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Piggy
The story of a young girl's struggle and ultimate victory over disability. Piggy (Big in the original Dutch), like Mark Haddon's The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, is told in the first person by an autistic child. Twelve-year-old Lizzy Bekell lives with her mother and attends a special school. Her nickname is Dizzy, which aptly describes the dreamy abstract...more
Hardcover, 110 pages
Published
by Front Street
(first published 2005)
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This is another of those books that is hard to place. It is cataloged children's but it's language would probably be more appropriate in the YA area. I'm not a prude but to me, there is an implicit belief that those books cataloged in a library as part of the children's collection will not have the f-word scattered throughout. It's completely appropriate within the context. I just question the cataloging.
The story itself is quite powerful - about a young autistic woman who is befriended by someo...more
The story itself is quite powerful - about a young autistic woman who is befriended by someo...more
Told from the point of view of Lizzy, an autistic twelve-year old, Piggyis the story of her friendship with an emotionally disturbed girl who moves into her neighborhood. Lizzy, called Dizzy, because of the way she acts when she's upset or unsure of what to do, accepts Margaret at face value though she is often uncomfortable with the things Margaret does. The relationship quickly spins out of control, and Lizzy is caught up in a dangerous situation far beyond her ability to manage. Because you s...more
Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com
Lizzy (aka Dizzy) Bekell stands on the corner by a lamp post watching some local boys play ball. She's an outsider and goes to a special school. Other kids call her retarded, but her mother says she's special. She has autism and has to keep a certain order to her life to keep control of herself.
Enter Margaret (aka Piggy). Piggy spots Dizzy across the street standing on the corner. Over the next few days, Piggy works her way to where Dizzy stands. Finally,...more
Lizzy (aka Dizzy) Bekell stands on the corner by a lamp post watching some local boys play ball. She's an outsider and goes to a special school. Other kids call her retarded, but her mother says she's special. She has autism and has to keep a certain order to her life to keep control of herself.
Enter Margaret (aka Piggy). Piggy spots Dizzy across the street standing on the corner. Over the next few days, Piggy works her way to where Dizzy stands. Finally,...more
I love the narration by the main character, a 12-year-old girl with autism. It is very accurate and interesting. Her "friend" Piggy is a freaky piece of work. I'll admit, I found the (several times) use of the f-word to be ridiculous, unnecessary, and jarring. Sure, maybe that's more acceptable in Europe, but in the U.S. I don't imagine anyone is expecting it in a book about a 12-year-old with autism! This is a strange book, but it has a very unique and useful perspective.
An interesting look at how "good" kids are easily swept up into bad doings that they feel unable to prevent. Effective and speedy.
A nominee for the Schneider Family book award. Not the best portrayal of autism.
Interesting book about bullying and how some kids get drawn into it. Plot is scattered and sometimes hard to follow
Jan 14, 2013
Alice Gibson
marked it as to-read
Jan 03, 2013
Bayu
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Dec 13, 2011
Drholambda
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Sep 21, 2011
Dana
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Apr 16, 2011
Melanie
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Jan 03, 2011
Sarah
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Nov 12, 2010
Sara
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Aug 07, 2010
Susan
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Jan 30, 2010
Mandy
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Mireille Geus writes plays for children and has written several texts for Sesame Street. She teaches writing in Amsterdam and has written several award-winning books. Her novel Piggy won the most prestigious award in children's literature in the Netherlands, the Golden Slate Pencil.
More about Mireille Geus...
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