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Jack Gantos

ジャック・ガントス

Jakku Gantosu

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1951-07-02 （Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, U.S.）
Nationality
American
Languages
English
Residence History
South Florida → The Caribbean (including St. Croix) → St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands → New York City, U.S. → Boston (period at Emerson College)

Career

Occupations
Writer, Professor
Active Years
1976-
Affiliations
Emerson College (faculty), Brown University (visiting professor), University of New Mexico (visiting professor), Vermont College of Fine Arts (visiting faculty)
Nominations
2012 Guardian Children's Fiction Prize longlist (Dead End in Norvelt)

Education

Emerson College
Country: United States
Attended Emerson College (details not specified). Later taught at Emerson and helped develop master's programs in children's book writing.

Awards

Newbery Medal
2012
Work: Dead End in Norvelt
Organization: American Library Association (ALA)
Result: winner
Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction
2012
Work: Dead End in Norvelt
Category: Historical Fiction
Organization: Scott O'Dell Award committee
Result: winner
Newbery Honor
2001
Work: Joey Pigza Loses Control
Organization: American Library Association (ALA)
Result: honor
Printz Honor
2003
Work: Hole in My Life
Organization: YALSA / American Library Association
Result: honor
Sibert Honor
2003
Work: Hole in My Life
Organization: American Library Association (ALA)
Result: honor
National Book Award (finalist)
1998
Work: Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key
Organization: National Book Foundation
Result: finalist
Children's Book Showcase Award
1977
Work: Rotten Ralph
Result: winner
Emerson Alumni Award
1979
Organization: Emerson College
Result: recipient
Anne V. Zarrow Award for Young Readers' Literature
2014
Category: Career award
Organization: Tulsa City-County Library (award)
Result: recipient

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Dead End in Norvelt

2011 Children's literature / historical fiction / humor

Set in the small town of Norvelt, the novel mixes autobiographical incidents and local history in a humorous narrative about adolescence, community, and unexpected events.

Coming of ageLocal historyHumor

Hole in My Life

2002 Memoir / young adult nonfiction

A memoir recounting the author's early life, involvement in crime, incarceration and eventual return to writing; acclaimed as young-adult nonfiction.

RedemptionCrime and atonementThe path to writing

Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key

1998 Children's / young adult fiction

First in the Joey Pigza series about a boy with ADHD, portraying his energetic and chaotic daily life.

ADHDFamilySelf-control

Rotten Ralph

1976 Picture book

The first picture book featuring Rotten Ralph, a very naughty cat; illustrated by Nicole Rubel and followed by many sequels.

HumorChildren's everyday life

Bibliography

  • Rotten Ralph (1976)
  • Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key (1998)
  • Joey Pigza Loses Control (2000)
  • Hole in My Life (2002)
  • Dead End in Norvelt (2011)
  • From Norvelt to Nowhere (2013)
  • The Trouble in Me (2015)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Humorous narrative voiceAutobiographical realismClear prose suited for children and young adults
Recurring Motifs
Troubled/mischievous protagonistsFamily and community settingsGrowth and redemption

Legacy

Recognized for combining humor with serious themes in children's literature. Winner of the Newbery Medal for Dead End in Norvelt and widely respected for sustained contributions to children's books.

Academic Societies

  • American Library Association (ALA)

Trivia

  • Was involved in the drug trade in his youth and served time; later turned to writing.
  • Collaborated with illustrator Nicole Rubel on the Rotten Ralph series (around 20 titles).
  • Won the 2012 Newbery Medal for Dead End in Norvelt.
  • Has published picture books, novels, and memoirs for children and young adults.