pipernatalie33's review
5.0
Beautiful coming of age novel! I laughed on one page and cried on the next.
skittl4702's review against another edition
4.0
I found myself laughing out loud at times at the country humor, and I was hoping to use this in my classroom; however, there is a disturbing scene of pigs mating and it is too violent (like a rape). Also, a pig gets gutted and it is also very violent. Too bad, but a good read.
rachel_abby_reads's review against another edition
4.0
Robert Peck is growing up in Vermont (after WWI, but not long after) on a farm, living with his father, mother and aunt. When we first meet him, he has found his neighbor's cow, laboring with calf and not having a good time of it. Robert saves the cow, saves her calves, and makes progress on his journey to manhood.
This is a coming of age story set in a time when life was significantly less luxurious than it is now. It makes me wonder: if someone was to write a coming-of-age story of my life, how would that look? Was there any event in particular that would mark the transition from child to adult, girl to woman?
Robert's father was not the huggy, affectionate father of the modern era. He worked with his son, talked with his son, and answered his questions. He wanted his son to be capable of more - he insisted that he get schooling - but felt the honor of his life as a farmer and pig butcher. Robert wrote: "Being his son was like knowing a king."
I wonder what we have lost in our urban day? Time with our children is more frantic and scheduled. With modern tech, it's possible to sit together in a room and be in a hundred different places. Fathers may be able to be more demonstrative than in days past but is it enough to make up for loss of time together to work and talk?
This is a coming of age story set in a time when life was significantly less luxurious than it is now. It makes me wonder: if someone was to write a coming-of-age story of my life, how would that look? Was there any event in particular that would mark the transition from child to adult, girl to woman?
Robert's father was not the huggy, affectionate father of the modern era. He worked with his son, talked with his son, and answered his questions. He wanted his son to be capable of more - he insisted that he get schooling - but felt the honor of his life as a farmer and pig butcher. Robert wrote: "Being his son was like knowing a king."
I wonder what we have lost in our urban day? Time with our children is more frantic and scheduled. With modern tech, it's possible to sit together in a room and be in a hundred different places. Fathers may be able to be more demonstrative than in days past but is it enough to make up for loss of time together to work and talk?
k_lee_reads_it's review
4.0
The story of Robert Peck's thirteenth year and life on a Shaker farm in Vermont. While I can see why some might want this banned, I felt like it was a true representation of life on a farm with birthing and dying and reproduction. I also loved the relaxed way the story unfolded.
putalilstardust's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.75
additionaddiction's review
5.0
Farm life in 1920’s Vermont wasn’t a barrel of laughs, as evidenced by A Day No Pigs Would Die.
I think I first heard about this book when I was in 3rd or 4th grade (back in 1987-1988, don’t do the math). I don’t remember which teacher it was, but I do remember her saying that this book really touched her, and that it made her cry. After finishing it this evening I can see why.
I didn’t grow up on a farm per se, but we did have several acres of land, a barn, horses, goats, rabbits, multiple gardens, fruit trees, etc. I also grew up with various outdoor chores that occasionally included feeding animals, mucking stalls, cleaning the tack room, etc. and every year we’d go to various animal shows / round-ups. All of this is to say that I felt like I could recognize and appreciate the chores and struggles which Rob (the narrator) speaks about in this book. Also, having strong bonds with my pets, and (now) being a vegetarian, made several of the animal vignettes a little hard to stomach.
I’m pretty sure this story is aimed at 6th-8th graders, and while it’s a pretty short story, I think I’d agree that younger audiences than 10-11yr olds might have a hard time dealing with some of the content here. So thank you Mrs. DeMets (or Mrs. Maize) for the recommendation, without the assignment. I think this book would have been too much for me back then, but it’s perfect for a winter’s day now.
I think I first heard about this book when I was in 3rd or 4th grade (back in 1987-1988, don’t do the math). I don’t remember which teacher it was, but I do remember her saying that this book really touched her, and that it made her cry. After finishing it this evening I can see why.
I didn’t grow up on a farm per se, but we did have several acres of land, a barn, horses, goats, rabbits, multiple gardens, fruit trees, etc. I also grew up with various outdoor chores that occasionally included feeding animals, mucking stalls, cleaning the tack room, etc. and every year we’d go to various animal shows / round-ups. All of this is to say that I felt like I could recognize and appreciate the chores and struggles which Rob (the narrator) speaks about in this book. Also, having strong bonds with my pets, and (now) being a vegetarian, made several of the animal vignettes a little hard to stomach.
I’m pretty sure this story is aimed at 6th-8th graders, and while it’s a pretty short story, I think I’d agree that younger audiences than 10-11yr olds might have a hard time dealing with some of the content here. So thank you Mrs. DeMets (or Mrs. Maize) for the recommendation, without the assignment. I think this book would have been too much for me back then, but it’s perfect for a winter’s day now.
smerc's review
2.0
This was ok. Not my fave, not the worst thing I've ever read. As for the sexism and religious overtones, I feel that the story is representative of the time it was written, as well as the fact that it is indicative of the Shaker life. I don't think there is any way to fault the auher for this portrayal.
The story is sweet and sad.
The story is sweet and sad.
amandawoodruff's review
5.0
Somehow managed to refrain from reading A Day No Pigs Would Die for all these years since middle school. I now happen to think it's one of the most beautiful pieces of literature I have ever experienced. Simple, wise, incredibly visceral.