Already the recipient of many honors for his books, which are favorites among educators and librarians for their ability to lure those coveted “reluctant’’ readers, last month Gantos was awarded the Newbery Medal, the highest honor in children’s literature, for his latest book, “Dead End in Norvelt.’’
Several factors contributed to his Newbery selection, Gantos figures. Part of it could be his longevity; now 60, he’s been writing books since the late 1970s. Part of it could be the fact that he had already amassed quite a bit of “swag,’’ as he calls it. “Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key’’ (1998), the first book in that series, was a finalist for a National Book Award. In 2001, Gantos was a Newbery finalist for “Joey Pigza Loses Control.’’ The author also won several awards, including the Printz and Sibert honors, for “Hole in My Life’’ (2001), perhaps his most unusual book, in which he wrote frankly about a bad decision that landed him in prison in his early 20s.
Mostly, though, Gantos believes “Dead End in Norvelt,’’ an oddball murder mystery involving a boy and a stack of obituaries about the town founders, is deserving of the award.
“I don’t feel like I just barely lipped it in over the rim,’’ he says with an impish grin.
Some writers of children’s books — particularly authors who write for boys — can come across in person like overgrown kids themselves. Gantos seems like nothing of the sort. He looks more like an art dealer, with his jacket and vest, his dark hair, and his Roy Orbison-style thick black-framed glasses.
“He’s dapper, very hip,’’ says Janet Tashjian, who says she became a writer of young-adult books after studying with Gantos when he taught at Emerson College. “It’s not a case of arrested development, absolutely not.’’
The author’s sense of humor has helped earn him a devoted following in the publishing world, says Tashjian.
