Many of his youthful mistakes are driven by a need to find adventure, so that adventure can be turned into a novel. I feel like mainly everything about the book was good and interesting. He does not pander, but he also does not depend on subtext. Oh the irony: the juicy, pathos-laden, true-grit tale he sought to exploit was his own. The idea that one bad decision can alter your course and the lives of others around you but that your life need not continue to follow a negative path but you can choose to make the best of things is powerful. The idea that one bad decision can alter your course and the lives of others around you but that your life need not continue to follow a negative path but you can choose to make the best of things is powerful. Legit children's books. Not at first, but eventually, which is a good thing. I met Jack Gantos back in the early to mid '90's when he was an instructor in Emerson College's MFA program. A good friend gave me this book and told me it would be a fast and humorous read. With illustrations and funny words and touching themes. $25.00. Hole In My Life Key Figures. Skulls are men in prison who thrive on pain and suffering. Jack Gantos is an American author of children's books renowned for his portrayal of fictional Joey Pigza, a boy with ADHD, and many other well known characters such as Rotten Ralph, Jack Henry, Jack Gantos (memoirs) and others. This one had some relevance for the novel I'm writing. Gtr. When a book starts with a whopper of an open line such as "The prisoner in the photograph is me" and the pages following that line tell a harrowing, incredible, true story of a foolish but likeable young man (with years of self-reflection between his mistakes and publication) and how one huge, bad decision goes down... Well, that requires a reader like me to read the book in one long inhale. For starters, he was (and judging by his videos today, still is) a snappy dresser, a notable departure from the running-shoe and tired jeans look favored by many writers. Gantos has written much about his early years with his eccentric family, and this more serious book picks up the tale as they moved to Puerto Rico during his junior year. All things considered the book was an awesome work of literature. Refresh and try again. I liked the fact that the book was first person. The writing style appeals to me in a way not unlike Fallen angels did. everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of Hole in My Life. Hole in My Life is an American autobiography of Jack Gantos and was published by Macmillan Publishers in 2002. To Download/Print these documents click the desired document click "file" Click Download/Print Google Doc: Hole In My Life Packet - Teacher's Edition Google Doc: Hole In My Life Packet - Student Edition Google Doc: Hole In My Life Reading Quizzes Google Doc: Hole In My Life Reading Quiz Answer Key Google Doc: "Prezi" Interactive Quiz… The book i just finished reading is hole in my life by jack gantos i liked the book because it was interesting. With the first page, you know where Jack is going to end up, but it takes most of the book to get him to that point, where he realizes that he has made a mistake, lumping all his smaller mistakes into the one big one, taking a job smuggling hash into New York. But what was inspiring was that he had always wanted to be an author and even through all the crazy experiences and circumstances he went through, he was able to achieve his. He thought smuggling wasn`t something wrong so he took that He grew up with the talent and desire for reading and writing. Setting There are several important locations in this book. The King's Court is the hotel where Gantos finds himself living during his senior year in high school. And above all, there was his manner: unassuming, yet compelling; witty, but never deprecating. I read this quickly and with moderate interest as to what would happen to young Jack in his journeys, both literal (as he ferried drugs) and figurative. Award winning children's books. hole in my life tylerhayes read “The Celebration of Grandfathers” and also read The Vital Importance of the Grandparent-Grandchild Bond”. In Hole in My Life, this prizewinning author of over thirty books for young people confronts the period of struggle and confinement that marked the end of his own youth. I do understand that it is somewhat dated, but the message is perfect. He flees the law and escapes to Florida, where he calls his f. Jack Gantos is just twenty years old when he gets into trouble with the law. Perhaps the greatest ongoing thread in the story is that of Gantos' obsession with becoming a great writer. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. Jack Gantos, a children's author, writes a memoir about his last year of high school and how he ends up in prison. See all 20 questions about Hole in My Life…, Famed Biographer Walter Isaacson on Gene Editing, Science, and Good Books. Gantos’ Face/Picking at Skin. It speaks a deeper message than the one simply presented. His honest, unflinching yet not gratuitous descriptions of "going down" for his crimes and facing prison are realistic and resonant. I think his life would have been better if he knew that. Jacks long life dream is to become a professional writer. Some may find fault with the reasoning he employs, or even question the reliablity of the narrator, but the sweep of the narrative leads the reader to a good place in the end. After reading it I would say it belongs in a high school library because of the drug references, prison violence, and prison rape. In the summer of 1971, the young Gantos, desperate for cash for college and willing to take a risk, runs a