Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos audiobook

Dead End in Norvelt

By Jack Gantos
Read by Jack Gantos

Macmillan Young Listeners 9781427213563

The Norvelt Series: Book 1

7.20 Hours • 1
Format : Digital Download (In Stock)
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    ISBN: 9781427213570

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Dead End in Norvelt is the winner of the 2012 Newbery Medal for the year's best contribution to children's literature and the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction! Melding the entirely true and the wildly fictional, Dead End in Norvelt is a novel about an incredible two months for a kid named Jack Gantos, whose plans for vacation excitement are shot down when he is "grounded for life" by his feuding parents, and whose nose spews bad blood at every little shock he gets. But plenty of excitement (and shocks) are coming Jack's way once his mom loans him out to help a fiesty old neighbor with a most unusual chore—typewriting obituaries filled with stories about the people who founded his utopian town. As one obituary leads to another, Jack is launched on a strange adventure involving molten wax, Eleanor Roosevelt, twisted promises, a homemade airplane, Girl Scout cookies, a man on a trike, a dancing plague, voices from the past, Hells Angels . . . and possibly murder. Endlessly surprising, this sly, sharp-edged narrative is the author at his very best, making readers laugh out loud at the most unexpected things in a dead-funny depiction of growing up in a slightly off-kilter place where the past is present, the present is confusing, and the future is completely up in the air.

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Summary

Summary

A New York Times bestseller

Winner of the 2012 Newbery Medal

Winner of the 2012 Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction

A 2011 Publishers Weekly Best Book: Children's Fiction

Nominated for Kiddo Award Nominee, 2012

Among longlisted titles for Washington Post Best Books of the Year, 2012

Winner of Capitol Choices Noteworthy Titles for Children and Teens, 2012

Among longlisted titles for Oklahoma Book Award Master List, 2014

Winner of Newbery Medal Book, 2012

Among longlisted titles for Publishers Weekly Best Books of the Year, 2012

Among longlisted titles for Maine Student Book Award Master List, 2012

Among longlisted titles for Horn Book Magazine Fanfare List, 2012

Among longlisted titles for TN Intermed Volunt State Book Award ML, 2014

Winner of Kansas William Allen White Award, 2013

Among longlisted titles for Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice A. ML, 2014

Among longlisted titles for ALA Best Books for Young Adults, 2012

Among longlisted titles for NCTE Notable Child. Bks in Lang. A, 2012

Among longlisted titles for Junior Library Guild Selection, 2012

Winner of Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction Winner, 2012

Among longlisted titles for ALA Notable Children's Books, 2012

American Library Association Notable Children's Books, 2012

Among longlisted titles for Kirkus Reviews Best Books of the Year, 2012

American Library Association Best Books for Young Adults, 2012

Dead End in Norvelt is the winner of the 2012 Newbery Medal for the year's best contribution to children's literature and the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction! Melding the entirely true and the wildly fictional, Dead End in Norvelt is a novel about an incredible two months for a kid named Jack Gantos, whose plans for vacation excitement are shot down when he is "grounded for life" by his feuding parents, and whose nose spews bad blood at every little shock he gets. But plenty of excitement (and shocks) are coming Jack's way once his mom loans him out to help a fiesty old neighbor with a most unusual chore—typewriting obituaries filled with stories about the people who founded his utopian town. As one obituary leads to another, Jack is launched on a strange adventure involving molten wax, Eleanor Roosevelt, twisted promises, a homemade airplane, Girl Scout cookies, a man on a trike, a dancing plague, voices from the past, Hells Angels . . . and possibly murder. Endlessly surprising, this sly, sharp-edged narrative is the author at his very best, making readers laugh out loud at the most unexpected things in a dead-funny depiction of growing up in a slightly off-kilter place where the past is present, the present is confusing, and the future is completely up in the air.

