Dead End in Norvelt is the winner of the 2012 Newbery Medal for the year's best contribution to children's literature and the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction! Melding the entirely true and the wildly fictional, Dead End in Norvelt is a novel about an incredible two months for a kid named Jack Gantos, whose plans for vacation excitement are shot down when he is "grounded for life" by his feuding parents, and whose nose spews bad blood at every little shock he gets. But plenty of excitement (and shocks) are coming Jack's way once his mom loans him out to help a fiesty old neighbor with a most unusual chore—typewriting obituaries filled with stories about the people who founded his utopian town. As one obituary leads to another, Jack is launched on a strange adventure involving molten wax, Eleanor Roosevelt, twisted promises, a homemade airplane, Girl Scout cookies, a man on a trike, a dancing plague, voices from the past, Hells Angels . . . and possibly murder. Endlessly surprising, this sly, sharp-edged narrative is the author at his very best, making readers laugh out loud at the most unexpected things in a dead-funny depiction of growing up in a slightly off-kilter place where the past is present, the present is confusing, and the future is completely up in the air.
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"I won this book on goodreads.This book is for young adults. It was funny and different and interesting. I really liked the boy and his family and friends in the book.The lady that he works for is charming. This is a good book for anyone. Read this book if you want to laugh. "
— Lana (4 out of 5 stars)
“This is a brilliant book, full of history, mystery, and laughs. It reminded me of my small-town childhood, although my small town was never as delightfully weird as Norvelt.”
— Dave Barry, New York Times bestselling author“Wonderfully wacky…The darkly comic mystery and oddball characters make for some good laughs, but the riffs on history raise the consciousness as well.”
— Washington Post“A bit of autobiography works its way into all of Gantos’s work, but he one-ups himself in this wildly entertaining meld of truth and fiction by naming the main character…Jackie Gantos…Memorable in every way.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review)“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.”
— Horn Book (starred review)“Characteristically provocative gothic comedy, with sublime undertones.”
— Kirkus Reviews (starred review)“Gantos, as always, delivers bushels of food for thought and plenty of outright guffaws.”
— BooklistThe Newbury Medal-winning book has all the ingredients for a great audiobook – a strong narrative voice, a blend of humor and pathos, and a performer who has unique authority: it all happened to him, with some subtle fictionalizations.
— Book LinksNobody can tell a story like Jack Gantos can. And this is a story like no other. It's funny. It's thoughtful. It's history. It's weird. But you don't need me to attempt to describe it. Get in there and start reading Gantos.
— Jon Scieszka, founder of guysread.com and author of the Spaceheadz seriesAn exhilarating summer marked by death, gore and fire sparks deep thoughts in a small-town lad not uncoincidentally named ‘Jack Gantos.' The gore is all Jack's, which to his continuing embarrassment ‘would spray out of my nose holes like dragon flames' whenever anything exciting or upsetting happens. And that would be on every other page, seemingly . . . Characteristically provocative gothic comedy, with sublime undertones.
— Kirkus Reviews, starred reviewGantos, as always, delivers bushels of food for thought and plenty of outright guffaws.
— BooklistThere'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, starred reviewThis winning novel, both humorous and heartwarming, takes place during the summer of 1962, when narrator Jack Gantos turns 12 and spends most of his days grounded. Jack's main ‘get out of jail free card,' and one of the novel's most charming characters, is Miss Volker. The blossoming of their friendship coincides with the blooming of Jack's character.
— Shelf Awareness ProA more quietly (but still absurdly) funny and insightful account of a kid's growth, kin to Gantos's Jack stories, that will stealthily hook even resistant readers into the lure of history.
— Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (BCCB)A fast-paced and witty read.
— School Library JournalA bit of autobiography works its way into all of Gantos's work, but he one-ups himself in this wildly entertaining meld of truth and fiction by naming the main character . . . Jackie Gantos.
— Publishers Weekly, starred reviewThis is a brilliant book, full of history, mystery, and laughs. It reminded me of my small-town childhood, although my small town was never as delightfully weird as Norvelt.
— Dave BarryDead End in Norvelt, this year's Newberry winner for best young adult fiction, is even more hilarious in audio form as read by author Jack Gantos. My family howled out loud as we listened to it during a spring break drive to California.
— The Bellingham HeraldIt is hard to imagine anyone other than Jack Gantos reading Dead End in Norvelt. Like most of his books, this is slightly autobiographical (Gantos was born in Norvelt but did not grow up there). Listeners really hear the intended inflections and accents as well as the energy and emotion found in the story.
— Library Media ConnectionLooking for a great audiobook for boys? This is it. Further blurring the line between fact and fiction in this autobiographical novel, author Jack Gantos narrates himself, sharing the 1962 summer adventures of his eponymous hero as he navigates adolescence and a dying town caught between two eras…The story is a little odd and a lot funny. Gantos's delivery is dry and wry, and even when characters don't get distinctive voices, the action and emotion are utterly clear. A gem.
— AudioFile MagazineListening to [Jack Gantos] – both his voice and the crazy tales he tells – reminds me a bit of David Sedaris. Fans of his work will likely enjoy this as well. The attitude is the same, too. He doesn't judge, he just tells it as he sees it. The dialogue and the first person reflections make audio an ideal way to experience it.
— 5 Minutes for BooksGantos narrates this laugh-out-loud semi-autobiographical tale, providing a pitch-perfect rendition of Jack's sarcasm, exaggeration, and whining.
— School Library JournalThe audiobook was just for fun, since Jack narrated it himself and I'd listen to him read a grocery list, his delivery is that funny.
