Gantos, Jack. Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key. New York: Farrar, Straus and Girox, 1998.
Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key tells the story of Joey, a boy who is out of control due to having ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). The story unfolds as Joey and those around him are attempting to gain control of his extreme and disruptive behaviors that always seem to result in some unfortunate accident.
Gantos tells the story from Joey's perspective. This element makes the book stand out. It would be easy for the reader to view Joey's situations from the teacher's or his classmates perspectives because such views probably fit best with what they own. By using Joey's voice, the reader is forced and able to see how Joey thinks and views each situations before, during and after they happen. Gantos is so effective in making Joey real to the reader that every event and situation seems reasonable from Joey's perspective. I am not sure about Gantos standing as an insider to the world of ADHD, but his well-informed on how people with ADHD think and some of the medical treatments. His book offers an inside look at what it means to have ADHD which reconfirms to readers that things not be what they seem.
Although the book is fairly humorous, there is an element of sadness when Joey's family is considered. His father is not around and his mother has suffered from alcoholism. When everyone from his teacher, grandmother, school staff and doctors learn about his mother they seem to generalize her feelings and assume she does not care about Joey's welfare or is not involved with his problems. By making her care and having her help Joey set goals and rewards to improve his behavior, Gantos seems to challenge this stereotypical image of an uninvolved, self-absorbed, alcoholic mother.
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