Pigboy

by Vicki Grant

Overview

Dan is not sure he'll survive the boring field trip to a remote heritage farm.

How could a place with no running water, telephone or electricity be anything but dull? The farmer knows nothing about farming and seems angry about having to conduct the tour. And what's with his tattoo? The teacher requests a private word with the farmer and then mysteriously disappears. Dan decides to investigate and uncovers a deadly plan. But will he be able to get help in time to save his teacher and the rest of his class?

Also available in French.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781554696901
Publisher:	Orca Book Publishers
Publication date:	09/01/2006
Series:	Orca Currents Series
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	112
File size:	561 KB
Age Range:	10 - 14 Years

About the Author

Vicki Grant is the award-winning author and television scriptwriter. She has written many books for teens and young readers including the Arthur Ellis Award-winning book, Quid Pro Quo. Her books have been translated into fifteen languages. She lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Read an Excerpt

Clearly, any field trip involving manure is not right for a bunch of fourteen-year-olds.

But manure wasn't even the worst part of the stupid field trip.

The worst part was that the farmer grows pigs. And pigs are also called hogs. And there's this poor guy in our class called Dan Hogg who everybody hated.

I don't know why exactly. Maybe it was his hair. Or his teeth. Or his glasses. Or the fact that he answered Mr. Benvie's questions as if he might actually have a brain. Usually he just tried to sort of disappear, but it never worked. Idiots like Shane Coolen or Tyler March wouldn't take their eyes off him. They wouldn't shut up about him. They wouldn't quit laughing at him.

Editorial Reviews

Gr 5-9-Dan Hogg is the class brain who wears glasses and has weird hair. But his biggest problem is his name: it just begs for insults. And the kids in his class are glad to oblige. When they go on a field trip to a heritage farm specializing in raising pigs, Dan knows that it will be the worst day of his life, but he never imagined just how bad it would get. An escaped criminal has made his way to the farm and locked up the owner. The convict is not sure what to do with the bus full of eighth graders, but soon figures out that he needs to get rid of them all. Surprising even himself, Dan, in a bumbling, self-effacing way, becomes a hero by saving his classmates and teacher. He is still the class nerd, but he has earned the respect of the biggest bully, and that helps. Grant has done a fantastic job of developing the voice of an adolescent who is the class bully's whipping boy. Dan's wry sense of humor catches readers' attention and has them rooting for him practically from the first page. Pigboy is a great quick read for boys who may be reluctant readers, but others will enjoy it as well.-Wendy Smith-D'Arezzo, Loyola College, Baltimore, MD Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal

"It would suit high interest low vocabulary readers with its brevity and reading level, but the high action and excellent writing, not to mention the likable main character, would make it a good choice for any reader."

Puget Sound Council for Review of Children's Media

Grant hits the nail on the head when she brings both mucous and underwear into the story line…Grant writes a compelling story with lots of suspense, but it's the journey to Dan’s personal redemption that is most enjoyable to read…Highly recommended.

CM: Canadian Review of Materials

Grant hits the nail on the head when she brings both mucous and underwear into the story line…Grant writes a compelling story with lots of suspense, but it's the journey to Dan’s personal redemption that is most enjoyable to read…Highly recommended.

CM Magazine

"It would suit high interest low vocabulary readers with its brevity and reading level, but the high action and excellent writing, not to mention the likable main character, would make it a good choice for any reader."

Puget Sound Council for the Review of Children's Books

This quick read is perfect for reluctant readers, especially boys. In a story of bravery and redemption, Grant moves quickly to first establish Dan’s post on the lowest rung of the social ladder, and then chronicles his eventual rise to the top.

KLIATT

"Middle school readers will appreciate this adventure."

VOYA

*no details*

Canadian Book Review Annual