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goodem9199's review against another edition
3.0
Heard him speak yesterday and he was FABULOUS!!!
This was pretty good. How generic of a review is that?!?!
Definately not what I would have expected from Gantos...I suppose we all have a past....!
And to Adaena...Gantos was at the Literacy Conference at Pitt Greensburg a month or so back...along with Megan McDonald!
This was pretty good. How generic of a review is that?!?!
Definately not what I would have expected from Gantos...I suppose we all have a past....!
And to Adaena...Gantos was at the Literacy Conference at Pitt Greensburg a month or so back...along with Megan McDonald!
robbynjreeve's review against another edition
REQUIRED READING
I really liked this book. I liked that it gave a description of a real situation that a real person got caught in, told from their perspective. I also liked that it wasn't preachy. It didn't give the readers a moral lesson on right and wrong. It simply showed the consequences of Gantos actions. It's up for the readers to decide for themselves how they feel about it. It gives them an opportunity to see the potential consequences of their actions and decide for themselves whether it is worth it.
I really liked this book. I liked that it gave a description of a real situation that a real person got caught in, told from their perspective. I also liked that it wasn't preachy. It didn't give the readers a moral lesson on right and wrong. It simply showed the consequences of Gantos actions. It's up for the readers to decide for themselves how they feel about it. It gives them an opportunity to see the potential consequences of their actions and decide for themselves whether it is worth it.
robfarren's review against another edition
4.0
This was good. I felt that he could have gone a little deeper, but it's still a crazy story, like nothing I've ever gone through.
roseleaf24's review against another edition
4.0
I was a little skeptical about this book, as I am not the biggest Gantos fan. He is an excellent writer, but his Joey Pigza books are so frantic, they are difficult for me to read. This book went straight to the heart if his writing inspiration and covered his time in prison and the falling apart that led to that. Eye-opening, clear, readable insight into how a criminal life becomes possible, and one young man's escape from it.
amazing_emily_anderson's review against another edition
4.0
REQUIRED TEXT
Jack Gantos wasn't always a straight-laced children's book author, and his personal memoir proves it. Always looking for the next adventure, Gantos writes about how he was reeled into a drug smuggling operation where he sailed on a yacht (complete with a salty captain) and smuggled drugs into New York in exchange for ten thousand dollars, which he hoped would help fund a college education. However, after being caught and arrested, and serving time in prison, Gantos realizes that perhaps his future career as a writer need not rely on recklessness and so-called adventure.
I really liked the honest approach that Gantos takes with this book. Rather than a "scared straight" message, Gantos tells his honest side of the story, how he dabbled with drugs, how he was young and thought he was invincible, and how he made bad decisions because he thought those things would make him a better writer. I think that his dream and career as a writer is the main focus here, and not so much that he went to prison, which I think is an interesting approach. I wonder how effective this book is in the hands of teens and young adults, but regardless, I was very intrigued by Gantos' story and I really enjoyed his writing style.
Jack Gantos wasn't always a straight-laced children's book author, and his personal memoir proves it. Always looking for the next adventure, Gantos writes about how he was reeled into a drug smuggling operation where he sailed on a yacht (complete with a salty captain) and smuggled drugs into New York in exchange for ten thousand dollars, which he hoped would help fund a college education. However, after being caught and arrested, and serving time in prison, Gantos realizes that perhaps his future career as a writer need not rely on recklessness and so-called adventure.
I really liked the honest approach that Gantos takes with this book. Rather than a "scared straight" message, Gantos tells his honest side of the story, how he dabbled with drugs, how he was young and thought he was invincible, and how he made bad decisions because he thought those things would make him a better writer. I think that his dream and career as a writer is the main focus here, and not so much that he went to prison, which I think is an interesting approach. I wonder how effective this book is in the hands of teens and young adults, but regardless, I was very intrigued by Gantos' story and I really enjoyed his writing style.
sparklethenpop's review against another edition
4.0
And now he's a Newberry Award winner, goes to show you never know.
wrentheblurry's review against another edition
4.0
GENRE: Nonfiction: Autobiography.
SUBJECT/THEMES: Drug use, drug smuggling, writing, journaling, prison, rehabilitation.
SUMMARY: Jack Gantos tells about a difficult period in his life. He made a poor decision after graduating to accompany a drug runner on a sailboat from St. Croix to New York City. Gantos was lured by the promise of money, $10,000 after he helped the other two involved men to sell off the thousands of pounds of hash. Gantos hoped he could do this, take his money, and then begin attending college in order to better pursue his dream of becoming a writer. He was caught by the federal authorities, shattering his plans. Gantos gives his personal account of prison life, and the unbelievable things he heard and saw while there.
EVALUATION: I like stories where people have overcome hardships or difficulties in their life to become someone they are proud to be. When the story is true instead of fictional, my satisfaction as a reader is further increased. Gantos told his story well. While I have no interest in drug smuggling or sailing (or going to prison), I enjoyed reading about these activities through the eyes of Gantos. I certainly sympathized for him, and I was pulling for him to succeed. He deserves to be a published writer, and I look forward to checking out some of his children’s books.
WHY I WOULD INCLUDE IT: Jack Gantos is a good role model to those kids that may have made a mistake. They can learn that their life does not have to be over, for Gantos went through all this when he was just out of his teens. In the story, Gantos mentions how some convicted prisoners came to his high school to talk, in an effort to scare the teens into not breaking the law, and how laughable everyone found that visit. This book may help not only kids that have gone a bit off the straight tracks, but also those that are at-risk. It could prevent them from making a poor decision that will affect the rest of their life. Beyond that, Gantos is a fine writer, and the story is an involving, emotional one to read. Not to mention the vast amount of awards it has won.
SUBJECT/THEMES: Drug use, drug smuggling, writing, journaling, prison, rehabilitation.
SUMMARY: Jack Gantos tells about a difficult period in his life. He made a poor decision after graduating to accompany a drug runner on a sailboat from St. Croix to New York City. Gantos was lured by the promise of money, $10,000 after he helped the other two involved men to sell off the thousands of pounds of hash. Gantos hoped he could do this, take his money, and then begin attending college in order to better pursue his dream of becoming a writer. He was caught by the federal authorities, shattering his plans. Gantos gives his personal account of prison life, and the unbelievable things he heard and saw while there.
EVALUATION: I like stories where people have overcome hardships or difficulties in their life to become someone they are proud to be. When the story is true instead of fictional, my satisfaction as a reader is further increased. Gantos told his story well. While I have no interest in drug smuggling or sailing (or going to prison), I enjoyed reading about these activities through the eyes of Gantos. I certainly sympathized for him, and I was pulling for him to succeed. He deserves to be a published writer, and I look forward to checking out some of his children’s books.
WHY I WOULD INCLUDE IT: Jack Gantos is a good role model to those kids that may have made a mistake. They can learn that their life does not have to be over, for Gantos went through all this when he was just out of his teens. In the story, Gantos mentions how some convicted prisoners came to his high school to talk, in an effort to scare the teens into not breaking the law, and how laughable everyone found that visit. This book may help not only kids that have gone a bit off the straight tracks, but also those that are at-risk. It could prevent them from making a poor decision that will affect the rest of their life. Beyond that, Gantos is a fine writer, and the story is an involving, emotional one to read. Not to mention the vast amount of awards it has won.
allysonbogie's review against another edition
4.0
Gantos got it right. I struggled with this rating because I couldn't put the book down once I got about halfway, but the beginning was just a little bit slow. It's the kind of book where I can tell my students "stick with it, it gets really interesting" but they'll have to take my word for it. Great book overall!