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Jack Gantos is to be commended for his courageous performance in exposing himself and his story to the world through this book. "Hole In My Life" is the story, told by the author himself, of how certain events in his life led to his finally becoming a writer. He lelates how, as a young adult (age 20), he found himself desperate to change his life through whatever means possible. He wanted to become a writer more than anything else, but felt he had not experienced enough to have anything worthwhile to write about. He wrote that he wanted to be "a writer with something important to say." His life was not easy, and many obstacles came between him and his dream of becoming a writer. At age 19, he was forced to quit high school and begin working. However, after a while, he began to consider going back. He saved enough money to re-enter at a private school, but they wouldn't accept him due to his low grades. There was no choice but to move away from his parents and enroll at his old high school in order to obtain his diploma.
After crossing that hurdle, he faced the issue of getting into college to prepare himself for writing. One obstacle after another, in addition to his lack of self-confidence, prevented him from entering and eventually pushed him to make an unwise choice. When he was offered $10,000 in cash to sail a yacht full of drugs into New York, he never considered the risk involved. He instead saw the opportunity to get out of his terrible situation and his ticket to a good college. Never did he realize the consequences of this decision, and the ironic hidden blessings this would carry with it.
Jack Gantos shares his story in a well-delivered manner. Despite the topics he touches (drugs and rape), he manages to maintain a high level of professionalism and pleasantly clean dialogue for young adults to enjoy without finding his words offensive.
Gantos, Jack. 2002. Hole in my life. Douglas & McIntyre, Ltd. ISBN 0-374-39988-3 |
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