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nrphoto's review against another edition
5.0
This book is more proof positive that good juvenile fiction can rival anything put out there by people writing for adults. This concise little book about a boy struggling with a terrible family life and ADHD, is heartfelt, insanely funny--I couldn't count how many times I laughed out loud--and poignant. Jack Gantos said he wrote the book after doing a book signing in a classroom and watching a boy struggle unsuccessfully to keep his ADHD in control, and he wanted to write something on behalf of the often misunderstood children who genuinely suffer from the condition. From reading it though, I would have bet life that Gantos himself had ADHD, because he writes it with amazing empathy. I loved this book.
christinehalpaus's review against another edition
4.0
Some of the material is too high for my class, but a heart-warming story of a kid who just cannot sit still.
permanme's review against another edition
funny
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Ableism, and Medical trauma
kayleigh_reads's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I had to read this for class and for me personally it was an ok book. I liked getting to read from Joey’s perspective and getting to be in his head and I thought it was a fun book. But some of the chapters just felt disconnected from the chapter before it and it felt like it was it’s own little story. It also made it so hard to follow a time line of events throughout this book. This book also had some problematic language that I chalked up to a sign of the times when this book was written. Overall it wasn’t an amazing book for me but I think younger readers might really enjoy it!
hldillon's review against another edition
5.0
Joey Pigza has ADHD. He and his family are trying to figure out hope to cope with it while one disaster after another happens at school.
summerashley's review against another edition
4.0
This is a great book that highlights mental disabilities for children. Each sentence makes be feel as energized, worn out and excited about the different everyday things as Joey. Even though he is sent to the "special needs school," it makes us question how we refer to our special needs programs to children and each other. Definitely a great read!
ambyrvi's review against another edition
5.0
I do not include synopses with my goodreads reviews. Read what the professionals wrote. It's better than my mumbo jumbo.
Actual rating: 5 stars
This is maybe one of my favorite books of all time. I will probably read and reread it until my eyes bleed. It haunts me and I'm a little disturbed that it's a children's book. Do not mistake that as me saying that I wouldn't want my child or children in classrooms across the globe reading it, as I am a firm believer the we are overprotective with the literature we place in front of our youth. It is just that, other than raised awareness of ADD, I'm not entirely sure what this could offer a child in the age group it's written for. Maybe it's just me, but the horrible things Joey Pigza goes through are oftentimes painful to read. I wanted to take him in my arms and hold him tight throughout the whole thing. And the subject of drinking while pregnant being a subtle undertone? Just haunted me a little, that's all I'm saying. I think a lot of impatient or irresponsible adults could benefit from reading this more than most youngsters, if I'm being honest. I would recommend this to anyone, but teachers and parents would be at the top of the list. Heartwarming and entertaining, this book will have you laughing and crying until the very end.
Actual rating: 5 stars
This is maybe one of my favorite books of all time. I will probably read and reread it until my eyes bleed. It haunts me and I'm a little disturbed that it's a children's book. Do not mistake that as me saying that I wouldn't want my child or children in classrooms across the globe reading it, as I am a firm believer the we are overprotective with the literature we place in front of our youth. It is just that, other than raised awareness of ADD, I'm not entirely sure what this could offer a child in the age group it's written for. Maybe it's just me, but the horrible things Joey Pigza goes through are oftentimes painful to read. I wanted to take him in my arms and hold him tight throughout the whole thing. And the subject of drinking while pregnant being a subtle undertone? Just haunted me a little, that's all I'm saying. I think a lot of impatient or irresponsible adults could benefit from reading this more than most youngsters, if I'm being honest. I would recommend this to anyone, but teachers and parents would be at the top of the list. Heartwarming and entertaining, this book will have you laughing and crying until the very end.
hreed7's review against another edition
5.0
I first read this book when I was a kid, and the overwhelming sensation was ``this book is depicting an experience (an adolescent having uncontrolled ADHD) that I have never considered or imagined before." I came away with a sense of having new understanding for another kid's life experience, and that very sensation instilled vivid memories of scenes from this book in me.
Twenty-ish years on, a rereading (via audiobook definitively performed by the author) confirmed my initial sense of a remarkable book depicting a complex experience with care and vigor. Audio particularly freshens the truly remarkable use of language to convey the flow and overflow of Joey's mind, practically vibrating with the energy of activity. Though as a kid I perhaps focused on my differences from Joey--I wasn't a latchkey kid with a single mother for whom I mixed Amaretto sours, and I wasn't brought to special education specialists or hurting other kids with my impulsive behavior. However, I look back and see intense similarities: I acted up a fair amount, couldn't always control myself in school, got sent into the hallway, and even had to tape a disciplinary card to my desk in 3rd grade just like Joey. Whereas my first reading felt informative, this reading felt genuinely empathetic, and made me appreciate the book all the more.
Moreover, even as nearly every book on nearly every topic of any sensitivity seems to have become outdated over the course of my lifetime, this book remains mercifully considerate and on-tone in its portrayal of physical and mental illness, albeit through the eyes of an occasionally mis-understanding young person (there is one unfortunate quip about Asian eyes or something, but most books of this vintage have at least one barf bag moment I suppose). This story is one seemingly without villains, populated with adults who are at worst ill-equipped to nurture a boy with neurodivergence, but never hostile or cruel (with the possible exception of the briefly-seen grandmother). It is a story of growth and learning and striving and support, and one that is well worth the few hours it takes to listen (or read).
Twenty-ish years on, a rereading (via audiobook definitively performed by the author) confirmed my initial sense of a remarkable book depicting a complex experience with care and vigor. Audio particularly freshens the truly remarkable use of language to convey the flow and overflow of Joey's mind, practically vibrating with the energy of activity. Though as a kid I perhaps focused on my differences from Joey--I wasn't a latchkey kid with a single mother for whom I mixed Amaretto sours, and I wasn't brought to special education specialists or hurting other kids with my impulsive behavior. However, I look back and see intense similarities: I acted up a fair amount, couldn't always control myself in school, got sent into the hallway, and even had to tape a disciplinary card to my desk in 3rd grade just like Joey. Whereas my first reading felt informative, this reading felt genuinely empathetic, and made me appreciate the book all the more.
Moreover, even as nearly every book on nearly every topic of any sensitivity seems to have become outdated over the course of my lifetime, this book remains mercifully considerate and on-tone in its portrayal of physical and mental illness, albeit through the eyes of an occasionally mis-understanding young person (there is one unfortunate quip about Asian eyes or something, but most books of this vintage have at least one barf bag moment I suppose). This story is one seemingly without villains, populated with adults who are at worst ill-equipped to nurture a boy with neurodivergence, but never hostile or cruel (with the possible exception of the briefly-seen grandmother). It is a story of growth and learning and striving and support, and one that is well worth the few hours it takes to listen (or read).
madibusser's review against another edition
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0