Dead End in Norvelt

Bibliography

Gantos, Jack. Dead End in Norvelt. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux, 2011.  ISBN 9780374379933

Plot Summary

Twelve year old Jack Gantos lives in the historic town of Norvelt, Pennsylvania. He thinks that the summer of 1962 will be fun and exciting, but he ends up grounded after a variety of offenses. He ends up spending his summer helping his elderly neighbor, Miss Volker, write obituaries. Miss Volker weaves memorable tributes with bits of history tied in. As Jack learns of the history of Norvelt, he discovers an unlikely friendship and an unforgettable summer of adventure.

Critical Analysis

This zany tale is the mostly false story of the author’s childhood in the summer of 1962. Jack Gantos is a 12 year old boy living in the small town of Norvelt. The characters are quirky but believable.  Jack is a typical boy that loves baseball and often finds himself in mischief. He is often embarrassed by the awkwardness of his constantly spewing bloody nose. His parents like most are well meaning, but sometimes don’t see eye to eye.

The historical details are expertly woven into the story to give readers a glimpse of life in the unique town of Norvelt. The opening chapter describes how Jack would watch movies at the drive-in movie theater from his house using binoculars. Many children now have not experienced a drive in theater and will be intrigued by the idea of it.  The Cold War is mentioned throughout the book and his family even considers building a bomb shelter. Miss Volker plays a key role because she helps bring history to life with the details she includes in the obituaries.

There are some stereotypes included in the book, but it is typical for the time period. One example of this is the use of the terms “Commie” and “Jap.” This can create some teachable moments in a classroom and give you the opportunity to talk about stereotypes and people’s sentiments at this time.

Awards

2012 Newbery Medal

2012 Scott O’dell Award

Review Excerpts

The Horn Book starred review:  “There's more than laugh-out-loud gothic comedy here. This is a richly layered semi-autobiographical tale, an ode to a time and place, to history and the power of reading.”

School Library Journal: “A fast-paced and witty read.”

Connections

*Have students research a date and create a “This Day in History” article.

*Other books that have won the Scott O’dell Award for Historical Fiction:

·         Schlitz, Laura Amy. The Hired Girl. ISBN 9780763678180

·         Larson, Kirby. Dash. ISBN 978-0545416368

Williams-Garcia, Rita. One Crazy Summer. ISBN 978-0060760908