Discovering Pig Magic. By Julie Crabtree. Milkweed, 2008. 144 pages. Tr. $16.95 ISBN 978-1571316837
Summary: Thirteen-year-old Matilda and her friends Ariel and Nicki find a magic book, and follow a magical recipe to remove problems from their life by burying a ceramic pig, an antique spoon, and a mother-and-daughter doll. Matilda worries about her agoraphobic mother, and longs for the day when her long-departed father will return. Ariel dreams of becoming a famous chef, and Nicki longs for the day when a cure will solve her brother’s chromosomal abnormality. Will the magical spell help keep their friendship alive?
Critical Review: The magical formula initially unleashes a storm of problems. Matilda’s mother’s agoraphobia becomes more severe, and Nicki’s brother’s disorder becomes critical. Ariel is publically humiliated for unknowingly entering another’s recipe in a chef contest. Fortunately, the girls’ problems are only temporary. Niki’s brother survives the traumatic, near-death experience, and Matilda’s mother becomes better. The girls learn that there is no magical solution that will resolve their dilemmas. It is by supporting each other and individual agency that the girls are able to successfully confront their problems and overcome them.
Genre: Fantasy; Humor; Friendship
Reading/Interest Level: 8-13 years
Awards: Milkweed Prize for Children’s Literature, 2008
Reviews: School Library Journal (2009, June 1)
Similar Materials: Ingrid Law’s Savvy; Fanny Billingsley’s Well Wished
Subjects/Themes: friendship; school and education; fantasy and magic
Character Names: Mattie (Miss M.); Ariel; Nicki
Author Website: http://www.julie-crabtree.com/books.html
Brief Annotation: Three tween girls learn a magical lesson when they cast a spell to solve their problems.
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