1. Jack Gantos
by Joseph Bianco

2. Jack Gantos- The Background
• Was born in Mount Pleasant,
Pennsylvania
• Moved all around during his life
• Attended 10 different schools
in 12 years of education
• Spent 18months in prison

3. Jack Gantos- How he got started
writing. . .
• Jack started writing after he read
his sisters journal. He thought she
was so smart and thought the journal
would be so interesting, but he was
disappointed. So he got his own
journal and a book he recently read
inspired him to write about the
information he got from being a spy
around his community and school.

4. Jack Gantos- Some important
things kids should know
• Jack attended 10 schools and his
family was life long renters. This
made him some what of an expert
when it comes to making new
friends. His books included some
of his personal experiences and
experiences from interacting with
others (ADHD kids)

5. Jack Gantos- Some important
things kids should know
• Jack spent 18 months in prison
which changed his perspective
on life. Including reminding him
that teenagers really struggle
with right and wrong and that
society needs to do a better job
of giving them guidance instead
of punishing them so quickly.

6. Jack Gantos- Quotes
“Someone once said anyone can be great under
rosy circumstances, but the true test of character
is measured by how well a person makes
decisions during difficult times.”
― Jack Gantos, Hole in My Life.
“I want you to take a sleeve of Thin Mints and line
them up on the edge of the kitchen counter and
when I'm hungry I can just bend over and sweep
a cookie into my mouth like I'm scoring a goal in
hockey.”
― Jack Gantos, Dead End in Norvelt

7. Jack Gantos- Quotes
“You gotta face the hand you're dealt with and deal
with it, and make your problems be the smallest
part of who you are.”
― Jack Gantos, Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key
“Do you think I'm weird because I'm wired, or wired
because I'm wierd?”
― Jack Gantos, What Would Joey Do?
“...we have to save the history we have. You never
know what small bit of it might change your life--
or change the whole world.”
― Jack Gantos, Dead End in Norvelt

8. Gantos, J. (2011). Dead end in Norvelt. New
York, New York: Farrar Straus Giroux.

9. Gantos, J. (2002). Hole in my
life. New York: Farrar, Straus and
Giroux.

10. Gantos, J. (1998). Joey Pigza swallowed the key. New
York, New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

11. Gantos, J. (2000). Joey Pigza loses control. New
York, New York: Farrar, Straus and Girouz.

12. Gantos, J. (2011). What would Joey Pigza do?
New York, New York: Square Fish.

13. Citations
Gantos, J. (2003). Jack Gantos: Picture This. In S. Peacock (Ed.), Children's Literature
Review (Vol. 85). Detroit: Gale. (Reprinted from 1998, April 1)
Retrieved from
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CH1420048236&v=2.1&u=bcps&it=r&p=LitRC&sw=w
Gantos, J., & Odanaka, B. J. (2003). Hole in My Life: An Interview with Award-Winning
Author Jack Gantos. In S. Peacock (Ed.), Children's Literature Review (Vol. 85).
Detroit: Gale. (Reprinted from 2001, February 6)
Retrieved
from:http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CH1420048237&v=2.1&u=bcps
&it=r&p=LitRC&sw=w

14. References
Gantos, J. (1998). Joey Pigza swallowed the key.
New York, New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
Gantos, J. (2000). Joey Pigza loses control. New
York, New York: Farrar, Straus and Girouz.
Gantos, J. (2002). Hole in my life. New York: Farrar,
Straus and Giroux.
Gantos, J. (2011). Dead end in Norvelt. New York,
New York: Farrar Straus Giroux.
Gantos, J. (2011). What would Joey Pigza do? New
York, New York: Square Fish.