Hole in My Life by Jack Gantos (nonfiction)

Gantos wrote the hugely popular children's book, Joey Pigza Swallows a Key, but this book is nothing like that one. This is the non-fiction account of Gantos' own youth. Evidently, he was a smart aleck who thought he knew more than every adult in the world. He stays stoned quite a bit, cheats his way through high school, and swindles the honest adults around him--or thinks he does. The beginning of the book has a picture of him when he was arrested and sent to jail, so you know he's going to get caught. You also know he is a successful author, so you know something is going to give. Gantos is pretty honest about his wild behavior and the price he paid for it, but he doesn't go overboard with details that might be inappropriate for high school students. He also doesn't sound preachy; his life is message enough. Every kid--smart aleck or not--should read this book around 10th or 11th grade.