The Pigs Are Flying [Paperback]

Emily Rodda (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1991

After complaining that her life is uninteresting, Rachel finds herself transported to a place where periodic storms occur which affect the inhabitants in strange ways and cause pigs to float in the air.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Rodda takes a funny ideapigs might flyand expands it to an entertaining novel for middle readers. On a rainy day, Rachel is tired of being cooped up with a cold, and wishes somethinganythingwould happen. She gets her wishthe next time she awakens from a doze, a unicorn is waiting to take her away; her destination is a very odd place where certain weather systems make pigs fly and people just a little bit crazy in storms known as grunters. By the time Rachel finds her way back home, she has reunited a family whose daughter left during a grunter a long time ago and hadn't been seen since, and she has learned not to wish for things so lightly in the future. The premise is good-natured and funny, and this book will please those who are just beginning to read fantasies. Illustrations not seen by PW . Ages 9-up
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Camelot (January 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380705559
• ISBN-13: 978-0380705559
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,947,396 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The pigs are flying., September 24, 2000

By 

Tessy Cook (Monticello, KY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Pigs Are Flying (Hardcover)

This book is original and very well written. The book is well written for the style makes the fantasy seem so real that nothing is impossible. Children can use their imagination by reading this book and the story will probably remain with them throughout their lives. The main character, a little girl named Rachel, makes the young reader able to relate and believe in the fantasy world. The detail and word structure of the book gives us vivid descriptions of things and visual scenes. For example, the pigs were described as plump and pink. The unicorn's golden horn glittered in the sun and it's fluffy white mane moved with the breeze. One could easily visualize little Rachel in her pajamas riding a unicorn in a green field. Every detail seems so believable that one realizes "nothing is impossible" while using your imagination. There are several rules in the fantasy which make the story seem very real for even as a child, we must realize that we cannot always do or get what we want in life. For example, the people in the story are hiding because they can not tolerate the UEF rays of the "grunter" storm. If they get out in the storm, it makes their personalities, tolerance, and reliability become greatly affected. Also Rachel has only one way that she can get back to her world, and she has to find help in order to learn how to get back. The UEF has its limits, because it does not affect Rachel. Also, the people cannot tell Rachel exactly how the other outsiders got back to their world. However, one was able to tell her what one was doing when they disappeared. Rachel must learn on her own how she can get back to her home and family. These limitations make the story much more interesting and believable, because not everything in life comes easy. Rachel is very human for she is a young child who wants something fun to happen. Rachel has her fun in the story, but she also becomes frightened away from her home. On the other hand, the pigs have some almost human characteristics. They seem to grunt and squeak with pleasure. One big pig appears to smile at her. The pigs somersault and roll (like children at play) in mid air. The unicorn seems to know to take Rachel to Bert and Enid's house so she will be safe (thinks like human mind). These qualities have just enough seriousness to make the reader feel like they are a character in this new world. I would definitely read this book to my primary class. The Pigs are Flying has a great conclusion for it lets the reader keep on dreaming. The fantasy does end for Rachel, but it was not a dream. It was a real adventure for she has some UEF in a bottle to prove it. Just enough to make this boring world a little interesting sometimes.

5.0 out of 5 stars In College and remember reading it!, November 23, 2000

By 

Annie (Santa Barbara, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Pigs Are Flying (Paperback)

I read this book over and over as a child! I remember details of it like it was yesterday. I absolutely loved it and I still do. It makes you think and wonder and spurns your curiosity and creativity. A must own for the creative child. I am in college and I still remember this book! Buy it today!