Can't believe it won the Newberry...

Bought this book right after learning it was the Newberry winner, I usually love the books they select. The plot had so much potential and I wanted to like it. Actually had to force myself to finish it to see if the end was so great it made up for the beginning. Found it a jerky ride of manic tangents and multiple themes barely held together in a story so random and contrived that I couldn't force myself to suspend disbelief.

I was sick of nosebleeds, old ladies being murdered and frequent, irritating "faux" swearing (like cheeses crust) by multiple persons, which as read by reader sounded like normal swearing. The main character is a young teen who speaks, thinks and evaluates like an old man looking back rather than a teen experiencing the events. All the characters are quirky and felt manufactured. The setting in the 50's didn't feel real either, a bomb shelter being dug in the back yard does not an era make.

Someone obviously likes it, but many books in the past few years just earning "honors" and not the award are much better.

9 people found this helpful

credit worthy

Original, entertaining and funny. Norvelt is an amusing story that could be recommended to anyone at any age.

6 people found this helpful

A Demented Little Nugget of a Book

I love love LOVE this demented little nugget of a book. No children's writer is more twisted or morbid than Jack Gantos, which is what makes him the BEST. In this Newbery-winning novel, twelve-year-old Jack gets grounded and spends the summer of 1962 helping a feisty old witch write obituaries for all the little old ladies in Norvelt, Pennsylvania, who may or may not be getting slowly poisoned to death. Meanwhile, Hells Angels move in down the road and start burning local houses to the ground, and the next door neighbors start up a funeral parlor. This is a great novel about what it's like to be young, bored, and grounded, and in the funniest scene OF ALL TIME since Barbara Park wrote Skinnybones, Jack describes his method for noiselessly scaring deer away during his dad's hunting trip. (Spoiler: it's farts.) Gantos' deadpan humor translates best when he reads it out loud; I can't recommend the audio highly enough!

4 people found this helpful

Read a young adult book with excellent writiing

Where does Dead End in Norvelt rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

The chraacters are charming. Imaginie the protagonist beiing grounded for the whole summer except when he gos to help an elderly lady who writes obits. She is a fabulous writer, we shoul all have such a gifted writer. She iincludes significent history among her writings, historical facts you will enjoy remembering and surprised you'd forgotten. Norvlt is a real place and you ned to know what it means.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Jack and Miss Volker--together they make the story roll.

What about Jack Gantos’s performance did you like?

He has a gift for humor and plays on words. You won't put this book down or begin to think about how small towns begin to meet their demise.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

No film for this book

3 people found this helpful

Great story for YA and adults

I enjoyed the history and the humor in this book. I think young boys would especially enjoy it.

2 people found this helpful

I love it!!!!!!!!!!

This story is way awesome! It is so hilarious and funny. Everyone please read it!!!!!

1 person found this helpful

A fun family read (listen)

If you could sum up Dead End in Norvelt in three words, what would they be?

funny, exciting, informing

What other book might you compare Dead End in Norvelt to and why?

The Miracle of Miss Willie

Which scene was your favorite?

When Jack first goes to Mrs. Norvelts house and it look like she is melting her hands in a big pot. He ends up past out on the floor. My six year old was so enchanted and worried about what the crazy old lady was doing.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The ending when he figures out the purpose of History.

Any additional comments?

I loved how he entwined the history and made it relevant. My children and I could not get enough. We have started playing our favorite chapters over again and my 6 year old is acting out his favorite parts.

1 person found this helpful

Excellent

THis is a brilliant audio book. Please more of this!! Was performed well. Brilliant story and loads of fun

It got repetitive

Mr. Gantos is really good at reading his own work.
I started to get sick hearing about nosebleeds and Eleanor Roosevelt about a third of the way through the book.
He has talent, but this got tedious.

Wonderful

What a funny, slightly dark, creative story. My 11yo son and I both loved it.