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MAY 22, 2012
Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos
If you have read any or all of the Joey Pigza books, you already know of author Jack Gantos's humorous way of relating a story.  This Newbery Award winner will not disappoint.  It's summer 1962, and about-to-be twelve year old Jack is looking forward to a long, lazy vacation.  His plans come to naught however, when he mistakenly ruins his mother's garden and infuriates his dad by fooling with his World War ll souvenir Japanese rifle.  He is grounded bigtime in a rare cooperative action by his parents.  Luckily (for Jack) his elderly neighbor, Miss Volker, needs his help typing obituaries for her part-time job for the town newspaper.  In the course of the summer we also meet Mr. Spizz, who is courting Miss V. while dashing about town on a giant tricycle; a band of Hell's Angels seemingly seeking revenge for the death of one of their motorcyclist friends; and the funeral director's daughter, Mertie Jo, who teaches Jack more than he wants to know about the embalming trade.  Woven throughout are Miss Volker's recollections of early Norvelt history as well as synopses of the biographies that Jack is reading and incorporating into a gradually maturing world view.  This is a fascinating, humorous tale which will interest fifth through eighth grade readers.

Add a comment  (1 comment) posted by Mrs. Bedel

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Comments

Mrs. Sommer said, on Jun. 12 at 9:39AM
I loved the details woven throughout the story - the way Miss Volker dips her hands in melted wax to loosen them up enough to use for fifteen minutes, the way Jack's nose bleeds whenever he is stressed, and especially the Norvelt history that gives insight to this town started by Eleanor Roosevelt (from which the "nor" and "velt" are taken to give its name). It is technically historical fiction, but might also appeal to those who enjoy biographies.

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