Reviewed by Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com
In I AM NOT JOEY PIGZA, author Jack Gantos has reunited the family for more fantastic Pigza adventures.
In case you haven't met Joey and his family, they suffer from the affliction commonly known as ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder). He suffers from it, his father has it, and his grandmother had it, too. The beginning of this new book shows Joey and his mother are adjusting to life after the death of Grandma Pigza. They are doing pretty well. Joey is handling the pressures of school, and mom is working at a local nail salon. The two family Chihuahuas are as crazy as ever.
Soon Fran Pigza announces to Joey that she has been secretly seeing his dad, Carter Pigza, for several months. His dad has recently had a lucky lottery win and "found" his new, true self - Mr. Charles Heinz. He wants to reconnect with the family and even has new identities for them. Fran is to be Maria Heinz, and Joey will be the new Freddy Heinz.
Along with what Joey calls the rewedding of his parents, there is a fair amount of cash flowing. Before he knows it, Joey and his parents and the two dogs are moving. They are the proud owners of a roadside diner. The plan is to open the diner, keep playing the lottery, and win big so they can have the life his father says Charles Heinz and family deserves.
Even with a new name, the Pigza "luck" and craziness take control. First there's a free Thanksgiving meal at the diner for everyone who needs it, then there's a wild Christmas with ATV's and paintball guns which leads to the new plan - building a Paintball Gun Shooting Gallery. All these plans are accompanied by furious spending sprees, preparations for a new baby, and dodging the school authorities who think Joey should be attending class.
Middle grade readers who know Joey will be happy to see his return. For new readers, be sure to check out the previous titles in the series, which includes JOEY PIGZA SWALLOWED THE KEY, JOEY PIGZA LOSES CONTROL, and WHAT WOULD JOEY DO?
In I AM NOT JOEY PIGZA, author Jack Gantos has reunited the family for more fantastic Pigza adventures.
In case you haven't met Joey and his family, they suffer from the affliction commonly known as ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder). He suffers from it, his father has it, and his grandmother had it, too. The beginning of this new book shows Joey and his mother are adjusting to life after the death of Grandma Pigza. They are doing pretty well. Joey is handling the pressures of school, and mom is working at a local nail salon. The two family Chihuahuas are as crazy as ever.
Soon Fran Pigza announces to Joey that she has been secretly seeing his dad, Carter Pigza, for several months. His dad has recently had a lucky lottery win and "found" his new, true self - Mr. Charles Heinz. He wants to reconnect with the family and even has new identities for them. Fran is to be Maria Heinz, and Joey will be the new Freddy Heinz.
Along with what Joey calls the rewedding of his parents, there is a fair amount of cash flowing. Before he knows it, Joey and his parents and the two dogs are moving. They are the proud owners of a roadside diner. The plan is to open the diner, keep playing the lottery, and win big so they can have the life his father says Charles Heinz and family deserves.
Even with a new name, the Pigza "luck" and craziness take control. First there's a free Thanksgiving meal at the diner for everyone who needs it, then there's a wild Christmas with ATV's and paintball guns which leads to the new plan - building a Paintball Gun Shooting Gallery. All these plans are accompanied by furious spending sprees, preparations for a new baby, and dodging the school authorities who think Joey should be attending class.
Middle grade readers who know Joey will be happy to see his return. For new readers, be sure to check out the previous titles in the series, which includes JOEY PIGZA SWALLOWED THE KEY, JOEY PIGZA LOSES CONTROL, and WHAT WOULD JOEY DO?
