It’s the summer of 1962, and the city of Norvelt is dying, right along with its original residents. Jack Gantos, the fictional protagonist, has a knack for getting into trouble. First, he accidentally shoots a bullet from his dad’s Japanese sniper rifle, which lands him in big trouble with Dad. Then, Dad asks Jack to mow down his mother’s corn crop in the back yard to clear space for an airplane runway (he’s putting together his very own J-3), which lands him in big trouble with Mom. Combined, this means being grounded for the entire summer…unless it’s to go help his elderly, arthritic neighbor, Miss Volker, type up the Norvelt obituaries, which are coming fast and furious. Quirky, humorous, and sometimes gritty, author Jack Gantos infuses real bits of history about everything from Spanish conquistadors, the city of Norvelt, and its very real founder, Eleanor Roosevelt, into the bizarre lives and deaths of Norvelters. Gantos was born and raised in Norvelt, Pennsylvania, and gives readers a historical glimpse into small town America. (read less)

It’s the summer of 1962, and the city of Norvelt is dying, right along with its original residents. Jack Gantos, the fictional protagonist, has a knack for getting into trouble. First, he accidentally shoots a bullet from his dad’s Japanese sniper rifle, which lands him in big trouble with Dad. Then, Dad asks Jack to mow down his mother’s corn crop in the back yard to clear space for an (read more)

Jack is caught between his arguing parents. His mother has grounded him for firing a Japanese gun his father owned. She has also volunteered him to help Mrs. Volker, a neighbor who writes obituaries. Mrs. Volker has arthritis in her hands and can no longer write or type up the obituaries for the Norvelt News. Through the obituaries she tells the history of the deceased. The deceased have recently become the original women of the town of Norvelt. Jack loves this new job since he loves history. He has one problem, if he gets overly excited his nose will begin to bleed. As the elderly women of Norvelt begin to drop like flies, people are beginning to wonder if it is murder. Mrs. Volker examines the bodies and pronounces each death that of natural causes. Not everyone is convinced. Could she be hiding something? This was a wonderful book full of history and lessons that the reader won’t mind learning. The mystery was enough to keep you reading, yet not so difficult you couldn’t figure it out. Highly recommended reading. (read less)

Jack is caught between his arguing parents. His mother has grounded him for firing a Japanese gun his father owned. She has also volunteered him to help Mrs. Volker, a neighbor who writes obituaries. Mrs. Volker has arthritis in her hands and can no longer write or type up the obituaries for the Norvelt News. Through the obituaries she tells the history of the deceased. The deceased have (read more)