Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key

Jack Gantos' book about Joey Pigza is both heartwarming and frustrating. Joey has behavioral problems and is ultimately diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

The heartwarming part is that Joey is such a good kid. The story is told from his point of view and you slowly come to understand how and why he does the crazy things he does. He literally cannot help himself.

His life has also been a hard one, though you won't catch him complaining much. His grandmother mistreated him and his mother briefly walked out on him, while his father was never around.

The frustrating part is what happens in the schools. There's a great deal of realism in the book and I understand the frustration of the teachers, but at the same time, they frustrate me. I wish that they could do more. I wish that they could see the world, however briefly, through Joey's eyes. At the same time, I understand that they really can't do much more than they are doing and that their hands are as tied as Joey's.

The story ends on a very upbeat, promising note. Joey is finally on the right kind of medication and is going back to "regular" school. When the mother of a handicapped child says to him, "You know, Joey, the medication has helped you settle down, but you have been a good kid all along. You are naturally good. I hope you know that about yourself. You have a good heart," Joey has to wipe a tear away. That's the hope and the frustration all rolled into one, in my eyes. There's a lot of great kids out there who are trapped by situations and problems that they can't control.

I recommend this book for parents of ADD sufferers, as well as the children themselves. It's also great reading for teachers (and could, perhaps, be read in class so that other children understand what's going on). The targeted age group is 8-12.