Joey [Hardcover]

Joseph F. Girzone (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 17, 1997

Within the tiny life that is a newborn baby there exists the coded material that will evolve into a masterpiece of incredible proportions. Joseph Girzone's Joey tells the true story of a young boy--Girzone's own godson-whose life bloomed in just that way, unfolding in a magnificent adventure before it ended all too soon.



Joey was a boy born with a smile on his face and music in his heart, a boy who was to reflect all the experiences of youth: the wonder of existence, the adventure of finding new things, the joy of discovering new love, the pain of betrayed trusts and broken commitments, the endless searching for a meaning to life and its endless riddles, and the joy of finding a wonderful God who can bring all these complex facets of life into focus.



This story is about a rare and beautiful love between a young boy and God. It is a work that will give hope to the young and comfort to mothers and fathers who watch fearfully as their children enter the unknown world of life's adventure.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Within the tiny life that is a newborn baby there exists the coded material that will evolve into a masterpiece of incredible proportions. Joseph Girzone's Joey tells the true story of a young boy--Girzone's own godson-whose life bloomed in just that way, unfolding in a magnificent adventure before it ended all too soon.

Joey was a boy born with a smile on his face and music in his heart, a boy who was to reflect all the experiences of youth: the wonder of existence, the adventure of finding new things, the joy of discovering new love, the pain of betrayed trusts and broken commitments, the endless searching for a meaning to life and its endless riddles, and the joy of finding a wonderful God who can bring all these complex facets of life into focus.

This story is about a rare and beautiful love between a young boy and God. It is a work that will give hope to the young and comfort to mothers and fathers who watch fearfully as their children enter the unknown world of life's adventure.

From the Inside Flap

Within the tiny life that is a newborn baby there exists the coded material that will evolve into a masterpiece of incredible proportions. Joseph Girzone's Joey tells the true story of a young boy--Girzone's own godson-whose life bloomed in just that way, unfolding in a magnificent adventure before it ended all too soon.



Joey was a boy born with a smile on his face and music in his heart, a boy who was to reflect all the experiences of youth: the wonder of existence, the adventure of finding new things, the joy of discovering new love, the pain of betrayed trusts and broken commitments, the endless searching for a meaning to life and its endless riddles, and the joy of finding a wonderful God who can bring all these complex facets of life into focus.



This story is about a rare and beautiful love between a young boy and God. It is a work that will give hope to the young and comfort to mothers and fathers who watch fearfully as their children enter the unknown world of life's adventure.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Doubleday; 1 edition (March 17, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385482620
• ISBN-13: 978-0739400043
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,993,975 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Music to the Soul, September 5, 2011

By 

JMack (Chicago) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Joey (Hardcover)

While Joseph Girzone has written some very moving books in the Joshua series, this is somewhat of a departure. "Joey" is Girzone's real life experience with a troubled young boy/man with a remarkable relationship with God. While some readers may feel voyeristic looking into this life, it is an enjoyable read.

The tagline of the book seems to indicate that the story will give hope to worried parents. Instead, I think the story increased my level of anxiety as a parent to a certain degree. There is no doubt that "Joey, which I reluctantly call a tragedy, emphasizes the important of having God at the center of family life. It is evident that faith played an important role in Joey's turbulent life. As Girzone writes on page 141, "So often preachers teach that if you really love God, you won't sin. This is so unreal." He follows this with the story of St. Peter's love for Jesus, yet Peter denies Jesus. It is the same with Joey's relationship as well as our own.

Readers do not have to like the story in "Joey" to take soemthing away from it. It is another valuable contribution to the literary worlk by Joseph Girzone.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, March 14, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Joey (Hardcover)

This book is the best book I read so far from Amazon.com This book made me think hard about how God love me.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thought Provoking and Touching, December 14, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Joey (Hardcover)

Having never read Mr. Girzone prior to this book,I would have to say he is my favorite author to date. Anyone with a child and a belief in God will have a hard time not being able to relate to it's content.A book I found impossible to put down.