Synopses & Reviews
Joeys dad is back and hes handing out hundred dollar bills.
Hes also changed his name from Carter Pigza to Charles Heinz.
Joeys mom thinks its perfectly normal because she used to be Fran and now shes Maria.
Now Charles and Maria are calling Joey a new name, too.
Freddy.
And it turns out they were never divorced. Theyre even renewing their vows.
And the whole family is going to run a diner together.
Should Joeys parents really be the ones making all the decisions around here?
Review
“Delightful.”—
People magazine
“Life becomes even more complicated for the wired sixth grader . . . hilarious.”—Booklist, Starred Review
“Stands well on its own, though anyone new to Joeys saga will want to read more. This is Gantos at his best, and thats saying a lot.”—Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review
“Another wild ride—over serious terrain.”—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
“Gantos tells the tale with unfailing humor, delicious wordplay, and many hilarious scenes.”—School Library Journal, Starred Review
“Joey steadfastly remains on his path of self-knowledge.”—VOYA
“Gantos is wise and subtle in his exploration of his heros identity dilemma.”—The Bulletin of the Center for Childrens Books
“Readers will admire Joeys genuine desire to make his parents proud and laugh at his zany perspectives.”—International Reading Association
“Middle grade readers who know Joey will be happy to see his return.”—TeenReadsToo.com
Synopsis
Joeys world is turned upside down when his deadbeat dad wins the lottery.
About the Author
Jack Gantos has written books for people of all ages, from picture books and middle-grade fiction to novels for young adults and adults. His works include Hole in My Life, a memoir that won the Michael L. Printz and Robert F. Sibert Honors, Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key, a National Book Award Finalist, Joey Pigza Loses Control, a Newbery Honor book, and Dead End in Norvelt, winner of the Newbery Medal and the Scott ODell Award for Historical Fiction.
Jack was raised in Norvelt, Pennsylvania, and when he was seven, his family moved to Barbados. He attended British schools, where there was much emphasis on reading and writing, and teachers made learning a lot of fun. When the family moved to south Florida, he found his new classmates uninterested in their studies, and his teachers spent most of their time disciplining students. Jack retreated to an abandoned bookmobile (three flat tires and empty of books) parked out behind the sandy ball field, and read for most of the day. The seeds for Jacks writing career were planted in sixth grade, when he read his sisters diary and decided he could write better than she could. He begged his mother for a diary and began to collect anecdotes he overheard at school, mostly from standing outside the teachers lounge and listening to their lunchtime conversations. Later, he incorporated many of these anecdotes into stories.
While in college, he and an illustrator friend, Nicole Rubel, began working on picture books. After a series of well-deserved rejections, they published their first book, Rotten Ralph, in 1976. It was a success and the beginning of Jacks career as a professional writer. Jack continued to write childrens books and began to teach courses in childrens book writing and childrens literature. He developed the masters degree program in childrens book writing at Emerson College and the Vermont College M.F.A. program for childrens book writers. He now devotes his time to writing books and educational speaking. He lives with his family in Boston, Massachusetts.