I Am Not Joey Pigza - Jack Gantos

I am not Joey Pigza by Jack Gantos
Genre: Fiction
Form: Audio Book

Just when Joey Pigza’s wired world finally seems to be under control, his good-for-nothing dad pops back into his life. This time, though, Carter Pigza is a new man – literally. After a lucky lotto win, Carter Pigza has a crazy new outlook on life, and he’s even changed his name to Charles Heinz. He thinks Joey and his mom should become new people, too. Soon Joey finds himself bombarded with changes: a new name, a new home, and a new family business – running the beat-up Beehive Diner. He knows he should forgive his dad as his mom wants him to, and get with the new family program. But Joey is afraid that in changing names and going with the flow he will lose sight of who he really is.

In this rocket-paced new chapter in Joey Pigza’s life, a favorite hero discovers what identity and forgiveness really mean, and how to cook a delicious turkey burger.

I am not Joey Pigza was a pretty good book, and actually one that I can relate to when it came to his father. He was so accustom to his dad walking in and out of his life that he just expected it making it hard to trust him upon his return. When his dad takes on a new name, a new personality and a new life, Joey begins to open up and let him back in.

This book takes you on a fun loopy story through the mind of a young boy throughout some major changes in his life. It's a book about self discovery, trust, and forgiveness. While the father left me with a sour taste in my mouth pretty much the entire time (with good reason), Joey gave me a sweet happy feeling. He learned, just as I did, that it's better to love and forgive than to be angry and mistrusting towards your father. He also learned a lesson I'm not so sure his mother learned, that happiness is not money and doing whatever you want whenever you want to do it. It's about being complete and confident in yourself and choosing to your family regardless of their faults.