interest: gr. 4+

some mature themes (i.e. alcoholic parents, neglect, medication for child)

GLE: 5.2, T, ______

This sequel to Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key  is both funny and heart- wrenching.  Joey is a tween who has ADD.  He lives with his mom, but this story is about the summer he spends with his beer-drinking, baseball-playing, humpty-dumpty - loving dad, whom he hasn't seen in several years. Both grandma (hooked up to an oxygen machine from all her smoking and Pablo, Joey's chew-happy dog appear in the story as well.

I prefer it as a read-aloud for younger children, as Joey endures intense interactions with those he is closest to, some of which may need processing.  I read JP Swallowed the Key to my 4th grade class a few years ago and they begged me to go on when it was time to stop.  Jack Gantos has a way of connecting with children - whether they see themselves as Joey, or a classmate or sibling of Joey's, all of the students fell for Joey's story.

  Joey is both endearing and annoying at once.  You won't help but feel sorry for him, and hope he goes away for awhile.  Let Joey pull on your heart strings, you'll laugh and cry, and leave with a fresh perspective on how life is different for each of us.

4/4 stars

realistic fiction