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A review by wrentheblurry
Hole in My Life by Jack Gantos
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.