though - but there are a lot I haven't read yet.
Thanks for all your comments! I finally got around to reading it and finished last night. Here's my review if anyone's interested: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/....
Mari Anne wrote: "I didn't care for this book either and was kind of shocked that it won. I enjoyed another nominee "Okay for Now" SO much more. I felt that the book had some serious socialist and to a minor exten..."I totally agree. Okay for Now was so much better. Dead End in Norvelt became tedious after a while.
I enjoyed Dead End in Norvelt, but I didn't really think it was amazing. I just finished Okay for Now and I agree with others that I enjoyed that MUCH more.
I liked Dead End in Norvelt, however I do not think most children will enjoy it. I think the nose bleeds and such were put in so kids might read it while they read some historical facts. I'm not sure what the committee is thinking. I think one goal should be to expand students reading beyond "Captain Underpants" and "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" and they need to choose far more interesting and exciting books. It seems like the goal is pick books written about children that adults would like.
I loved it, I think my students will enjoy it---they like humor and this book was full of it and also mystery.
Sharon wrote: "I liked Dead End in Norvelt, however I do not think most children will enjoy it. I think the nose bleeds and such were put in so kids might read it while they read some historical facts. I'm not ..."The 6th grade boys that have read Norvelt in my school have liked it.
I was disappointed. When I came across the line, "'I'm sorry,' he apologized", I almost stopped in dismay. But I kept reading, because after all it was the Newbery Medal winner. After I finished, I thought that the death of all those old ladies was glossed over, and I was just left thinking, "Huh?" My favorite Gantos book remains "Hole in my Life," which is for adults or mature YA.
Lauren I agree that Hole in My Life is my favorite Gantos book as well.
Yes, it was my first 10/10 star book of the year. LOVED it. Listened to the audio version and would highly recommend this way of experiencing it. Jack Gantos is a wonderful narrator and he breathes such life into this story. My full non-spoiler review is here:http://www.stainlesssteeldroppings.co...
Actually yes, there is quite a bit of autobiographical stuff in the book which is why the character is him. A little search on Google yields some very nice video clips of Gantos explaining how truth is sometimes indeed stranger than fiction.
Mari Anne wrote: "I didn't care for this book either and was kind of shocked that it won. I enjoyed another nominee "Okay for Now" SO much more. I felt that the book had some serious socialist and to a minor exten..."I love "Okay for Now" by Gary Schmidt!!! He's an excellent author! I didn't realize it was up for the Newbery the same year as Norvelt was. It was definitely a more worthy nominee and should have won.
I read the book because of its Newbery status, but I didn't find it memorable. I thought it was going to eventually get to something poignant between Mrs. Volker and Jack, but no such luck. It was just over.
I loved both OKAY FOR NOW (as well as THE WEDNESDAY WARS, its companion book) and DEADEND IN NORVELT.
I loved Dead End in Norvelt. I found it to be very entertaining but I suggested it to a friend who thought it was just o.k. As with anything, it depends on each persons taste. I really enjoyed the humor in it.
I read Dead End in Norvelt because I live very close to Norvelt and I loved the author's Joey Pigsta books. I enjoyed it but I think it's humor would appeal more to adults than children.
I read it for a reading program at my school next year. I enjoyed it even though it wasn't YA enough. It was very boring at the beggining but I guess you had to get used to it.
Dead End in Norvelt is worth reading. I actually checked out the audio book version from the library. The author actually performed the reading and his voice and energy made it fun to listen too. It's an oddball story but I would recommend it.
Tirzah wrote: "@Trudy What a great goal to conquer! I have read a few winners and one that I personally did not think worthy to win was Higher Power of Lucky."
Just finished reading the Higher Power of Lucky, and really liked it.
Just finished reading the Higher Power of Lucky, and really liked it.
When I read Dead End in Norvelt I felt the book resolved too much around dead, and the fact that the old ladies died and the fact that Jack's friend grew up with dead people. There were sometimes that I justed skipped pages because they were so ugly and full of distgusting dead things. Yuck!
Trudy wrote: "Dead End in Norvelt was selected as the 2012 Newbery Award Winner. About ten years ago, I made (and met!) a goal to read all the Newbery Award winning books from the inception of the award in 1922..."I do the same although I started in the sixties. I enjoyed this years winner.
I'm one of those Baby Boomers who can relate. I too was 12 in 1962. I remember the bomb shelters and the Cuban Missal Crisis so this book was right up my alley. I laughed through the whole thing. I think I'll read more of Jack Gantos' books!
I read this because it was on the BATTLE OF THE BOOKS list for NC and I must admit, I was disappointed. I kept waiting for the big moment that it seemed everything was building up to and it never came. After I finished it, I was left thinking, "Okay...what just happened?" DEAD END IN NORVELT was my first Jack Gantos book and, at least for the immediate future, it will be my last. I just wasn't impressed. If *that* is the book that won, I would hate to read the losers.
Fun, quirky and definitely something boys would get a kick out of reading! I had several good chuckles as I enjoyed the book.
I know and like several folks who agree that this book was not their favorite for a Newbery. I also know that I enjoyed Dead End In Norvelt. I grew up near Norvelt during the period in which the book is set and can attest to just how accurate it is in depicting that Summer before the Cuban Missile Crisis when I was just a bit older than Mr. Gantos. I have yet to hear the reaction of a young reader, but I look forward to book talking this one with my grandson in a few years when he gets around to reading it.
I agree that "Dead End in Norvelt" is a little on the "oddball" side as far as style but I think it's a perfect fit for boys and kids who love "oddball" books. After all isn't it the goal to have kids reading? If what they enjoy is off the wall what difference does that make? Times change and we should all be open to the changes.
love it also im reading all the newberys all ready on the 100 book
Very late to the conversation here - but I loved this book - probably because I am a bit quirky and oddball.
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A link to complete Newbery 2012 list:
http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/...