Module 4: Dead End in Norvlet

Book Cover Image

Summary

Dead End in Norvelt revolves around a young buy, Jack Gantos. He lives with his family in the town of Norvelt. Jack has found himself grounded for the entire summer as he shot his father's Japanese war gun without permission and also cut down his mother's corn field at his father's request. Jack's mother was always up to finding something for him to do. Norvelt was full of elderly people one in particular, Miss Volker. Miss Volker has a horrible case of arthritis and is in charge of writing the towns obituaries. Therefor, Jack's mom see's him fit to help her out. In the end, Jack learns a lot about the town of Norvelt and even has Miss Volker cure Jack of his nose bleeds. Jack learns how to be a man from his elderly friend. 

APA Reference

Gantos, Jack ( 2011). Dead end in Norvlet. HArrisonburg, VA: D&M Publishers, Inc. 

My Impressions

I enjoyed this book. I love books that show children with good character. Yes, sometimes Jack would break the rules, but he was always respectful to the adults in his life. Even on Jack's birthday he could have disappointed in not getting much for his birthday, but he didn't. He appreciated that his parents wanted to show him how to be a better person. The time period was not usual in most books a kid reads these days. It takes place after the war when times are tough. Jack always finds a way to get by. 

Professional Review

Looks like a bummer of a summer for 11-year-old Jack (with a same-name protagonist, it’s tempting to assume that at least some of this novel comes from the author’s life). After discharging his father’s WWII-souvenir Japanese rifle and cutting down his mom’s fledgling cornfield, he gets grounded for the rest of his life or the rest of the summer of 1962, whichever comes first. Jack gets brief reprieves to help an old neighbor write obituaries for the falling-like-flies original residents of Norvelt, a dwindling coal-mining town. Jack makes a tremendously entertaining tour guide and foil for the town’s eccentric citizens, and his warmhearted but lightly antagonistic relationship with his folks makes for some memorable one-upmanship. Gantos, as always, deliver bushels of food for thought and plenty of outright guffaws, though the story gets stuck in neutral for much of the midsection. When things pick up again near the end of the summer, surprise twists and even a quick-dissolve murder mystery arrive to pay off patient readers. Those with a nose for history will be especially pleased.

— Ian Chipman

Chipman, I. (2011). Booklist. 

Library Uses

This book reminds me some of another popular book released in 2011, Okay for Now. I think students could make a comparison with Okay for Now and Dead End in Norvelt. Both are about a boy finding himself in a small town.