boatload of hashish from the Virgin Islands to New York City. And that is where this book gets its value. He comes from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, but also lives for a brief moment in Puerto Rico and St. Croix with his family: his father, mother, younger sister and brother. Jack`s Path ~This picture symbolizes Jack`s path because he read books as advice. The Police "Hole in my life" (Sting) Album: Outlandos dAmour transcribed by torsten lasse (t.lasse@web.de) When you use this tab you should listen to the record (to get this funny little differences that made The Police excellent and others not) ...and of … First of all, Puerto Rico is where Gantos first begins drinking, as he goes to work as an electrician instead of heading to school for his second half of his junior year. Cardboard; content, author notes. Gantos's downfall started with a seemingly innocent decision to accompany a friend to a party and smoke some weed. SA This is a fine narrative memoir of a young person who makes a big mistake. Foreshadowing- "Dad snapped his finger." In Hole in My Life, this prizewinning author of over thirty books for young people confronts the period of struggle and confinement that marked the end of his own youth. I picked it up because I thought it looked interesting and I wondered why it was in a middle school library. I think the book was good it had everything you would need to make a good book. This reads YA, but good YA. I liked the part in the book where he had gotten into New York and he was on the run from the police because it had a lot of suspense and he described what it was like running from the police with humor. “I have learned this: it is not what one does that is wrong, but what one becomes as a consequence of it.” ~Oscar Wilde. Gantos has his 10K in hand when a bunch of feds bust into his hotel and take his partner into custody. From there, Gantos makes a string of increasingly foolish decisions, spurred on by "friends" who aren't really friends at all, and unchecked by his parents, who are largely absent from the narrative. Becoming a writer the hard way In the summer of 1971, Jack Gantos was an aspiring writer looking for adventure, cash for college tuition, and a way out of a dead-end job. 3 tapes. For this job, he is to receive $10,000. The autobiography, A Hole In My Life by Jack Gantos was a very good book, but also very confusing and hard to piece out because of the many, many characters that Jack encounters. These folks zigged when the rest of the world zagged. He does not pander, but he also does not depend on subtext. Page 61 "Since I was trying so hard to make books lead my life..." Hole In My Life Presentation Jack later on joined the drug culture. In Hole in My Life, this prizewinning author of over thirty books for young people confronts the period of struggle and confinement that marked the end of his own youth. He just ended up getting caught. I was especially struck by his story because he was a high school senior and then graduate, by the skin of his teeth, struggling to find his way in life. It is a cautionary tale but a little too harsh for the younger kids. St. Croix, the largest of the Virgin islands, is where Gantos begins his journey into drug smuggling. Mark my words." This book has quite an element of charm. He and his colleagues were caught, and as it turns out, he was in more trouble than he anticipated. We’d love your help. The account was incredible. Hopefully not selling drugs off a yacht however, I can see how most people would relate to preforming a morally ambiguous action to beneficent themselves in the future. But what was inspiring was that he had always wanted to be an author and even through all the crazy experiences and circumstances he went through, he was able to achieve his goal. 2002/2003. This is an incredibly enthralling book about Jack Gantos' time in prison for drug smuggling. Listening Library, Random House Audio. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Luckily, FreeBookSummary offers study guides on over 1000 top books from students’ curricula! Also, because if you knew nothing about court, you knew nothing about what jack was competing with. Start by marking “Hole in My Life” as Want to Read: Error rating book. The story of a young man hoping to live a wonderful drug free life, being ruined by his ambition to go to college feels like a story everyone has felt at some point. Gantos's downfall started with a seemingly innocent decision to accompany a friend to a party and smoke some weed. Hole In My Life Symbols & Motifs. He flees the law and escapes to Florida, where he calls his father. He went from a drug dealer to a prisoner to an author that writes books for a younger audience. However, the book's real strength lies in the window it gives into the mind of an adolescent without strong family support and living in the easy drug culture of the 1970s. This book has quite an element of charm. (I really did not limit my son's reading, but admittedly some was age-inappropriate and there is no question I liked some more than others. When we are young, we all believe we are invincible, some of us still do. I read this quickly and with moderate interest as to what would happen to young Jack in his journeys, both literal (as he ferried drugs) and figurative. Hole in My Life by Jack Gantos 224pp, Red Fox, £4.99 . It wasn't that he was utterly lost--he knew he wanted to be a writer, and the maddeningly idealistic way in which he hopes, pines, and bounces around hoping to witness something great while wor. The moral of the story is a good one and it is nice to see him succeed after being in prison. I am grateful for whoever