Pig Tale [Hardcover]

Verlyn Flieger (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 1 and up | Grade Level: 7 and up

Near the village of Little Wicken, a baby girl is found abandoned in a field. Unwanted and unloved, the foundling grows up, existing on the grudging charity of the villagers. It is only when they notice her way with animals that the girl is given a permanent place—as a pig herder—and a name: Mokie, meaning “Little Pig Girl.” After a brutal attack by the village boys, fifteen-year-old Mokie flees with her beloved pig, Apple, into the heart of the mysterious Wickenwood. It is there that Mokie meets a trio of Gypsies, who take her under their wing. But she soon discovers that her new friends are more than they appear to be. Could they hold the key to her past. . .and her future? In her debut novel, Verlyn Flieger weaves elements from Celtic mythology into an unforgettable tale that explores universal truths about the human condition—society’s need for scapegoats, the yearning to belong, and love’s transcendent power to make the world anew. Thought-provoking, unflinching, and original, Pig Tale will break your heart, and utterly astonish you.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A man whose chief income derives from pig-keeping discovers a foundling one day. Is she a changeling left by the Crystal Folk in nearby Wickenwood or just an ordinary orphan? Firmly rooted in Celtic folklore and transformation myths, and infused with motifs from Jackson's The Lottery, Flieger's haunting rite-of-passage fantasy touches on a host of difficult subjects: rape, hatred, fear of the unknown, first love, spirituality and death. Young Mokie adopts Apple, the 13th pig born of a sow with only 12 teats, while working as the pig herder for her reluctant guardian in Little Wicken, where ritual pig stonings ensure good harvests. Through imagery and dreams, Flieger links the girl's fate with that of the pig's ("When she dreamed, she was not only the watcher but also the little pig, feeling her terror and the thud of the stones as they hit her body"). Readers may be disturbed by a graphic rape scene, which marks a turning point for 15-year-old Mokie: she and Apple then take refuge in the woods, where they meet up with a trio of magical characters who teach her the skills required to become a member of their "tumbling" troupe and earn her trust. But the three also know Mokie will soon play a pivotal part in "the pattern" that the Crystal Folk can never break. A redemptive ending brings this heartbreaking fantasy full circle. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 8 Up-Mokie, an orphan, lives with a mean-spirited couple and their loutish son, Dommel; her only companionship comes from the pigs she herds, especially from her pet runt, Apple. Mokie's lonely life leaves her vulnerable to a gang of village boys who overpower her while Dommel brutally rapes her. Distraught and horrified, Mokie flees into the forest with Apple and lives off the land until she encounters a strange trio, two men and a woman. She meets them again at the other side of the forest, performing as gypsies at a country fair, and as they befriend her, she learns more about the mystery of her own growing and changing body and finds, apparently, true love with the younger of the men. The story is interwoven with mythic imagery of stories Mokie has overheard of the Crystal Country and a powerful figure named Sorcha. Coming full circle, she is lured back to the village by the capture of her beloved pig, only to meet a tragic end as once again she becomes the village scapegoat. But her essential spirit passes on to the Crystal Country where she senses that a wonderful reunion will take place. The story will appeal to readers who enjoy otherworldly tales of mythic proportion, such as Philip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" trilogy (Knopf). However, it occasionally becomes weighted down by its mythic meaning, and the convoluted plot may be difficult to follow for many readers. Still, the writing is rich in imagery and flows smoothly and the characters are intriguing and finely drawn. An interesting first novel from an author who bears watching.
Connie C. Rockman, Stratford Library Association, CT
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 1 and up
  
• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion; 1ST edition (October 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 078680792X
• ISBN-13: 978-0786807925
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #874,862 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Compelling but heartbreaking., November 1, 2002

By 

Dawn Dixon - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pig Tale (Hardcover)

Powerfully spun tale, both compelling and unflinching in its portrayal of 'scapegoating.' The tale builds around the cruel abuse and treatment of Mokie, a young girl abandoned at birth. While beautifully written, each chapter compounds the injustices served on this likeable protagonist. The reader never enjoys a sense of equality for Mokie -- justice is never served -- hardships are not incurred for those who make her life so miserable. Tightly written with intriguing characterizations in an original voice, this novel is hard to put down, and even harder to forget. Vivid and graphically described assaults make this a book unsuitable for sensitive readers.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Compelling but disturbing, March 15, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Pig Tale (Hardcover)

I admit from the get-go that I couldn't put it down. It is wonderfully written and the story line pulls you in right away. However, I found this book in the youth section, and there are parts of this book that are very adult. It is, simply, a coming-of-age book, complete with first mensturation, fondling, rape and finally sex (more than once). I tried to look over that because I was so drawn by the story, but then I was just frustrated by the end of the book. Many questions are left unanswered, and the reader is left to draw conclusions for which you're not prepared.
I commend the writer for the beautiful story-telling, but this story could have taken a slightly different direction with the ending, giving more hope. You feel just a little lost at the end, not sure if something good or bad just happened and the slightly uneasy feeling that the bad thing will probably happen again.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a wonderful read, December 31, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Pig Tale (Hardcover)

Verlyn Flieger's fiction debut makes for a wonderful and moving read. The character of Mokie, the castoff child who is taken in by a band of mysterious gypsies, is beautifully drawn, and Mokie's story is consistently engaging. Flieger's knowlegde of mythology (the jacket sleeve says she is a professor of comparative mythology) stands her in good stead, particularly when she is dealing with the gypsies themselves, who seem somehow to be both real and not of this world.

I would also like to take exception to a previous reviewer's criticism of the book's rape scene. It is the obligation of good fiction to render the world it encompasses as clearly and honestly as possible. What happens to Mokie is terrible, yes, but such things do happen, and Flieger handles the scene with grace and sensitivity, particulary in describing Mokie's reactions during and after the trauma. The episode is in no way gratuitous, but allows the reader even greater insight into the heroine and her world.

Again, this is a fine, fine book -- I look forward to seeing what this author does next.