Jack Gantos is an American author of children's books renowned for his portrayal of fictional Joey Pigza, a boy with ADHD, and many other well known characters such as Rotten Ralph, Jack Henry, Jack Gantos (memoirs) and others. This fiery autobiographical novel captures a pivotal week or two in the life of fourteen-year-old Jack Gantos, as the author reveals the moment he began to slide off track as a kid who in just a few years would find himself locked up in a federal penitentiary for the crimes portrayed in … “Jack Gantos on Journaling.” A video interview, TeachingBooks.net, 2001. Jack Gantos (author of Rotten Ralph the cat) is 66 years old (birthdate July 2, 1951). “Jack Gantos at the National Book Festival.” Library of Congress, 2005. “Jack Gantos: On Domestic Craziness and Big-Hearted Kids.” An interview with Gail P. Gregg, The ALAN Review, volume 28, number 2 (Winter 2001).