by Jack Gantos
HarperTrophy, from $4.95; for ages 10 and up
Purchase Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key, Joey Pigza Loses Control or What Would Joey Do?

There are two sides to every story — especially when the stories are about Joey Pigza, a kind, impulsive boy, who often lands knee-deep in trouble.

Joey matter-of-factly recounts the sticky situations he finds himself in (like losing a fingernail in the pencil sharpener). Then he lets you in on what he was thinking (“but that's not what I intended to happen”). I urge parents to read these books before reading them to their children. There are some heavy problems plaguing Joey’s life — divorce, child custody, alcoholism — and you want to be sure your child is ready for them.