Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key Book

I am very double minded about this book.

Likes: I really like how this book is written from Joey's perspective. It describes how a child with ADHD might experience his life from his point of view. I think this is an important viewpoint to have available. It is also very well written.

Dislikes: This book is copyrighted 1998, but I had to look twice just to be sure that it didn't say 1968 or 1978. The portrayal of the Special Education classroom as one that is totally segregated and in the basement is so antiquated as to be a lie. Although the school recognizes that Joey has something different about him, the way they handle his behavior is also outmoded - running laps around the playground, running errands to the nurse and/or principal's office, etc. Joey himself says that he spends very little time in the classroom. How is he supposed to get an education? Until Joey is expelled for hurting another student, very little is being done. Joey is told to "be good." Although I am sure that ADHD kids had these school experiences in the past, this book is not written as an historical fiction novel. I am trying to decide if I want to keep this book in my classroom.