Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key facts for kids
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| Author | Jack Gantos |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's |
| Publisher | Farrar, Straus and Giroux |
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Publication date
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1998 |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 160 pp |
| ISBN | 978-0374336646 |
| Followed by | Joey Pigza Loses Control |
Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key is a children's novel written by Jack Gantos. It was published in 1998. This book is the first in a series about a character named Joey Pigza. The story was so good that it became a finalist for the National Book Award.
What is Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key About?
This book tells the story of a young boy named Joey Pigza. He often finds himself in difficult situations at school. This is because he sometimes acts in ways that are hard for him to control.
Joey's Challenges at School
Joey has a strange habit: he likes to swallow a key that is tied to a string. He then pulls the key back out. One time, he forgot to tie the string to the key. This meant he couldn't pull it back up.
At school, Joey's behavior causes problems. He once put his finger in a pencil sharpener. Another time, he ran around with scissors. He even accidentally cut the tip of a classmate's nose.
Seeking Help for Joey's Behavior
Joey takes medicine regularly, but it doesn't seem to help much. Because of the accident with his classmate's nose, Joey is suspended from school. He is then sent to a special education center.
Joey worries that "something [is] wrong inside" him. This fear grows until his medicine is changed. After the change, he feels much better. He starts to make better choices.
The book suggests that Joey might be dealing with a condition like ADHD. It could also be an adjustment disorder, depression, or conduct disorder. However, the book never gives an exact medical name for what Joey is experiencing.
