Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key is a children's novel by Jack Gantos, published in 1998.

[1] The book describes the life of a child named Joey Pigza who frequently gets into trouble at school due to his erratic behavior.

At school, Joey puts his finger in a pencil sharpener, runs around with scissors, and cuts the tip of a girl's nose off.

[2] As a consequence of slicing off the tip of his classmate's nose, Pigza is suspended from school and sent to a special education center.

[4] Kristi Beavin, writing for Horn Book Magazine, also applauded Gantos' ability to craft Joey's voice.