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Kara Brady
I was surprised to see ADHD from such a different perspective in this book, and happily so. As a previous teacher, I felt immensely under-prepared for working with children with attention disorders. I think even reading this book then would have helped, to see the struggles from the child's eyes and mind. As someone stated in a previous comment, it's easy for teachers to lose sight of the individual when they're trying to manage a whole class. It's interesting how strongly I feel that this children's book could be so helpful for adults. I was also surprised how well this book dealt with really heavy issues such as parents leaving their children and home lives that fall outside of the social norm. This is where I thought like a child and I think I would feel comforted knowing that not all homes are perfect. This is a great book that touches on a lot of meaningful topics!Posted : Mar 12, 2015 07:01
Kasey Michel
Oh goodness, as someone passionate about inclusive education and with a background in special recreation, this book really resonated with me! I think it is so important to represent diversity of characters both in their abilities, their family structure, and their daily lives. I think Joey Pigza did a nice job of depicting some tough scenarios that are all too real for some kids without over normalizing. And having these depicted by an admittedly confused, yet really rather ingenious narrator, would allow for ample opportunities for reflection and discussion that I think could aid in elementary school students' understanding of themselves and their peers.Posted : Mar 11, 2015 09:18
Hannah Hanssens-Reed
I was glad to read the positive comments of my classmates, and want to echo my love for this book. Coming from a family with two parents that work in schools for students with behavioral and emotional disabilities, "Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key" felt like a touching, real, and honest story of a kid, told beautifully through his unique perspective. This book is one that I would recommend not only to children, but also to teachers, especially because it is an individual narrative that is sometimes lost in teachers frustrated with students that can't sit still. But looking at this book through my childhood eyes, I would have felt a real connection to the struggles of Joey and sympathetic to the dynamic of adult-relationships surrounding him. And in the interview with Jack Gantos, it is evident that kids either attach to Joey through their personal ADD/ADHD diagnoses or become more aware of misunderstood classmates.Posted : Mar 11, 2015 08:22
Stacey Kahn
Joey Pigza totally surprised me - I didn't know much about the series until this assignment, and I thought with a goofy kind of name like Joey Pigza, that I was in for a barrel of laughs. But I found that I didn’t laugh that much at all—in fact, there were several moments where I teared up. It was really effective to give us indirect clues about Joey’s life through his childlike perception—his innocence and naivety made some of the things we learned more heartbreaking (how his grandmother treated him while his mom was away, for example, or his mother’s drinking problem). I think this book presents a wonderful opportunity for kids to start grappling with these bigger life issues they will (or possibly already are) inevitably face.Posted : Mar 11, 2015 02:41
Geri Low
I have never heard of Joey Pigza books before, and I didn't read the blurb so it was an interesting experience discovering that he had ADHD. What I liked about this book is that it manages to capture two opposing points of view very well - the way the school administrators view Joey and Joey's perspective on things. At many times, I felt sorry that he was so wronged! It made me think about how children would feel reading it, and if this would help them to empathize better with children who are similar to Joey. It is amazing how the book is written in a simple manner, but it somehow manages to convey difficult themes with such depth!Posted : Mar 10, 2015 11:38