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1. Bibliographic Information
Gantos, J. (2002). Hole in my life. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
ISBN: 0-374-39988-3
200 pages
2. Plot Summary
In Hole in my Life, Jack Gantos recounts the journey of his teenage life, beginning with his last year in high school, through his stint in prison. Gantos was a young boy living on his own in Florida, when he decided to try to help his father in the Virgin Islands. He had dreams for himself, wanting to become a writer and using drugs and the chance of travel as a means of inspiration, Jack slowly makes his way to the islands. There, a man approaches Jack to smuggle drugs up the Atlantic seaboard to New York for $10,000. When he accepts, Jack and a British man named Hamilton man the boat as they make their way to the delivery point. However, when they arrive, all is not what it seems. Federal Agents have inspected their boat, and Jack feels as if he is being followed. When the men are captured can Gantos find a way to redeem himself, or is he lost to an underworld of drugs, depression, and despair?
3. Critical Evaluation
Jack Gantos’ biography is a well written account of life in the 1970s. Gantos’ writing style effortlessly blends his own thought process with literary figures which influenced his writing. It also provides the reader with a context to which Gantos’ life closely modeled. Taking inspiration from many different authors throughout literature, Gantos’ work however, forces the reader to question his actions. Like Kerouac and other Beat Writers such as William S. Burroughs, Gantos’ drug use seems like a misguided attempt to run from reality. Nevertheless, Gantos’ narrative never makes excuses for his behavior, nor does he try to blame his parents or upbringing. Though ultimately an anti-drug message, the book does not become preachy. Gantos simply presents the consequences in such a way that offers readers the ability to see into his life. While the book never fully answers whether or not Gantos was sorry for his actions or simply sorry for getting caught, I think that upon reading this book it does not really matter. The experiences that Gantos faces in his life leads him to make better choices, thus Gantos shows how people can redeem themselves.
4. Reader’s Annotation
In 1971, Jack Gantos is offered $10,000 to sail a boat from the Virgin Islands to New York. Being a drug runner, though, might be more than he bargained for.
5. Information about the Author
Jack Gantos was born in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania. His first book, Rotten Ralph, a children’s book was published in 1976. He currently lives in Boston, Massachusetts with his wife and daughter.
6. Genre
Biography
7. Curriculum Ties
This might be a good book for students who wish to learn more about the 1970s for say a history class, or it could be a great introduction to biographies for and about teenagers.
8. Booktalking Ideas
-The book suggests that the judge felt that Jack Gantos had no remorse for what he had done. What do you think?
-Do you think that a teenager today could have done the same thing that Jack Gantos did? How would today’s world be similar or different?
9. Reading Level/Interest Age
I think that this book would interest readers aged 16-18.
10. Challenge Issues
This book has instances of drug use, illegal activities, and prison life. If anyone wished to challenge this book I would refer them to the ALA’s website on guidelines and challenges found at:
http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/challengeslibrarymaterials/index.cfm
11. Why Was it Selected?
I wanted to include a biography and the Cole text listed this book as a good example.
12. Citations
Challenges to library materials. (2010). In American Library Association. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/challengeslibrarymaterials/index.cfm
Cole, P. B. (2009). Young adult literature in the 21st century. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Gantos, J. (2002). Hole in my life. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
Gantos, J. (2010). Jack Gantos. Retrieved from http://www.jackgantos.com/jackgantos.html
Picture from
Gantos, J. (2010). Jack Gantos: Young adult. Retrieved from http://www.jackgantos.com/youngadult.html
Gantos, J. (2002). Hole in my life. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
ISBN: 0-374-39988-3
200 pages
2. Plot Summary
In Hole in my Life, Jack Gantos recounts the journey of his teenage life, beginning with his last year in high school, through his stint in prison. Gantos was a young boy living on his own in Florida, when he decided to try to help his father in the Virgin Islands. He had dreams for himself, wanting to become a writer and using drugs and the chance of travel as a means of inspiration, Jack slowly makes his way to the islands. There, a man approaches Jack to smuggle drugs up the Atlantic seaboard to New York for $10,000. When he accepts, Jack and a British man named Hamilton man the boat as they make their way to the delivery point. However, when they arrive, all is not what it seems. Federal Agents have inspected their boat, and Jack feels as if he is being followed. When the men are captured can Gantos find a way to redeem himself, or is he lost to an underworld of drugs, depression, and despair?
3. Critical Evaluation
Jack Gantos’ biography is a well written account of life in the 1970s. Gantos’ writing style effortlessly blends his own thought process with literary figures which influenced his writing. It also provides the reader with a context to which Gantos’ life closely modeled. Taking inspiration from many different authors throughout literature, Gantos’ work however, forces the reader to question his actions. Like Kerouac and other Beat Writers such as William S. Burroughs, Gantos’ drug use seems like a misguided attempt to run from reality. Nevertheless, Gantos’ narrative never makes excuses for his behavior, nor does he try to blame his parents or upbringing. Though ultimately an anti-drug message, the book does not become preachy. Gantos simply presents the consequences in such a way that offers readers the ability to see into his life. While the book never fully answers whether or not Gantos was sorry for his actions or simply sorry for getting caught, I think that upon reading this book it does not really matter. The experiences that Gantos faces in his life leads him to make better choices, thus Gantos shows how people can redeem themselves.
4. Reader’s Annotation
In 1971, Jack Gantos is offered $10,000 to sail a boat from the Virgin Islands to New York. Being a drug runner, though, might be more than he bargained for.
5. Information about the Author
Jack Gantos was born in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania. His first book, Rotten Ralph, a children’s book was published in 1976. He currently lives in Boston, Massachusetts with his wife and daughter.
6. Genre
Biography
7. Curriculum Ties
This might be a good book for students who wish to learn more about the 1970s for say a history class, or it could be a great introduction to biographies for and about teenagers.
8. Booktalking Ideas
-The book suggests that the judge felt that Jack Gantos had no remorse for what he had done. What do you think?
-Do you think that a teenager today could have done the same thing that Jack Gantos did? How would today’s world be similar or different?
9. Reading Level/Interest Age
I think that this book would interest readers aged 16-18.
10. Challenge Issues
This book has instances of drug use, illegal activities, and prison life. If anyone wished to challenge this book I would refer them to the ALA’s website on guidelines and challenges found at:
http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/challengeslibrarymaterials/index.cfm
11. Why Was it Selected?
I wanted to include a biography and the Cole text listed this book as a good example.
12. Citations
Challenges to library materials. (2010). In American Library Association. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/challengeslibrarymaterials/index.cfm
Cole, P. B. (2009). Young adult literature in the 21st century. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Gantos, J. (2002). Hole in my life. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
Gantos, J. (2010). Jack Gantos. Retrieved from http://www.jackgantos.com/jackgantos.html
Picture from
Gantos, J. (2010). Jack Gantos: Young adult. Retrieved from http://www.jackgantos.com/youngadult.html
13. Awards
American Library Association Best Books for Young Adults
American Library Association Notable Children's Books
Booklist Editors' Choice
Books for the Teen Age, New York Public Library
Bulletin Blue Ribbon, Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
Horn Book Magazine Fanfare List
Massachusetts Children's Book Award
Michael L. Printz Award - Honor
Parents' Choice Award
Robert F. Sibert Award - Honor
School Library Journal Best Books of the Year
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