About This Book
In this fourth book of the acclaimed Joey Pigza series, our protagonist, a boy with ADHD, faces significant upheaval when his unreliable father returns, claiming to have changed. Joey's father, now 'Charles Heinz,' convinces Joey's mother to change their names and help him renovate a failing diner. This forces Joey, now 'Freddie,' to leave school and work, leading to a profound identity crisis. The story delves into complex family dynamics, parental irresponsibility, and Joey's journey to understand and forgive his father, even as his father's plans unravel and he abandons the family once more. Ultimately, Joey finds strength in self-acceptance and looks forward to a new sibling, offering a poignant exploration of resilience and forgiveness for middle-grade readers.
Joey's father returns, calling himself Charles Heinz and apologizing for his past bad behavior, and he swears that once Joey and his mother change their names and help him fix up the old diner he has bought, their lives will change for the better.
separation_from_parent
mental_health_themes
abandonment
peril_danger
Discussion Prompts
1
How does Joey's new name, Freddie Heinz, affect his sense of self? Have you ever felt like you had to be someone you weren't?
2
Joey struggles with forgiving his father. What does forgiveness mean to you, and when is it hard to forgive someone?
3
Joey's parents make some questionable decisions. How do you think Joey feels about their choices, and how does he cope?
4
This book explores what it's like to have ADHD. How does Joey's ADHD influence his experiences and reactions throughout the story?
5
What does Joey learn about family and acceptance by the end of the book? What message do you take away about loving people for who they are?
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