Gantos, Jack. 2000. Joey Pigza loses control. New York: Scholastic, Inc. 

Joey and his mom are on their way to drop Joey off for a six-week visit with his Dad, whom Joey hasn’t ever met. Joey already has one thing in common with his dad—they both have trouble with control. Joey is on medication for ADHD and his dad is using a nicotine patch to help his quit smoking and claims to have stopped drinking, but this sets the stage for an interesting visit that includes his dad’s new girlfriend, playing baseball, and learning to accept himself for who he is. Joey is understandably nervous as he embarks on building a relationship with his father, and he goes through the seemingly normal emotions of fear, anxiety, and hope—that his mother and father will reunite creating a whole family. Gantos gives Joey a vibrant personality as he struggles with his quest for love from the most important man in his life and normalcy in other areas. When his dad decides that they should be men and stop using their medications, Joey tries hard to do what his dad wants. However, his struggle with the ups and downs of severe ADHD soon render him out of control and on a path to self-awareness that all children must find eventually. Although frequently depressing, this clear picture of a child dealing with ADHD will find a home with children of all ages, both those who struggle with the condition and those that come into contact with them every day.