A.R. Book Level: 5.7
A.R. Points: 12.0
Pages: 341
This
book won the Newbery Medal, and I can definitely see why. Morbid, a little twisted, and REALLY funny,
this partly-autobiographical tale (it’s loosely based on the author’s
childhood) tells the story of a young Jack Gantos’ adventures over one
summer. Jack gets grounded for the
entire summer, but he’s allowed out of the house to help his elderly neighbor
with chores and with writing obituaries for original Norvelt town residents,
who seem to be dying off in record numbers.
Dressing like the Grim Reaper to visit an old lady, learning to drive,
digging a fake bomb shelter, and getting dozens of nosebleeds are only a few of
his ridiculous escapades. The only part
of this book I didn’t LOVE was the very end, but it was still very much worth
reading. Readers who liked the gruesome
parts of Adam Gidwitz’s A Tale Dark and Grimm should be
first in line to read this one. FUN
FACT: The setting, Norvelt, PA, isn’t very far from here at all!