Off the Wall and Family Tree Summary

"Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key" is the story of a young boy, Joey Pigza, who has troubles with concentration and behaviors. He is not a bad boy but cannot seem to control his actions, even though he is medicated for attention deficit disorder. Through special education and a caseworker named Ed Vanness, Joey learns that to control his behavior, he must learn to cope with his past and his home life, and make better decisions.

In "Off the Wall," Joey Pigza admits he is "wired wrong" and that he feels unable to control his behavior most of the time. He takes his medication in the morning, but by the afternoon, he is bouncing off the walls. After being rude to his teacher, Mrs. Maxy, she sends him to the hall, where he continues...