Common Sense Media Review
By Kate Pavao
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Joey tries to heal his family in emotional series finale.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 11+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
THE KEY THAT SWALLOWED JOEY PIGZA is another emotional adventure about Joey, who has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, a depressed mother, and a dirty home filled with roaches. In this final installment of the series, Joey has to stop school to care full-time for his baby brother when their depressed mother checks herself into the hospital. As she leaves, she warns Joey that his father -- who recently deserted the family -- will try to steal the baby, Carter Junior, so Joey must protect him. Sensitive Joey, who can feel the emotions of everyone around him, becomes determined to fix his family ("I just need to remember my special gift -- if I can feel all the good that's in them, then I think it will work out").
Is It Any Good?
The outrageous characters make this book a highly creative, entertaining story. There's Joey's angry, blind girlfriend; his father, who's trying to heal his botched face-lift; and Joey himself, who eats nothing but pizza and marches to school "with my head thrown back and arms pumping up and down like I was the conductor of an All-Star All-Roach marching band." But be warned: For a thin, kooky book, The Key That Swallowed Joey Pigza packs an emotional wallop.
Readers may be shocked by the terrible things his parents tell him ("I already ruined you," his mother says. "Inside your head is a ticking time bomb") and feel deep empathy for poor Joey when he curls up in the crib his father prepared for his baby brother and begins sucking his thumb. In the end, readers will cheer for Joey and his hard-won fight to put together his highly imperfect family -- and stand up for himself.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Joey. Is he "broken"? How does he change from the beginning to the end?
Have you read the first Joey Pigza book, Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key? Why do you think the author chose to give this book such a similar title?
Do you know anyone who reminds you of Joey? How do reading books like this one help tween and teen readers develop empathy and understanding?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Coming of Age
- Topics : Book Characters
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Farrar, Straus and Giroux
- Publication date : September 2, 2014
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 10 - 14
- Number of pages : 160
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Kindle
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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