Books to Read & More!: DEAD END IN NORVELT

Bibliography:

Gantos, Jack. 2011. DEAD END IN NORVELT. New York, NY: Farrar Straus and Giroux. ISBN 142996250X

Plot Summary:

Jack Gantos is ready for vacation, but when he shoots his father’s Japanese sniper rifle and mows down his mother’s cornfield, he is “grounded for life.” Gantos is a 13-year-old who gets bad nose bleeds every time he gets excitement in his life. For his punishment, Gantos is made to do chores and help neighbors. He helps his elderly neighbor, Miss Volker, a retired medical, type obituaries about people who founded his town. Much to his surprise, he learns about the history of Norvelt as all the original Norvelters die.

Critical Analysis:

This story is very believable and realistic, the author, Jack Gantos, is the main character who lives in Norvelt, the town he grew up in. He doesn’t always do the right thing, but always means to. Jack in the story gets a lot of nose bleeds and this happens in real life as well. Gantos writes the story as he is growing up, includes his parents, childhood friend, neighbors and people in his town, and makes the reader believe it is a memoir. It’s the year 1962 and he remembers his mom wanting nothing but peace and to help the neighbors, and she uses that for Jacks punishments. He is made to help Miss Volker write obituaries, which in fact turn out to be a great adventure.

Jack’s father having been in the Navy, only wants money and success. He makes Jack cut down his mother’s corn crops and dig an underground bomb shelter.

Jack learns the history of his town from Miss Volker, who absolutely adores Eleanor Roosevelt, and learns that every famous story in history is linked to the deaths of half a dozen old ladies in town. She tells Jack that “every living soul is a book of their own history which sits on the ever-growing shelf in the library of human memories.”

The author makes the reader laugh out loud with humorous situations, great for young male readers, especially with “passing gas,” gushing nose bleeds, shooting rifle, or continuous deaths.

The theme is that the history in Norvelt teaches Jack a lot about the present and its values. He learns to appreciate history, attains empathy for others, and learning from past mistakes.

Review Excerpts:

· 2012 Newbery Medal Winner
· 2012 Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction
· An ALA Notable Children’s Book
· An ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults Book
· Gantos, as always, delivers bushels of food for thought and plenty of outright guffaws. — The Book List
· There’s more than laugh-out-loud gothic comedy here. This is a richly layered semi-autobiographical tale, an ode to a time and place, to history and the power of reading. — The Horn Book

Connections:

This book is for readers 4^th grade and up. It prompts discussion about family, Eleanor Roosevelt, Norvelt, PA, Boys (Conduct of life), Obedience, and Old Age.

Here’s a link to the teacher’s guide found in Jack Gantos website it has everything from pre-reading activities to curriculum connections: http://www.jackgantos.com/static/pdf/Dead-End-in-Norvelt.pdf

Look at other book series by Jack Gantos:

The Joey Pigza Series