Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key

Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key introduces readers to Joey, a middle-grade boy whose life is a whirlwind of impulsive decisions and unpredictable behavior, often to the dismay of his mother and teachers. The narrative explores Joey's struggles with an implied neurodevelopmental condition, possibly ADHD or an adjustment disorder, which causes him to act 'wired' and get into serious scrapes, including a memorable incident involving a pencil sharpener and a classmate's nose. The book delves into Joey's internal fear that 'something is wrong inside him' and chronicles his journey as his medications are adjusted, leading him toward better self-regulation and a growing sense of self-acceptance. It's a fast-paced, empathetic look at living with and managing behavioral challenges.

To the constant disappointment of his mother and his teachers, Joey has trouble paying attention or controlling his mood swings when his prescription medications wear off and he starts getting worked up and acting wired. A finalist for the 1998 National Book Award for Young People's Literature.