Book Review: DEAD END IN NORVELT

Gantos, Jack. (2013). Dead end in Norvelt. New York: Square Fish. ISBN 9781250010230

Plot Summary 

Jack a history book enthusiast and nose bleeder quickly finds himself grounded for the summer, which he envisioned would be entirely different from what his break has in store for him. He befriends his elderly neighbor, Miss Volker as a means out of the house, but come across many adventures as he helps unravel the mystery of the rapid deaths of the last living women in the town of Norvelt. 

Critical Analysis 

The author provides authenticity to the story as far as evidence that there is an actual town of Norvelt in Pennsylvania with a map of the town provided at the end of the book in a scrapbook. Within the scrapbook we get a first-hand view of what a Norvelt house looked like back in the day, a picture of Eleanor Roosevelt who founded Norvelt. The author creates a parallel with Jack in the story to children now a days. I think all children can relate one way or another with the main character, Jack (from being grounded, sneaking out, doing things behind parents back, keeping secrets, playing baseball, the feel of summer vacation etc.) 

Review Excerpt (s) 

-Book List (2011) “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.”

-Horn Book Guide starred (2012) “This is a richly layered semi-autobiographical tale, an ode to a time and place, to history and the power of reading.”

-School Library Journal (2011) “Each quirky obituary is infused with a bit of Norvelt's history, providing insightful postwar facts focusing on Eleanor Roosevelt's role in founding the town on principles of sustainable farming and land ownership for the poor. Jack's absorption with history of any kind makes for refreshing asides about John F. Kennedy's rescue of PT-109 during World War II, King Richard II, Francisco Pizarro's conquest of Peru, and more. A fast-paced and witty read.”

John Newbery Medal - 2012

ALA Notable Children’s Book - 2012

Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction - 2012

Connections 

Students could create a timeline of the historical events that are mentioned throughout the book and research if dates and occurrences are indeed factual events. Some other books that pair grealty with this book are the following: 

Yelchin, Eugene. Arcady’s Goal. ISBN 9781250068149

Hahn, Mary Downing. As Ever, Gordy. ISBN 9780380732067