New Releases by Jack Gantos

When a young boy enters a library wearing an explosive vest hidden underneath his lovely new red jacket, he only has one plan on his mind. But as he observes those around him becoming completely captivated by all of the wonderful books they are reading-books he has no ability to read-the boy can''t help but question his reasoning for being there. With Dave McKean''s unique mixed-media illustrations, bestselling author Jack Gantos brings to life the story of a young suicide bomber, his unquestionable duty to his beliefs, and the unexpected power of books to change lives.

Collection includes two annotated typescripts of Jack Gantos''s unpublished young adult novel, The Missing Half of Joey Pigza (Book Three of The Hidden Files of Joey Pigza). Also included are assorted notes in the author''s hand.

The Newbery Award–winning author of Dead End in Norvelt shares advice for how to be the best brilliant writer in this funny and practical creative writing guide perfect for all kids who dream of seeing their name on the spine of a book. With the signature wit and humor that have garnered him legions of fans, Jack Gantos instructs young writers on using their "writing radar" to unearth story ideas from their everyday lives. Incorporating his own misadventures as a developing writer, Gantos inspires readers to build confidence and establish good writing habits as they create, revise, and perfect their stories. Pop-out text boxes highlight key tips, alongside Gantos''s own illustrations, sample stories, and snippets from his childhood journals. More than just a how-to guide, Writing Radar is a celebration of the power of storytelling and an ode to the characters who—many unwittingly—inspired Gantos''s own writing career.

Heroes and Villains, the seventh volume in Jon Scieszka’s Guys Read Library of Great Reading, is chock-full of adventure featuring an array of characters—with and without capes. Featuring ten all-new, original stories that run the gamut from fantasy to comics to contemporary adventure to nonfiction, and featuring eleven of the most acclaimed, exciting writers for kids working today, this collection is the perfect book for you, whether you use your powers for good—or evil. Authors include Laurie Halse Anderson, Cathy Camper and Raúl Gonzalez, Sharon Creech, Jack Gantos, Christopher Healy, Deborah Hopkinson, Ingrid Law, Pam Muñoz Ryan, Lemony Snicket, and Eugene Yelchin, with illustrations by Jeff Stokely.

Collection includes four typescripts of Jack Gantos''s young adult novel, A Pain in the Pigza. The typescripts bear handwritten editorial annotations and are dated between 2017 and 2019. Also included are assorted handwritten notes.

Collection includes two annotated typescripts of Jack Gantos''s short story, "How My Mother Was Arrested for Murder." This story was published inthe Guys Read: Heroes & Villains anthology.

Sarah takes Ralph to school so he can do his ABC''s for show and tell, but as usual, the rotten cat refuses to cooperate.

"Fourteen-year-old Jack falls under the spell of a delinquent Florida neighbor and gets way more trouble than he bargained for"--

"Everything goes topsy-turvy for Joey as he becomes the man of the house, looking after his new baby brother, taking care of his troubled mother, and seeking out his missing father."--Provided by publisher.

"Ralph takes a swing through his family tree to find out why he''s so rotten"--

"''Joey Pigza, you need a life!'' Bu003e randma wants Joey to find a friend, stop running around after his NUTTY parents, and start looking after himself. But Joey''s got other plans - he''s going to be MR HELPFUL. Can Joey the secret superhero suceed in his mission to keey everybody SMILING?"

Young Jack accompanies Miss Volker on a wild pursuit of the chief suspect in the Norvelt murders, while being pursued themselves.

Melding the entirely true and the wildly fictional, this Newbery Medal winner chronicles 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 parents. But plenty of excitement (and shocks) are coming Jack''s way once his mom loans him out to help a feisty old neighbor with a most unusual chore.

Sarah is working on a schol project about ancient Egypt. Will Rotten Ralp help out or just cause trouble?

The sequel to Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key, a National Book Award Finalist. When Joey Pigza meets his dad for the first time in years, he meets a grown-up version of his old out-of-control self. Carter Pigza is as wired as Joey used to be -- before his stint in special ed, and before he got his new meds. Joey''s mom reluctantly agrees that he can stay with his dad for a summer visit, which sends Joey racing with sky-high hopes that he and Carter can finally get to know each other. But as the weeks whirl by, Carter has bigger plans in mind. He decides that just as he has pulled himself up by his own bootstraps, Joey can do the same and become as normal as any kid, without the help of a doctor''s prescription. Carter believes Joey can do it and Joey wants to believe him more than anything in the world. Here is the continuation of the acclaimed Joey Pigza story, affirming not only that Joey Pigza is a true original but that it runs in the family. This title has Common Core connections. Joey Pigza Loses Control is a 2000 New York Times Book Review Notable Children''s Book of the Year and a 2001 Newbery Honor Book.

