Jack Gantos started as an author young. As a kid, he read his sisterยs diary and decided he could write as least as well as she did, and a career was born. That was almost 30 years ago. Gantos is now author of the popular Joey Pigza series, written for kids like him. Joey has ADHD, a problem exasperated by family problems and a propensity for trouble. The serious themes are balanced by Joeyยs tender conscience and the string of quirky characters inspired by Gantosยs own childhood.
Gantos will read today from his latest, I Am Not Joey Pigza, in which Joeyยs father returns after another long absence, this time with money. Needless to say, Dad gets distracted before long, but only after Joeyยs mom has gotten into debt and become pregnant. Itยs been described as the darkest in the series, but still full of humorous scenes about childhood and trying to figure out whatยs right. The reading and book signing is part of the Cool Brains! Inprint Readings for Young People Series. 3 p.m. Zilkha Hall, Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, 800 Bagby. For information, call 713-521-2026 or visit www.inprinthouston.org. Free.
Sun., Sept. 7, 3 p.m., 2008
This article appears in Sep 4-10, 2008.