Bibliographic Data:
Gantos, Jack. 2011. Dead
End in Norvelt. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux.
ISBN 9780374379933
Plot Summary:
Jack Gantos’ summer is not off to a great start. On top of
being grounded for the duration of the summer of 1962, he is being forced to
write up obituaries dictated by the ancient Miss Volker next door. A chore Jack
initially thinks will be torturous actually becomes an interesting history
lesson concerning the town of Norvelt, Pennsylvania where he and his family
live. Oddly, elderly women are showing
up dead all over town and the town medical examiner and obituary writer, Miss
Volker, is assigned to investigate each death. Miss Volker honors each
individual by highlighting the positives of their life in their obituary while
always being sure to include tidbits from the history for the day they died. This
small task takes on a whole new meaning after numerous deaths are reported and
Jack is sent on a crazy adventure uncovering the secrets and not-so-flattering
details of a town he thought he knew.
Critical Analysis:
The protagonist of the story
shares the name of the author, Jack Gantos. Gantos has loosely based the story
on his own upbringing in the town of Norvelt, Pennsylvania. The author’s voice
is heard clearly through the main character and Jack’s quirkiness is a pleasant
addition to the novel’s overall dark plot dealing with death, murder, and
conspiracy. Dead End in Norvelt does provide
a wealth of historical facts ranging from Francisco Pizzaro and the conquering
of the Incan empire to the death of Marilyn Monroe. Gantos weaves historical trivia
throughout the novel without overwhelming the reader. The character of Miss
Volker is passionate about her town and determined to never let its history
die, even though she is powerless to stop the many deaths that are occurring so
quickly. One obituary in particular written by Miss Volker states: “When the
sun goes down each day it turns its back on the present and steps into the
past, but it is never dead.” Gantos creates primary theme that history and its
relevance to the current times, whether it is the 1962 setting of the novel or
the present day, is something that should not be ignored. Jack’s character learns that allowing history
to fade away is negligent and continuing to learn from the past can enhance one’s
future.
Awards:
John Newbery Medal, 2012
Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction, 2012
Review
Excerpt(s):
Kirkus, Starred Review, April 2011:
“An exhilarating summer marked by death, gore and fire
sparks deep thoughts in a small-town lad not uncoincidentally named ‘Jack
Gantos.’ The gore is all Jack’s, which to his continuing embarrassment ‘would
spray out of my nose holes like dragon flames’ whenever anything exciting or
upsetting happens. And that would be on every other page, seemingly . . .
Characteristically provocative gothic comedy, with sublime undertones.”
Publisher’s Weekly, Starred Review:
“A bit of autobiography works its way into all of
Gantos’s work, but he one-ups himself in this wildly entertaining meld of truth
and fiction by naming the main character . . . Jackie Gantos.”
Booklist, August 2011:
“Gantos, as always, delivers bushels of food for thought
and plenty of outright guffaws.”
Connections:
*Discuss the element of fear and its many associations with
the novel. What are some examples of fear associated with forgetting history? What are some of Jack’s
personal fears? What were some fears of the time period (ex. atomic bombs)?
*Here is a great teacher’s guide covering group discussion
questions, pre-reading activities, internet resources, and an About the Author section:
Historical fiction emphasizing history and its relevance to society:
Vanderpool, Clare. Moon
Over Manifest. ISBN 9780375858291
Other works by Jack Gantos:
Gantos, Jack. Joey
Pigza Swallowed the Key. ISBN 978-0312623555
Gantos, Jack. Jack
Adrift: Fourth Grade without a Clue. ISBN 9780374437183
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