Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key

Joey experiences personal hurt on several levels, including abandonment by his mother at an early age. How might this have impacted him? For example, if Fran Pigza had been available when Joey first started to experience behavior problems in school, would there have been a different outcome?

As the story of Joey’s family becomes more detailed, his mother reveals that both she and his father drank too much alcohol. This seems to be one of the reasons that Fran was unavailable to her son for several years. She tells Joey that she worked hard to “pull it together” to return to him. What does she mean by this? What work would she have had to do?

Joey has been frightened by “mean” neighborhood kids who put a leash around his neck and commanded him to play dead as if he were a dog. Why do you think that bullies would pick on a child such as Joey rather than someone else? In your opinion, are they being intentionally cruel, or does Joey misinterpret their actions?

Grandma suffers from mood swings, although she is often contrite after saying cruel things to Joey. She advises Joey that his father suffered from the same problems that both she and Joey do. What does this say about the genetic component of ADHD? In your opinion, are disorders like this hereditary?

Despite that he cannot remember his father, Carter Pigza, Joey is desperate to meet him again. Unlike Joey’s mother, Fran, his father has never made any effort to return to see him, and his mother explains that his father is still drunk quite often. Why does Joey want to see him, despite all this? Do you think that he will be pleased with his father when he does meet him?

Eventually, Joey goes to the Lancaster County Special Education Center. He is given effective medication, counseling, and behavioral therapy; it appears that his future will be brighter than his past. Consider the fact that Joey’s father, Carter, appears to have suffered from the same disorder. Do you think that he would have been afforded the same sorts of treatment? Would medications such as a transdermal patch have been available at that time?

When Joey first discusses his family history with Special Ed, the counselor advises him that he may have feelings of anger toward his mother for a while. In fact, when Joey returns home, he does vent to his mother about how awful it was to be alone with Grandma during her absence. Do you think this is a normal reaction? Do you think that it was healthy that Joey was able to talk to his mother about how angry he felt?

Seth Justman encourages Joey to swallow his house key for a dollar; he also tells Joey to ask for shoofly pie with extra flies on it. It seems that Seth is taking advantage of Joey, who is desperate to be liked and sometimes has trouble understanding things. Why would Seth do this? Do you think that he plans to be unkind, or is he just being immature and not thinking about the consequences of his behavior?