Tween Book Club: Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key

Children ages 9-12 are welcome to join our Tween Book Club. In September we will be reading Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key by Jack Gantos. Registration is required as space is limited. Register online and reserve a copy of the book to borrow. Pick up either via curbside or in lobby pick-up. Book Club will meet via Zoom. Participants are welcome to bring suggestions for future books or genres to read together!

"They say I'm wired bad, or wired sad, but there's no doubt about it -- I'm wired." Joey Pigza's got heart, he's got a mom who loves him, and he's got "dud meds," which is what he calls the Ritalin pills that are supposed to even out his wild mood swings. Sometimes Joey makes bad choices. He learns the hard way that he shouldn't stick his finger in the pencil sharpener, or swallow his house key, or run with scissors. Joey ends up bouncing around a lot - and eventually he bounces himself all the way downtown, into the district special-ed program, which could be the end of the line. As Joey knows, if he keeps making bad choices, he could just fall between the cracks for good. But he is determined not to let that happen. In this antic yet poignant new novel, Jack Gantos has perfect pitch in capturing the humor, the off-the-wall intensity, and the serious challenges that life presents to a kid dealing with hyper-activity and related disorders. - from the publisher