Gantos, Jack. 2000. JOEY PIGZA LOSES CONTROL. Read by the author. New York: Listening Library/Random House.

ISBN 1400086167.

Unabridged production; four compact discs; playing time 3 hours, 51 minutes; packaged in a clamshell case featuring cover art by Beata Szpura.

Joey Pigza is so excited about seeing his dad for the first time in years and spending the summer with Carter and Grandma Pigza that he just can’t sit still. Trying hard to connect with his dad, Joey is dismayed to find Carter is just as wired as Joey used to be, before he got his meds and learned how to control himself in special ed. Carter’s grandiose express plans to make up for past wrongs, win the baseball championship, and create a future together with Joey do more harm than good. But it is his father’s decision to force Joey to take control of his life by flushing his med patches down the toilet that ultimately results in calamity.

Continuing characters Joey Pigza, his mom Fran, dad Carter, and Grandma Pigza return in this sequel to What Would Joey Do? and Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key. Joey has come a long way toward knowing himself and is surprisingly insightful into the motives of the adults around him. But he is still growing as a person, trying to make good choices and create positive, supportive connections with the people in his life. The plot focuses on the relationship between Joey and his father, as Joey tries to form a bond with the man he desperately wants to admire and learn from. As an adult model, unfortunately Carter falls far short; Joey discovers he must find his own way and give up the “happily ever after” family ideal he has been holding in his heart. The theme of “It is what it is” but one can deal with problem situations and learn from them is gently demonstrated as Joey copes with his family’s dysfunctionality.

Setting the story in an all but unnamed city (one has to dig to discover it’s actually Pittsburgh), the author suggests these events could happen anywhere, to characters one might know. Mr. Gantos writes completely from Joey’s point of view and uses natural dialog, a mainly straightforward time order, and addresses universal aspects of growing up to create a realistic story with a tone that is ultimately hopeful.

Though the book’s protagonist is male, all readers can empathize readily with the complicated family dynamics and feelings of the characters. I feel this novel will appeal to its intended audience, ages 9 and up, due to the story’s humorous dialog, true to life situations, and genuinely likable main character. While cultural markers such as beauty parlors, mall sporting goods stores, video arcades, mass transit buses, golf, and baseball place the story squarely in contemporary mid-America, the current all-pervasive technology of cell phones and wireless Internet is not mentioned, making it difficult to pin down the story’s exact time period.

The listening experience of the audiobook was an enjoyable one, as Jack Gantos turned out to be an excellent reader, giving Joey a voice that was completely believable. I actually preferred listening to the story more than reading it in the print version, as hearing Joey speak his narrative aloud gave him such a vividly real personality he became someone I felt I’d seen recently. The final disc in the set included an afterword encouraging listeners to browse http://www.listeninglibrary.com/ for additional audiobook titles.

Reviews and Awards

Publishers Weekly starred review: “Like its predecessor, Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key, this high-voltage, honest novel mixes humor, pain, fear and courage with deceptive ease."

Booklist starred review: “Gantos has given Joey a remarkably vivid personality, and, blending irrepressible humor with a powerful depiction of a child's longing for normalcy, he has written a dead-on portrayal of a young person assessing the often self-serving behavior of the adults who control his life.”

School Library Journal starred review: “Readers will be drawn in immediately to the boy's gripping first-person narrative and be pulled pell-mell through episodes that are at once hilarious, harrowing, and ultimately heartening as Joey grows to understand himself and the people around him.”

The Five Owls review: “Jack Gantos has created a wonderful character in Joey Pigza, contemporary in malaise and treatment, yet at the same time sympathetic and lovable.”

Audio edition honors:
AUDIOFILE Earphones Award, 2001
ALSC Notable Recording, 2000

Print edition honors:
Newbery Honor Book, 2001
Parents Choice Gold Award, 2000
ALA Notable Children's Books, 2000
Booklist Editors' Choice List, 2000
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books Blue Ribbon
Horn Book Magazine Fanfare List
New York Times Book Review Notable Children's Books of the Year, 2000
Publishers Weekly Best Children's Books of the Year, 2000
School Library Journal Best Books of the Year, 2000

Connections

Extension activities for this book might include writing a booktalk about this book, creating a list of readalikes that also deal with children coping with disabilities, or discussing personal reactions to the characters or situations in the book. One could also provide art materials so children could create a graphic novel panel of their favorite scene, a poster to promote the book, or produce a portrait of one of the story characters. Readers who are interested in learning more could research the author or ADD or even Chihuahuas to share with the group.

Other Joey Pigza books by Jack Gantos:
I Am Not Joey Pigza, 2007
What Would Joey Do?, 2002
Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key, 1998