Bibliographic Data
Dead End In Norvelt
By Jack Gantos Read by Jack Gantos
MacMillan Audio ©2011
ISBN: 9781427213563
Brief Plot Summary
Jack
Gantos is a young boy growing up in Norvelt, Pennsylvania during the 60’s. This
story follows his summer of being grounded for firing his father’s Japanese
rifle. He’s only escape is when he goes to Ms. Volker’s house to help her with
an unusual chore, writing obituaries. It is a fictional autobiography of sorts.
Critical Analysis
The
protagonist, Jack, relates to readers of today. He is grounded and must finish
chore after chore. His best friend Bunny guilt trips him for not spending time
with her. He speaks like children do today, starting sentences with, “hey” and
exclaiming, “whaaaat?” Jack Gantos reads for the audio book version of this
story. It is likely that he mimics cadence and does impressions close to the
real thing. The era of this story comes through. Readers find Jack waiting next
to the telephone for Ms. Volker call. Also he drives a car at 13 while taking
paid jobs, which is clearly illegal these days.
Set in a
small dying town of Norvelt during the sixties, the reader is explicitly told
histories of the city through Ms. Volker’s obituaries and rants. She speaks
freely about her political views. Readers find that Jack’s mother has a similar
disposition in that she thinks there should be help for the less fortunate.
Films Jack watches and history books he recounts depict world relations of the
time, particularly post WWII relations with the Japanese.
The
people of Norvelt were a metaphor for the city of Norvelt. The elderly were
near death. The old women as a collection were almost gone. People left just as
the homes were being sent away. Dead End
in Norvelt is a story about the death of a town.
The plot
of this story is not sugar coated. Gantos speaks of death honestly and
frequently. He describes dead bodies, drunk people behaving badly, fear of the
Hell’s Angels, and his alarming nose bleeds.
Gantos portrayed
strong values in this book. Readers found a deep political divide of what life
should be. He shows us how history is important making his audience want to
protect people and history. How many times did he say that history repeats
itself? He also demonstrates a respect for elders in his protagonist. Jack
dropped anything, even being with his best friend, to help Ms. Volker. He
looked out for her and respected her.
One of
the most important aspects of historical fiction is its authenticity. In the
interview at the end of the audiobook Jack Gantos says that all the facts about
Norvelt are true as well as the information on Eleanor Roosevelt, whom the town
was named after. This story is fixated on history. The reader senses Gantos’
sincere passion for it.
Review Excerpt(s)
“Looking
for a great audiobook for boys? This is it.” - Jenn Dowell (Audiofile, September 2011)
“Jack
makes a tremendously entertaining tour guide and foil for the town's eccentric
citizens, and his warmhearted but lightly antagonistic relationship with his
folks makes for some memorable one-upmanship.” - Ian Chipman (Booklist, Aug. 1, 2011 (Vol. 107, No.
22))
Awards
Guardian Children's Fiction Prize, 2012
Longlist United Kingdom
John Newbery Medal, 2012 Winner United
States
School Library Journal's Battle of the
Kids' Books, 2012 Nominee United States
Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction, 2012 Winner United States
Connections
Jack Gantos’ Official Website:
Farrar, Straus and Giroux lesson plans:
Along
with discussion of this book read picture books about Eleanor Roosevelt, such
as:
A Picture Book of Eleanor Roosevelt by David Adler
Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride by Pan Munoz Ryan
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