A Pig Called Heather

February 1, 2015
When her "[b]est two-legged friend" moves away to London from a farm in Scotland, Heather follows-earning national celebrity on the way.Heather can't talk, except to other animals, but she's a clever pig who can scrunch her nose fetchingly, read a bit, thanks to tutelage from Rhona the goat, and recognize almost any apple variety from a single bite. Having known and loved young Isla since the child was in the diapers-and-mud-eating stage, she is sad when Isla and her widowed father have to sell the farm and move to the city in the wake of a devastating fire. But Heather is caught on camera feeding the new owner's neglected chickens ("It's Animal Farm without the politics"), and in no time she's the star of an advertising campaign that whisks her to London and a happy reunion. Troubles aren't over yet, though, because keeping a large pig in a small city flat is not in the cards. Can Isla find a proper domicile for the doughty Duroc before the "pest controller" catches up? Stocked with flashes of wit, unlikely twists and narrow escapes from capture, this amiable ramble slides smoothly into the literary sty occupied by Wilbur, Babe, Mercy Watson and like talented porkers. (Animal fantasy. 8-10)

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March 1, 2015

Gr 3-6-Heather Duroc says her favorite thing to do is nothing. Yet in this contemporary farce, she never gets the chance. Heather is a Duroc pig happily living on a 300-year-old farm in Scotland. She's owned by her "best human," Isla, and the girl's father. The recent death of Isla's mother has made the pig and her human inseparable. That is, until the barn is destroyed in a fire and Isla and her father move away to London. While the new owner is having a commercial filmed at the farm, Heather is "discovered" and becomes the most famous pig in the United Kingdom. On her way to a photo shoot in London, she breaks away and sets out to reunite with Isla. This whimsical adventure is a pleasure. The story is fast-paced and exciting. The writing is imaginative and is lightly sprinkled with Briticisms. The characters are unique and well defined. For example, Heather can readily identify every apple she's ever eaten ("Fall Pippin, excellent for eating."). But what sets this story apart is Oulton's ability to bring Heather's every action to life. Happily, nothing ends up where it begins, and, hopefully, the open-ended conclusion will lead to more rollicking adventures. Heather is a VIP (very impressive pig). VERDICT For readers seeking a rousing adventure or animal tale, this is a winner.-Sada Mozer, Los Angeles Public Library

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