— Horn Book Magazine“Gantos captures the voice of a middle-school boy in a relatable way, with plenty of self-consciousness and humor, and he infuses the storyline with a sense of mystery, danger, and adventure…This is an engaging story that makes for compelling listening.
— Parents Choice Gold Award" OK. Didn't deserve a Newbery though. "
— Shereen, 2/17/2014" Listen to this in audio. Read by the author. Characters vivid. Jack sounds older than his years at times, but this town definitely comes to life. "
— Karen, 2/4/2014" This book was hard to get into. Probably half way through the book did it actually pick up, and then it still wasn't a page turner for me. "
— Kira, 2/3/2014" I liked the story. I enjoyed the history of the town even more. The incessant nosebleeds got a bit old. I thought the book was a good read. I enjoyed the interview on NPR's Wait, Wait ... Don't Tell Me even more. He describes how he ended up doing 18 months in a federal prison for smuggling hash and distributing it in New York. Now there's a career trajectory for you! "
— Steve, 2/2/2014" Having heard author Gantos interviewed on NPR, this was not the book I was expecting. About halfway through it, I was thankful for that. What seemed to be a character study turned into a light murder mystery, both engaging and fun. A worthwhile read. "
— Kelly, 1/27/2014" I was put off somewhat by the humor. I didn't think an accidental shooting of a loaded rifle was funny even if nobody got hurt. I also got tired of the constant nose bleeds and the obits were not that interesting to me. I did like the writing stlye. Quite a crazy book. "
— Lorna, 1/16/2014" Quirky, off-beat fun. The kind of book young boys would love. I really enjoyed this one! "
— Megan, 11/27/2013" As a Newberry Award winner, I expected more from this book. I feel that Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt was a far better choice for this year's award, and would recommend it many times before Dead End in Norvelt<?>. I was disappointed. "
— Michelle, 11/25/2013" Funny book set in the 1950s. "
— Laura, 10/27/2013" i did not like this book because its way to slow for me and its was almost all about people dieing and what thay did wail thay where alive. "
— Wayne, 11/3/2012" What a hoot! Poor Jack, that kid can't catch a break. Loved the characters. Loved the humor. Loved the book. "
— Christie, 9/28/2012" could not get into this book and had decided not to finish it. I then heard the author speak at a conference and decided to give it another go. Glad I did but could not stand his parents in this book. They pretty much ruined this book for me. "
— Jewell, 9/11/2012" This the first book I've read by Jack Gantos and certainly not the last. Gantos is an excellent writer. He's funny while teaching the reader valuable lessons. I can't wait to dig into some of his other books soon. I'd recommend this book for students in Grade 8 and up. "
— Kristine, 7/7/2012" I want to read this book "
— Kindle, 6/30/2012" Really enjoyed this one :) A little weird, a little quirky, some blood, a few bodies, but a lovely discussion on history, one I truly identified with and would espouse. "
— Shanti, 6/2/2012" This has been billed as a boy's book, and I guess I'm too much of a girl. I can see that the book is skillful and well written, but there wasn't a single character who appealed to me and I wasn't attracted to many of the gothic details. "
— Susan, 4/2/2012" I laughed several times and enjoyed the bit of mystery in this book. I think it would appeal primarily to 11-13 year old boys, but any age and gender can appreciate the unusual descriptions and story line. "
— Meepspeeps, 12/20/2011" I really enjoyed this audiobook, and it had me laughing throughout. What a combination of characters and events, and the historical tie-ins (the town of Norvelt itself) as well as the "this day in history" bits were great. "
— Michelle, 11/8/2011" This book was so sweet and so funny. I laughed out loud...a big belly laugh...just relating to this young boy...relating to his mom...and to old Mrs. Booker. I wonder how much of this book was based on the authors life.....love! "
— Mama, 11/4/2011" I got impatient with this about halfway through. Occasional moments of clever brilliance, but Newbery-wise, I can't see this standing out in a field that includes Okay For Now. Also, the punk kid with quirky elderly neighbor plot ought to be locked in the vault for the next ten years or so. "
— Wendy, 10/31/2011" My favorite Gantos book so far. Great, quirky characters and humorous scenes. "
— Ms.Gaye, 10/24/2011" Snappy dialogue, a taste of the gothic, and compelling characters. However, I didn't find this one as satisfying as Gantos' Jack Henry books. "
— Catherine, 10/17/2011" SLJ gr 5-8, age 10-14. Sort of funny story, in an unusual kind of way. Oddball characters that I wasn’t sure were good or bad because they often encourage breaking – or bending – of the rules. Tidbits of history are thrown in that will either engage or lose various readers. "
— Laura, 10/13/2011" going off Laura's review -- off, too quirky "
— H.s., 10/12/2011" A funny and thoughtful look at one summer in a boy's life growing up in 1962 Pennsylvania. Jack Gantos at his best. Laugh out loud funny, gross, with plenty of action. "
— Jody, 10/12/2011" I'm not sure about kid appeal (rdg level 9-12 yrs), but there were some really, really funny moments in this story (milk out your nose funny!!). "
— Linda, 9/27/2011Jack Gantos has written books for people of all ages, from picture books and middle-grade fiction to novels for young adults and adults. His works include Hole in My Life, a memoir that won the Michael L. Printz and Robert F. Sibert Honors, Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key, a National Book Award finalist, and Joey Pigza Loses Control, a Newbery Honor book. He developed the master’s degree program in children’s book writing at Emerson College and the Vermont College MFA program for children’s book writers. He now devotes his time to writing books and educational speaking. He lives with his family in Boston.