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brittanyplusbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting memoir, well written, entertaining
angelasunshine's review against another edition
2.0
I really couldn't sympathize with Jack. He never sounded remorseful for his actions, only that he was caught.
manda_panda95's review against another edition
4.0
REQUIRED
This is another of those books that I only picked up because it was required for a class, but walked away being glad I did. I won't give this a rating, and I won't say I loved it, because it isn't the kind of book you love, but it is the kind of book that is very important. It's a nonfiction memoir-type book by and about the author Jack Gantos as a teen. It deals with hard topics--made all the more hard because they are real--but also has a lot of hope.
This is another of those books that I only picked up because it was required for a class, but walked away being glad I did. I won't give this a rating, and I won't say I loved it, because it isn't the kind of book you love, but it is the kind of book that is very important. It's a nonfiction memoir-type book by and about the author Jack Gantos as a teen. It deals with hard topics--made all the more hard because they are real--but also has a lot of hope.
katyjean81's review against another edition
3.0
It was pretty good. I would recommend it to fans of Jack Gantos, as well as American high school students interested in writing or the realities of jail (although Gantos appears to have had a pretty easy ride through jail, comparatively speaking). I'm not sure it's going to read as well with international school students, as we just don't have as much of a imprisonment culture in the rest of the world as we do in the united States. I prefer Stephen King's "On Writing" or Anne Lamott's "Bird by Bird" as writing texts
caseyjoreads's review against another edition
4.0
Real. Open. Hearty. More about how he landed in prison than the time he spent there. Such insight into his time and place.
elllie's review against another edition
Autobiography of Jack Gantos. Excellent, but I didn't have time to finish it before it was due back at the library (with other holds on it).
psalmcat's review against another edition
5.0
I read this because the presenter at a seminar (whose name escapes me now) began his talk by reading the first chapter of this book. I guarantee, if you read that out loud to kids, you will have their attention.
Jack Gantos writes the "Joey Pigza" children's series. He is also a convicted felon. This book is about his time in prison, and the road that took him there. Bad choices, bad friends (or at least The Wrong Crowd), bad lawyer, bad bad bad. It's a parents' nightmare, too.
The only fault I find with this book is that I doubt that kids will understand how he got from prison to famous author. As an adult reader, you see the brain-change he goes through, but I think it's a little vague for kids. On the other hand, he doesn't whack them over the head with "I totally screwed up, so don't YOU dare!"
A horrifying but ultimately (like, the last chapter!) optimistic book. I'd recommend this to anyone who thinks teens today are the worst, and I'd recommend it to the 'worst' kids, too.
Jack Gantos writes the "Joey Pigza" children's series. He is also a convicted felon. This book is about his time in prison, and the road that took him there. Bad choices, bad friends (or at least The Wrong Crowd), bad lawyer, bad bad bad. It's a parents' nightmare, too.
The only fault I find with this book is that I doubt that kids will understand how he got from prison to famous author. As an adult reader, you see the brain-change he goes through, but I think it's a little vague for kids. On the other hand, he doesn't whack them over the head with "I totally screwed up, so don't YOU dare!"
A horrifying but ultimately (like, the last chapter!) optimistic book. I'd recommend this to anyone who thinks teens today are the worst, and I'd recommend it to the 'worst' kids, too.
starnosedmole's review against another edition
4.0
A book about how a writer finds his voice and the fumbles he made along the way. Recommended to fans of Orange is the New Black and anyone who's ever pursued writing.
nanette_zorn's review against another edition
4.0
I am a huge Jack Gantos fan and this month he is releasing his autobiography. In reading about that book, I discovered that it had a part 1 and that part 1 "Hole in My Life" covers a time in his life from when he was a Junior in High School through his release from prison at 21. I was drawn to this book because I loved all the YA books he had written. I was curious about his experiences especially when, after reading the synopsis, I knew what he had overcome to write. There were two things I particularly enjoyed about this book. First, I have listened to four of his audio books, read by him and as I was reading this book, I could hear his voice in my head. I felt like I was having a conversation with him. Second, I love that writing and reading saved his life. I was fascinated by how, through all his bad decisions, even at his worst, he knew that he had to write. Writing was calling like a divine voice drawing him to something greater than he had ever known. Ultimately, it saved his life.
librarydosebykristy's review against another edition
4.0
Ahh, Jack Gantos. I like you.
I listened to the audio version of this book, read by Mr. Gantos, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I actually drove out of my way one morning, just so I could keep listening to the story. Gantos' memoir has that trademark mix of laugh out loud absurd moments mixed with a refreshingly honest introspection.
What a life ! After listening to this memoir, I am determined to meet Jack, which shouldn't be so hard since he loves in Boston.
I listened to the audio version of this book, read by Mr. Gantos, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I actually drove out of my way one morning, just so I could keep listening to the story. Gantos' memoir has that trademark mix of laugh out loud absurd moments mixed with a refreshingly honest introspection.
What a life ! After listening to this memoir, I am determined to meet Jack, which shouldn't be so hard since he loves in Boston.