The Key That Swallowed Joey Pigza - Hardcover

Gr 5–7—The final "Joey Pigza" novel begins as Joey narrates his present situation back in his "roachy row house on Plum St." He is without a medical patch to treat his ADHD because his mom can't remember where she hid them. Joey's father has gotten a botched face-lift and runs away again. When Joey receives a call at school from his frantic mother pleading for him to come home because she's afraid she will hurt Carter Junior, Joey rushes home, afraid of what he might find. Things go from bad to worse as Joey tries to comfort his mom. She winds up checking herself into a hospital for depression, leaving middle-schooler Joey to care for his baby brother. Woeful metaphors describe Joey's dysfunctional predicament and ensuing altercations with his dad, who is stalking the family in order to kidnap the baby. Joey takes responsibility for his condition, as well as challenges his father to do the same. This may be the darkest volume yet in Gantos's series. Readers who have read the previous books and come to know and love Joey will appreciate the irony and emotional punch of his final triumph. Give this groundbreaking, heartbreaking title to readers mature and sensitive enough to understand the author's black humor and seriousness.—D. Maria LaRocco, Cuyahoga Public Library, Strongsville, OH