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ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
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BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
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All parent reviews for Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key

Age
12
Parent of 4, 6, 10, and 12 year old
July 24, 2009
 
Read this book WITH your kids, and discuss!
I loved this book. Great material for discussing behavior, consequences, and attitude with young people. I would not let my kids read it without discussion, This book doesn't offer moral judgments about pharmaceuticals, ADHD, personal responsibility, chemical imbalances, etc. It just paints a powerful picture, from a kid's perspective, of what a kid feels. The cruelty from other kids, the low self worth, coping with caregivers who may have their own shortcomings, etc. I believe pharmaceuticals (psychotropic drugs) are WAY over-prescribed, and that the whole psychiatric establishment is prone to corruption by big pharma, and values treatment over recovery. Nevertheless, this book tends to portray the industry in a positive light, and reminds me that for all its shortcomings many people are truly helped. Great fodder for getting kids to think about consequences, other people's feelings, judging others, making a difference in the world, and coping with life's challenges. I recommend - but only if you read it, too, and discuss.

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Adult
April 9, 2008
 
Great Book for 9th Graders
A lot of kids I know really enjoy reading this book because the protagonist is someone who feels the same way they do...They are so used to people getting fed up with them and saying things like, "why can't you just sit still for a while?" Here is a protagonist who has to hold on to his chair until his knuckles turn white or he may just explode out of his chair and hit the ceiling. A believable story of a young man who consistantly tries to do the "right thing" though the right thing, just like in real life, doesn't always go as planned.

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Parent of 12 year old
September 20, 2010
 
Deadly Propaganda
I can't believe that this book would be recommended to any child. It is attempting to normalize drugging children as some cockeyed solution to bad parenting and child abuse... Drugs never helped a single child, or adult for that matter, learn how to learn or how to control their behavior. All kiddy drugs have very negative side effects which include suicide and homicidal tendencies. That is why the FDA was forced to put a Black Warning Label on all "Behavioral Modification" drugs for children.

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Parent of 17 year old
March 17, 2009
 

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Adult
April 9, 2008
 
Loved It!
I loved this book so much and I can relate to it because my brother has problems like Joey and they both mean well but things happen that they can't control. A very good book. I just wish that I could go into the book and be his friend because I felt so bad!

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Parent
February 27, 2012
 
Language issue not shown in the initial review.
My daughter who is 13 chose not to read it. The language bothered her. I did not read the book myself.

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