One mistake does not define you. I highly recommend the book, Hole in my life, by author, Jack Gantos, and am giving it a 4.5-star rating. The book is an inspirational memoir that leads the reader on the roller coaster of life where goals are pursued, and in that pursuit, a mistake causes a twist of fate which leads the author down an unexpected path. Most importantly, the book offers hope in demonstrating self-analyzation through trials and tribulations that lead to hard work and redemption toward a better life. The moral being, one small mistake does not define you, it’s how you react and change for the better that counts.Hole in My Life is a Printz Honor and Sibert Honor-winning memoir published in April 2002. The highly acclaimed author, Jack Gantos, is also known for many other books including the Jack Henry and Joey Pigza series, the Rotten Ralph picture books and early reading books, and two Norvelt novels called, Dead End in Norvelt (winner of a Newberry Medal) and From Norvelt to Nowhere. Jack Gantos’s style is very straightforward with a little bit of humor to lighten even the worst of situations.This novel is a memoir, reflecting the life of author Jack Gantos. This book is about how one single decision leading to an unfortunate mistake made by Gantos shaped his life entirely. As a struggling young adult trying to go to college and desperate for money, Gantos was offered a deal that he could not refuse, one that was almost too good to be true. Little did he know that that one decision would send his life down a path he would have never imagined. The book scripts out the life lesson that one mistake does not have to define and shape the rest of one’s future.The first half of the book explains Gantos’ early life, his struggles, his background and why he got to where he was. Then, comes his big mistake. The second half of the book explains in detail this mistake and the trials and obstacles he had to face. It is very compelling because the reader feels for Gantos and his situation. One can relate to his plight, and he is so similar to almost anyone with just a dash of bad luck. This story is relatable because, in just the blink of an eye, a life can be turned around just like he was. This book keeps the reader on edge and leaves one wanting to find out more. There were definite tension and shape to it. It presented in an interesting way where there is no confusion with a smooth flow, enticing the reader to continue on without pause. The tension peaked as he was arrested, imprisoned, and denied the ability to attend college, his lifelong dream. This narrative is authentic because it depicts the actual life event that shaped Gantos’ life. This book demonstrations acceptance, forgiveness, and redemption as it illustrates how one mistake does not have to change a life in a negative way forever; it allows for the hope of redemption and the ability to overturn a mistake in a reversal of fortune.Memoirs are not always the easiest books to find relatable, but Hole in My Life was easy to relate to because most people realize that nobody is perfect. We all make mistakes, some for better reasons than others, and to see how Gantos changed his life after his mistake was very compelling. It is a very inspirational story that could have been very negative. In some of Jack Gantos other work, he was able to bring his childhood out and create children's books regardless of the hardships he’s had to endure, so this one was quite a change.There are a few trigger points in this book. The lack of respect for the law and the ease in breaking it is one of those points. Another is the graphic jail scenes that could be disturbing to the reader. In particular, the talks of acts of rape that occurred in the jail between the men is an issue that could be difficult for a reader to endure. The casual talk occurs so quickly; it would have been nice to give a foreshadowing in the book to warn of the upcoming topic. Another issue covered that the reader may want to be warned of early on is the global drug smuggling throughout the open seas.The theme of the novel is that everybody makes mistakes, but it is more important how you react and move forward after that mistake than it is that you made the mistake itself. It matters how you improve your life with what you have. The moral is that no matter how bad your life gets, you can choose to give up, or you can decide to improve and go up from there, and you can’t let one mistake define your future. It’s how you look at your mistakes and grow from them that is what shapes you.I would recommend this novel to anyone from grade 7 and up. The older the age group the more likely they are to like and relate to this novel based on the hardships and experience they have been through. Both males and females can relate to this book. This book is appropriate for advanced students, as well, because it challenges them to think into the deeper meanings of life. Overall, it is definitely worth the time to read.