Hole in My Life. by Jack Gantos. New York : Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2002   The author relates his high school years, sailing a boat full of drugs to New York, getting arrested, serving time, and coming to realize that writing was what he wanted to do with his life.

Ages 16-18

Genre: Nonfiction; Autobiography

Appealing aspects of this book – HS boys; struggle to find self worth; impulsivity; trouble with the law; experiences in prison; colorful characters; first person narrative

Uses for this book in schools – fiction/nonfiction connections (Joey Pigza/Jack Gantos); author studies; autobiographies; 1970’s culture

Other books by this author:
Heads or tails: stories from the sixth grade
Jack on the tracks: four seasons of fifth grade
Jack's black book
Jack's new power: stories from a Caribbean year
Joey Pigza loses control
Joey Pigza swallowed the key
What would Joey do?

Learn more about this author at: Author of the Month from McGraw-Hill or
the Jack Gantos page from ACHUKA (Children's books of the UK)

Recommendations:
School Library Journal, May 1, 2002
Publishers Weekly, February 25, 2002
Kirkus starred, February 15, 2002
Horn Book starred, September, 2002
Booklist starred, April 1, 2002
Best Books for Young Adults 2003
Michael L. Printz Award 2003 (Honor book)