Beryl: A Pig's Tale by Jane Simmons

Simmons, Jane. Beryl: A Pig’s Tale, 216 pgs. Little, Brown and Co., 2010. $14.99. Sexual Content-G; Language-G; Violence-G. Beryl is a pig. She lives in a windowless sty with her mean aunt Misery and cousins. Her mother is dead and her father was taken away. One day she is taken by the farmer’s by mistake and put on a truck. The truck’s driver slams on his breaks and the pigs fall out the back, Beryl sees this as her chance to escape. She wants to see the world. She meets a wild pig named Amber who takes her home to her colony. The pig council won’t take outsiders, so Amber’s aunt, uncle, and many other members of the colony leave to find a new home in the wild. Beryl’s journey to find a home and family has just begun. Fans of E. B. White’s Charlotte’s Web will enjoy this swine tale. EL – ADVISABLE. Samantha, Public Librarian.