Dead End In Norvelt

That's been my surgery recovery book.  It's the 2012 Newbery winner by Jack Gantos.  I've been reading his books for years and am embarrassed to admit I finally realized he won the Newbery for this book about three weeks ago.  They announced the Newbery nearly six months ago.  I heard about it first during an radio piece on Jack Gantos.  Then I bought it a week ago. It's a very strange book to finish reading while recovering from a hernia operation.  It's morbid yet incredibly funny.  It's wildly creative yet filled with interesting historical facts that weave a madcap plot that seems true.  I don't want to give away the morbid yet poignant joys of this book.  Just read it.  There's a good reason it won this year.  There were many times in this book where I had to hold back laughter, because I didn't want any stitches to come loose.  If you've never read any Jack Gantos, I suggest reading any of the "Joey Pigza" books...a kid with ADHD and and an incredible set of characters.  Having read "Dead End in Norvelt", I see Jack Gantos' style in all his characters.  He knows how to tell a great story.  I also highly recommend his 1993 memoir "A Hole in My Life"...which in some ways feels like a very frank yet funny account of his later years.  With everything that has gone wrong in his life, Jack Gantos has a great sense of humor.