Kristin
asked
Jack Gantos:
My 8th graders would like to know: Did you know from the beginning where you wanted your Joey Pigza series to end up? And, was it hard for you to let go of such a lovable character and that's why you wrote the 4th book later on? Thanks for considering my questions!
Jack Gantos
Hi. I wasn't sure where those books were going right from the start. The first two I could see early into it, but then all the circumstances of his life with his mother and father and grandmother and all his mountainous challenges made the next book more complex. I like that third book. But then the 4th book came along because I realized that if Joey did not forgive his father that he would always have to carry around that bitterness in his heart which would be an acid for him and so I wrote that book with the entire 'forgiveness' theme--while the action showed just how hard it was for Joey to reach that point where he could forgive Carter. The final book, then, was very clear to me and I felt that if Joey could take care of his baby brother--love him and protect him and nurture him--then he would love and protect and nurture himself as he grows into a young man and eventually into a fully functional adult. Good luck with him. I love that character. And I love the family. I'll never write another Joey book--but as my imagination plays with them in my mind I always have a feeling--a very satisfying feeling--that they, as a family, are going to stick together and make it. Thank you, Jack
More Answered Questions
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more