Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key

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. This title has Common Core connections.Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key is a 1998 National Book Award Finalist for Young People's Literature.