Jack Gantos is een Amerikaanse auteur wiens werken, vaak gericht op kinderen, worden gekenmerkt door een scherp inzicht in thema's als adolescentie, identiteit en het omgaan met uitdagingen. Zijn schrijven wordt geprezen om zijn eerlijkheid, humor en het vermogen om complexe emoties te verweven in toegankelijke verhalen. Gantos duikt in het innerlijke leven van zijn personages, met name diegenen die worstelen met moeilijkheden, en biedt lezers een diep resonerende verkenning van de menselijke ervaring. Zijn kenmerkende stijl ligt in het creëren van gedenkwaardige personages en verhaallijnen die zowel jonge lezers als volwassenen aanspreken.
A varied and thought-provoking collection of short stories and poems for teens with a conscience, with striking cover illustrations by award-winning children's laureate Chris Riddell
In the historic town of Norvelt, Pennsylvania, twelve-year-old Jack Gantos spends the summer of 1962 grounded for various offenses until he is assigned to help an elderly neighbor with a most unusual chore involving the newly dead, molten wax, twisted promises, Girl Scout cookies, underage driving, lessons from history, typewriting, and countless bloody noses
Jack Henry navigates the challenges of moving to a new town, where he encounters familiar chaos amidst the unfamiliar surroundings. The story, crafted by a Newbery Medal-winning author, blends humor and adventure as Jack adapts to his new life while dealing with quirky characters and unexpected situations. Themes of friendship and resilience shine through as he learns that new beginnings can bring both excitement and challenges.
Joey Pigza can't sit still. He can't pay attention, he can't follow the rules, and he can't help it -- especially when his meds aren't working. Joey's had problems ever since he was born, problems just like his dad and grandma have. And whether he's wreaking havoc on a class trip or swallowing his house key, Joey's problems are getting worse. In fact, his behavior is so off the wall that his teachers are threatening to send him to the special-ed center downtown. Joey knows he's really a good kid, but no matter how hard he tries to do the right thing, something always seems to go wrong. Will he ever get anything right?
"He was wired. No dought about it...Now I knowwhat Mom meant when she said he was like me, only bigger." Joey Pigza really wants his six-week visit with his dad to count, to show him he's not as wired as he used to be, to show his dad how much he loves him. But Carter Pigza's not an easy guy to love. He's eager to make it up to Joey for past wrongs and to show him how to be a winner, to take control of his life. With his coaching, Joey's even learned how to pitch a baseball, and he's good at it. The trouble is, Joey's dad thinks taking control means giving up the things that "keep Joey safe. And if he wants to please his dad, he's going to have to play by his rules, even when the rules don't make sense.
Spisovatelovým úkolem je proměňovat své nejhorší zážitky na peníze. Tak zní nové motto Jacka Henryho, a je-li na něm něco pravdy, bude Jack neuvěřitelně zazobaný ještě před tím, než dokončí školní docházku. Jeho život je totiž nabit těmi nejhoršími zážitky, jaké si jen dokážete představit. V průběhu šesti měsíců, které zachycuje tato kniha, je Jack napaden uprchlým vězněm v plavkách, potupen nádhernou akvabelou, zpacká test inteligence, nechá si potetovat palec u nohy, málem propadne z dílen a svého mrtvého psa musí vykopat ne jednou, ale dokonce dvakrát. A to není zdaleka všechno. Stále však platí slova recenze první knihy Jacka Henryho převzaté z časopisu School Library Journal: "Jack je 'ten, kdo přežil', obyčejný kluk, který sice žije v šíleném světě, ale jeho srdce a hlava jsou v naprostém pořádku." Jack se sice na konci knihy netopí v penězích, ale zato poznává, že v životě se nejedná jen o peníze, a že všechno zlé je k něčemu dobré. Spisovatel se při popisování tragikomických příhod Jacka Henryho inspiroval svými vlastními zážitky z mládí, které prožil na Floridě a na karibském ostrově Barbados. Nyní žije se svou ženou a dcerou v Albuquerque v Novém Mexiku. (Oficiální anotace)
Příběhy šesťáka Jacka začínají toho dne, kdy si na mamince ,,vyvztekal" stejný deník, jaký dostala jeho starší sestra Betsy.
