Reviews

Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos

plaidpladd's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

1.0

 This book was a surprising struggle to get through. At best, I found it boring. I kept having to remind myself it was published in 2011 because it really reads like one of the earlier, more inexplicable Newbery picks. 

crystal_reading's review against another edition

4.0

Hilarious taste of history.

eleiser's review against another edition

I picked this book up at the library because my girls and I needed a new audio book for the car. I didn't know anything about it or the author at the time. As it turns out, this is a great book. Even my 6 year old loved it. She would constantly update my mom on what was happening in the book. It's funny, but at the same time it draws you into the lives of the characters. "Gantos Boy", you wrote a good one!

oldgum101's review against another edition

2.0

2.5

amybarnes0007's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

lyfordkasey's review against another edition

4.0

This book threw me in so many different directions, I would suspect one thing. Then some thing completely out of nowhere would happen. This story has defiantly kept me guessing the entire time I read it.

vanitar's review against another edition

3.0

This is a quirky little book with some memorable characters and interesting highlights of history told from a small American town. It started really slow but picked up rapidly toward the end with a very sudden ending.

I find it interesting that the author named the main character after himself and wonder if this story was inspired by his childhood in Norvelt.

bak8382's review

4.0

Jack just wants to have a fun summer, but that takes on a whole new meaning after he's grounded. Where once he was loath to help his neighbor he now looks forward to her calls just to get out of the house. There's a lot going on in the small town of Norvelt and Jack is in for one crazy ride.

I am not a huge fan of the Joey Pigza series, but I did enjoy his autobiographical novel [b:Hole in My Life|842087|Hole in My Life|Jack Gantos|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1316130742s/842087.jpg|80002] and this title did win the Newbery so I decided to give it a try as it is also partially autobiographical. First of all Gantos does a really nice job of reading the book himself, and the book is pretty funny. Kids and adults can both appreciate his humor. I was really enjoying it up until the rather abrupt ending. Otherwise it's a great read. The audio version includes an interview with the author, which can be viewed on the 6th disc or just listened to.

snorpy's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

kittykornerlibrarian's review against another edition

3.0

When I stand back and think about this book, I appreciate the off-the-wall setting, plot, and characters. However, while I"m actually reading it, it fails to draw me in. I never forgot, during all 341 pages, that I was reading a book. The dialogue always felt awkward to me. I can see its good points but I did not connect with this story at all.