Jack isn’t like the Pagoda brothers. He knows the difference between fun and stupid. Launching yourself across the backyard in a makeshift Roman catapult? Fun. Smoking an entire pack of cigarettes as fast as possible? Stupid. But when it comes to emergency self-surgery…Jack still has something to learn. A short story from the acclaimed collection Guys Read: Funny Business, edited by Jon Scieszka.

Collection includes one typescript and two galley proofs for Jack Gantos''s young adult novel, Dead End in Norvelt. The typescript and galley proofs bear handwritten editorial annotations. Included is a copy of first pass proof pages and a copy of second pass proof pages, dated January 28, 2011 and April 4, 2011, respectively.

From the Newbery Medal–winning author of Dead End in Norvelt, the uproarious final volume of Jack Henry stories According to his new motto—A WRITER''S JOB IS TO TURN HIS WORST EXPERIENCES INTO MONEY—Jack Gantos''s alter ego Jack Henry is going to be filty rich even before he gets out of junior high, for his life is filled with the worst experiences imaginable. For instance, in the course of the few months covered in this closing cycle of interlinked stories, Jack is humiliated by a gorgeous syncronized swimmer, gets a tattoo the size of an ant on his big toe, flubs an IQ test and nearly fails wood shop, and has to dig up his dead dog not once but twice. And that''s not the half of it! At the close of this final book of semi-autobiographical stories, Jack may not end up rolling in dough, but he will prove once again "a survivor, an ‘everyboy'' whose world may be wacko but whose heart and spirit are eminently sane" (School Library Journal). This title has Common Core connections.

Collection includes two typescripts and five galley proofs of Jack Gantos''s young adult novel, The Key That Swallowed Joey Pigza. All volumes bear editorial emendations and the proofs represent both first and second pass revisions. Also included are assorted notes in the author''s hand and copies of publisher correspondence.

When the carnival comes to town, the world''s favorite fractious feline discovers the hilariously wrong way to victory before he gets it right. "Illustrated with Rubel''s deadpan pictures, this is a prize for newly independent readers, for whom ‘practice makes perfect'' indeed." —The Horn Book Guide "Ralph has his own special niche in the world of children''s literature, and now on the easy-reader shelves, too." —Kirkus Reviews*

When the veterinarian determines that Sarah''s cat has used up eight of his nine lives, will the high-spirited feline finally stop misbehaving?

On an unseasonably warm Easter Sunday, a young girl named Ivy discovers a chilling secret in the basement of the Rumbaugh pharmacy across the street from the hotel where she lives with her mother. The discovery reveals a disturbing side to the eccentric lives of family friends Abner and Adolph Rumbaugh, known throughout their small western Pennsylvania town simply as the Twins. It seems that Ab and Dolph have been compelled by a powerful mutual love for their deceased mother to do something extraordinary, something that in its own twisted way bridges the gap between the living and the dead. Immediately, Ivy''s discovery provokes the revelation of a Rumbaugh family curse, a curse that, as Ivy will learn over the coming years, holds a strange power over herself and her own mother. In his third book for young adults, Jack Gantos has scripted a completely original drama. With gothic flavor and black humor, he depicts a group of people bound together by love, compulsion . . . and a passion for taxidermy.

Joey''s world is turned upside down when his deadbeat dad wins the lottery.

Jack Gantos reads his wacky adventure about the irascible red cat with a penchant for disaster!

When sixteen-year-old Walker gets caught up in a witch-hunt against homosexuals, he is left to stand by and watch as a tragedy unfolds.

When his father rejoins the Navy and moves the family to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, ten-year-old Jack becomes confused by a crush on his teacher, contradictory advice from his parents, and a iery strange neighbor.

Hoping to beat his perfect cousin Percy in the cat show, Ralph allows Sarah to help him spruce up his image and get in shape, but it is only by being himself that victory can be his.

Sarah wakes Ralph up with a great big kiss. “Happy Valentine’s Day!” she says. Rotten Ralph hides under his pillow. Sarah is very excited to take Ralph to Petunia’s Valentine’s Day Party. But Ralph will do almost anything to avoid the party and drippy Valentine kisses!

When his father rejoins the Navy and moves the family to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, ten-year-old Jack becomes confused by a crush on his teacher, contradictory advice from his parents, and a very strange neighbor.

For use in schools and libraries only. Joey, who is still taking medication to keep him from getting too wired, goes to spend the summer with the hard-drinking father he has never known, and tries to help the baseball team he coaches win the championship.