Pigs Might Fly

May 29, 2017
A young pig’s determination to prove herself, and the tension between magic and science, drive this vividly imagined adventure, set in a fantasy landscape populated by anthropomorphic pigs and warthogs. Lily Leanchops is following in the footsteps (hoofprints?) of her inventor father, Hercules Fatchops, who has labored to devise a flying machine that doesn’t require magic to stay aloft. He doesn’t know that Lily has already created a working biplane, and after planes from a neighboring realm of warthogs appear in the skies, Lily follows them in her Esmeralda II, uncovering secrets, treachery, and evil schemes that imperil the land and expand her understanding of it. In his first graphic novel, Dye conjures a visually rich landscape that evokes the dawn of flight in the early 20th century; his aerial battles are a blast (often quite literally, when magic is involved). Abadzis (Laika) packs his story with porcine wordplay (“O Allfather Skypig/ the sky, his sty/ give us wings/ so there we might fly,” Lily prays during takeoff), but it’s the rapid pacing, intense action sequences, and wealth of skilled female characters that will stick with readers. Ages 8–12.

May 1, 2017
Can teen pig Lily realize her dream to fly with the power of science?Lily's engineer father, Professor Fatchops, has long been working on powered flight, but the government has other priorities. Lily and her younger cousin Archie secretly take up the task of creating a plane that doesn't need magic to stay aloft. Just as she's one model away from success, warthogs from the wilds west of the mountains attack in aircraft. With a few tweaks, Lily has a working plane ready to answer the warthogs' next attack. Her actions are greeted with acclaim, but when her secret's revealed, her father's angry outburst sends Lily on another mission...to try to reason with the warthogs. What she finds over the mountains is a magical surprise--and a terrifying threat on both physical and supernatural fronts. Abadzis sets his piggie parable in a steampunk-y world that looks a lot like early-20th-century America at its outset. Experienced readers will easily predict the tale's trajectory, as it follows in the trotters of fantasy comics past, which means it also acts as a nice primer for middle graders just starting out in the genre. Dye's colorful artwork fleshes out both the anthropomorphic pigs, clothing them in period garb that's filled out with very humanlike physiques, and their world, which expands impressively once Lily reaches the dominion of the warthogs. Lily's fans will look forward to the sequel set up at the close. (Graphic fantasy. 9-14)

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July 1, 2017

Gr 4-8-Lily Leanchops, a young pinkish tan hog in the Pigdom Plains, invents the first airplane that can fly without the help of magic. Her innovation comes on the eve of an invasion: warthogs from just beyond the mountains are planning to take over the Pigdom with their airborne armada. Lily can't wait around for her engineer father and the Pigminister Prime to come up with a response, not when every hog is in danger. She takes to the skies in her new plane and fights off a battalion of warthog fighters, who are all varying shades of brown. Her heroics set into motion an adventure that will take her to the center of the warthogs' civilization, bringing her face-to-face with nightmarish evil and the very heavens themselves. This graphic novel evokes Jeff Smith's legendary "Bone" series: pages eschew intricate panel placement and use a three-by-three layout, allowing for more densely packed text and story advancement. The fully realized fantasy realm oscillates between a lighthearted, often pun-filled world parallel to our own and a dark, mysterious place filled with political dysfunction and doomsday tension. The focus on Lily's character development at times steals readers' attention from an imaginative secondary cast filled with mages, inventors, and soldiers; fortunately, the detailed artwork, vivid colors, and soaring action sequences breathe life into each moment of this hefty narrative. VERDICT Fans of "Bone" and "Amulet" will adore this well-crafted, exciting tale.-Matisse Mozer, County of Los Angeles Public Library

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2017
Grades 7-10 Lily Leanchops, daughter of a famous inventor, has built an aircraft using only her own mechanical skills; no magic needed. But when warthog flying machines begin dive bombing the peaceful Pigdom Plains, Lily must look deep into her father's past to find out who gave the warthogs their newfound knowledge. A 1920s-like setting combines with anthropomorphic, porcine characters and a touch of unusual magic for a unique tale of feminism, desperation, and scientific endeavor. Though Abadzis could have played for laughs, he instead chooses to give his story a serious tone, which will draw readers in. Dye's art strikes a good balance between cartoonishafter all, these are pigs!and serious, using a lot of detail to illustrate the settings, the aerial battles, and the emotions of the characters. His muted colors fit the apparent time period, adding gravity to an already thoughtful story. Lily's frustration at being subject to limitations due to her gender will resonate with teen readers, as will her determination to show off her skills while helping her people.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)