I am not Joey Pigza

I am not Joey Pigza / Jack Gantos.— New York : Random House; Listening Library, 2007.

4 sound discs (4 hrs., 47 min.) : digital ; 4 3/4 in.

ISBN: 9780739356289

Read by the author.

Sequel to: What would Joey Do?

1. Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder – Fiction. 2. Diners (Restaurants) -- Fiction. 3. Fathers – Fiction. 4. Forgiveness – Fiction. 5. Identity (Philosophical concept) – Fiction. 6. Pigza, Joey (Fictitious character) – Fiction.

813.54

Joey’s good-for-nothing father shows up unexpectedly one day, and says that he’s a new man, and even more surprising Joey’s mother welcomes him back. And they’re planning a “re-marriage.” Not only has dad quit drinking, he’s also won the lottery, and to signify his new life he’s changed his name from Carter Pigza to Charles Heinz. He thinks that Joey and his mom should change their names too. He’s bought an old dinner that he plans to paint black and yellow and open as the Beehive Dinner, maybe he’ll put big wings on it. Joey is going to be home schooled to learn the restaurant business. Joey’s not so sure about all this. He doesn’t want to leave his school. It’s the first time that he’s enjoyed being at school, and he’s not ready to forgive his dad for having abandoned him as a young child just because he shows up sober in a new suit with a wad of cash.

This is the fourth in his series about the hyperactive Joey and his loving but dysfunctional family and Gantos reads it with feeling and vigor. He can capture character in dialog and authentically portrays the story’s Pennsylvania setting.