recommended this book to me and will be passing it along to people that I think could benefit from his message. He did. But I was easily able to remind myself: "You never had to consider it." Hole in My Life Quotes Showing 1-4 of 4 “Someone once said anyone can be great under rosy circumstances, but the true test of character is measured by how well a person makes decisions during difficult times.” He stood out from the pack. So he does. You're a decent person that knows right from wrong, it can't happen to you. September 8th 2004 “Someone once said anyone can be great under rosy circumstances, but the true test of character is measured by how well a person makes decisions during difficult times.”, “Since I was trying so hard to make books lead my life, I didn’t want to read them and then just put them back on the shelf and say, “good book,” as if I was patting a good dog. New York is the city where Gantos arrives and helps to sell hash in order to earn money for college. He decides to make some quick money ($10,000) for college by sailing a shipment of hash from the Virgin Islands to New York City. I liked this book a lot. I really enjoyed this story of a man who is willing to just unflinchingly own his mistakes and foibles. Jack Gantos, a children's author, writes a memoir about his last year of high school and how he ends up in prison. The similar observations found in both articles were that they respect and look up to their grandparents. I find myself wrapped up in his story telling and wanting more. When he was in jail I could feel his worry and want to get out. When Gantos ends up in prison, it isn't a surprise, but his reaction is a pleasant one. Hole in My Life A failed drug deal cost him most of his savings and he joined his. Hole in My Life Part 3, Chapter 7-8 Analysis; Football's Worst Nightmare; The average student has to read dozens of books per year. This book isn't as well-known as it should be. I wish that this biography was utilized more fully in high schools these days. On the surface, the narrative tumbles from one crazed moment to the next as Gantos pieces together the story of his restless final year of high school, his short-lived career as a criminal, and his time in prison. Memoirs are usually boring to me, but Jack Gantos really turned his life around. Jack Gantos' story isn't dull. Why would it? I can imagine this would be a great book for a fourteen or fifteen year old boy who finds lots of things dull. Jack Gantos writes children's books. I picked it up because I thought it looked interesting and I wondered why it was in a middle school library. Jack Gantos. It is a great lesson for teens, not only about recovering from mistakes, but about taking the right paths in life to avoid mistakes entirely. 4.33 hrs. Jack Gantos. The account was incredible. On the surface, the narrative tumbles from one crazed moment to the next as Gantos pieces together the story of his restless final year of high school, his short-lived career as a criminal, and his time in prison. For starters, he was (and judging by his videos today, still is) a snappy dresser, a notable departure from the running-shoe and tired jeans look favored by many writers. Hole in My Life Setting & Symbolism Jack Gantos This Study Guide consists of approximately 32 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of Hole in My Life. This would be a great book club selection. It introduces you to a good variety of characters and the situations were believable. Fort Lauderdale is a city in Florida where Gantos finishes high school. (I really did not limit my son's reading, but admittedly some was age-inappropriate and there is no question I liked some more than others. Puerto Rico is where Gantos first begins drinking, as he goes to work as an electrician instead of heading to school for his second half of his junior year. A failed drug deal cost him most of his savings and he joined his family, now in St. Croix, where he accepted an offer of $10,000 to help sail a boat full of hash to New York. I really enjoyed this story of a man who is willing to just unflinchingly own his mistakes and foibles. His reflections on the experience come off not as a trite, "here are my lessons learned" commentary, but an honest retelling of his evolution as a writer and a person. I met Jack Gantos back in the early to mid '90's when he was an instructor in Emerson College's MFA program. Gantos looks for role models and guidance in the pages of the books he is reading, and his drive to be a writer and desire to go to college ultimately save him.-Barbara Scotto, Michael Driscoll School, Brookline, MA Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information. Gantos’ dad says he’s got him a lawyer and the best thing to do is turn himself in. This had more bite than I expected. The use of great words and the plot were beautiful and helped you learn a lot. Gantos writes solid. Pg. Despite thinking vaguely, "Boy, dude, that was a dumb decision," the reader can simultaneously sympathize with nearly every decision he makes--which surprised me, as someone who could never imagine doing what he did. Link/Page Citation Jack Gantos. Another observation I saw was that they learned their grandparents traditions and how they lived. Hashish is a drug much like marijuana that Gantos helps traffic from St. Croix to New York. Read by the author. Jack Gantos's memoir, despite being promoted as the story of one big mistake is really an exploration of how a string of small mistakes can land you somewhere you never wanted to go. Jack did an amazing job telling the story of his life and didn't leave out a detail. 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