Touching and Relevant

Triggers: Child abuse, alcoholism
Narration: Great

Story:

My 9 year old son and I listened to this touching story of Joey Pigza, his struggles with impulse control, ADHD, some really complex emotions and an imperfect mother who loves him fiercely. Joey gets kicked out of school after a series of accidents brought on by his poor choices & impulse control issues. He gets sent to a scary special school where he struggles to turn things around so when his 6 week suspension is up, he'll be alowed back into his class. The reason I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5 is because there is so much emphasis placed on finding the right medication and I would have really liked to see some more emphasis on the coping skills that Joey learned. Great story overall and great depiction of struggles with ADHD.

About the triggers:

This book touches on the abuse of Joey by his grandmother in two scenes - one scene, toward the beginning of the book, she tries unsuccessfully to lock him in the refrigerator and immediately after she runs away and doesn't appear in the rest of the book. The other scene, Joey reveals some mental abuse by the grandma where she forced him to act like a dog and hit him with a flyswatter if he didn't. The book reveals Joey's mother used to have a drinking problem and his absent father still does. His father doesn't appear in this book. No drunkenness is depicted in the story.

5 people found this helpful

Everyone loved it!

This is such a heart-warming story, and should be a must-listen for every kid (and parent!). We all know kids like Joey, and hearing the story told from his perspective really sheds light on living with ADHD. There are parts that hit you in the emotional gut - and I found myself crying in the driver's seat as my daughters listened intently in the backseat. The next minute, we're laughing hysterically. After finishing this book, I immediately purchased the second in the Joey Pigza series. It sounds a bit dramatic, but honestly, our family is changed from reading this book. We now have "Joey" moments and laugh - and my kiddos better understand the "difficult" kids in their classrooms. Would recommend this book to everyone!

3 people found this helpful

Joey Pigza gets a review

It is very good. I loved it. Great book for Middle School students. Highly recommend.

2 people found this helpful

Good or bad

Goooooooooooood goooooooooood gooooooooooooood😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍 so good the worst thing about this book is the swear around the end get the book now!!!!!!😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

2 people found this helpful

A pleasure to listen to

I always love listening to authors read their own books, and Jack Gantos doesn't fail. I had read the book in text before, but listened to this with my kids and it was a pleasure. Joey is such an incredible character. His development helps you understand the perspective of a person struggling with emotional and verbal abuse and ADHD. I think it teaches empathy, perspective, and understanding. A great read for any preteen.

1 person found this helpful

Read aloud for School.

I liked the idea of a story about a child with special needs. However there were many parts of the story that were not appropriate for school. Nor they type of story I would want my children listening to. The mother uses alcohol as her “medicine” is one such example. The students liked the story and the narrator so it was difficult to explain to them that it was not really an example I cared for them to hear.

1 person found this helpful

We've loved every bit of it!

what a wonderful story. poignant, sweet, empathic. a refreshing take on childhood travails without a filter for the mixed bag that comes with differently abled little ones.

1 person found this helpful

We all need to see through Joey’s eyes!

I love listening to author read stories and Jack Gantos with Joey Pigza is at the top of the list. As an educator, I know lots and lots of Joey’s and this book helps remind me that they are all good kids and just need a little extra love.

Awesome job! thanks for all your efforts in this!

There's always something that makes Jack "Swallowed" on trouble! No matter how he tries! Awesome!

heartfelt

I bought these books for my kids to listen to because it was about a funny kid. I didnt know I would be taught and equipped with the knowledge of a kid with special needs and a hard childhood. this book made me shed tears and laughed so hard that I eventually started listening on my own. it makes me more sensitive to how my words and actions could affect someone positively or negatively.