Editorial Reviews

Editorial Reviews

A more quietly (but still absurdly) funny and insightful account of a kid's growth, kin to Gantos's Jack stories, that will stealthily hook even resistant readers into the lure of history. —BCCB
A fast-paced and witty read. —School Library Journal
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. —Publishers Weekly, starred review
This is a brilliant book, full of history, mystery, and laughs. It reminded me of my small-town childhood, although my small town was never as delightfully weird as Norvelt. —Dave Barry
This winning novel, both humorous and heartwarming, takes place during the summer of 1962, when narrator Jack Gantos turns 12 and spends most of his days grounded. Jack's main ‘get out of jail free card,' and one of the novel's most charming characters, is Miss Volker. The blossoming of their friendship coincides with the blooming of Jack's character. —Shelf Awareness Pro
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. —The Horn Book, starred review
The Newbury Medal-winning book has all the ingredients for a great audiobook – a strong narrative voice, a blend of humor and pathos, and a performer who has unique authority: it all happened to him, with some subtle fictionalizations. —Book Links
Nobody can tell a story like Jack Gantos can. And this is a story like no other. It's funny. It's thoughtful. It's history. It's weird. But you don't need me to attempt to describe it. Get in there and start reading Gantos. —Jon Scieszka, founder of guysread.com and author of the Spaceheadz series
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. —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
Gantos, as always, delivers bushels of food for thought and plenty of outright guffaws. —Booklist
Dead End in Norvelt, this year's Newberry winner for best young adult fiction, is even more hilarious in audio form as read by author Jack Gantos. My family howled out loud as we listened to it during a spring break drive to California. —The Bellingham Herald
It is hard to imagine anyone other than Jack Gantos reading Dead End in Norvelt. Like most of his books, this is slightly autobiographical (Gantos was born in Norvelt but did not grow up there). Listeners really hear the intended inflections and accents as well as the energy and emotion found in the story. —Library Media Connection
The audiobook was just for fun, since Jack narrated it himself and I'd listen to him read a grocery list, his delivery is that funny. —Horn Book Magazine
“This is a brilliant book, full of history, mystery, and laughs. It reminded me of my small-town childhood, although my small town was never as delightfully weird as Norvelt.” —Dave Barry, New York Times bestselling author
Gantos narrates this laugh-out-loud semi-autobiographical tale, providing a pitch-perfect rendition of Jack's sarcasm, exaggeration, and whining. —School Library Journal
“Gantos captures the voice of a middle-school boy in a relatable way, with plenty of self-consciousness and humor, and he infuses the storyline with a sense of mystery, danger, and adventure…This is an engaging story that makes for compelling listening. —Parents Choice Gold Award
Listening to [Jack Gantos] – both his voice and the crazy tales he tells – reminds me a bit of David Sedaris. Fans of his work will likely enjoy this as well. The attitude is the same, too. He doesn't judge, he just tells it as he sees it. The dialogue and the first person reflections make audio an ideal way to experience it. —5 Minutes for Books
Looking for a great audiobook for boys? This is it. Further blurring the line between fact and fiction in this autobiographical novel, author Jack Gantos narrates himself, sharing the 1962 summer adventures of his eponymous hero as he navigates adolescence and a dying town caught between two eras…The story is a little odd and a lot funny. Gantos's delivery is dry and wry, and even when characters don't get distinctive voices, the action and emotion are utterly clear. A gem. —AudioFile Magazine
“Wonderfully wacky…The darkly comic mystery and oddball characters make for some good laughs, but the riffs on history raise the consciousness as well.” —Washington Post
“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…Memorable in every way.” —Publishers Weekly (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.” —Horn Book (starred review)
“Characteristically provocative gothic comedy, with sublime undertones.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“Gantos, as always, delivers bushels of food for thought and plenty of outright guffaws.” —Booklist

Reviews

Reviews

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Author

Author Bio: Jack Gantos

Author Bio: Jack Gantos

Jack Gantos has written books for people of all ages, from picture books and middle-grade fiction to novels for young adults and adults. His works include Hole in My Life, a memoir that won the Michael L. Printz and Robert F. Sibert Honors, Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key, a National Book Award finalist, and Joey Pigza Loses Control, a Newbery Honor book. He developed the master’s degree program in children’s book writing at Emerson College and the Vermont College MFA program for children’s book writers. He now devotes his time to writing books and educational speaking. He lives with his family in Boston.

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Details

Details

Available Formats : Digital Download
Category: Fiction
Runtime: 7.20
Audience: Children (8–12)
Language: English

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