A Day No Pigs Would Die facts for kids
Cover to paperback edition
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| Author | Robert Newton Peck |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Alfred A. Knopf |
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Publication date
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1972 |
| Media type | Print (hardback & paperback) |
| ISBN | 0-394-48235-2 |
| OCLC | 328920 |
A Day No Pigs Would Die is a story based on the author Robert Newton Peck's own life. It's about a boy named Rob Peck who is growing up on a poor farm in rural Vermont. The book was first published in 1972. It was one of the first books written especially for young adults. It was also Peck's very first novel. A sequel, A Part of the Sky, came out in 1994.
Contents
About the Author
Robert Newton Peck was born on February 17, 1928. His hometown was Ticonderoga, New York. His parents were Frank Haven Peck and Lucile Dornburgh Peck.
Robert served in the military during World War II. After returning home in 1947, he went to Rollins College. He graduated in 1953. Later, he took some classes at Cornell Law School, but he did not finish.
Peck had many different jobs in his life. He worked as a lumberjack and in a paper mill. He also worked as a butcher. Eventually, he became a writer for advertising.
How the Book Was Written
Robert Newton Peck always believed that farm life was special. He thought the tough parts of surviving on a farm were "quite beautiful." He wanted to write about them since he was eleven years old. It took him 33 years to finally do it.
Peck started writing young adult novels when he was 44. He used his time commuting to and from New York City to write. This was about ten hours a week. By working this way, he wrote five young adult novels in just three years. A Day No Pigs Would Die was written in three weeks. It became his first published book.
What Happens in the Story
One day, twelve-year-old Rob Peck skips school. He ends up helping a neighbor's cow give birth to two calves. He even saves the cow's life. Rob gets hurt while helping, but he gets better. The farmer gives Rob a piglet as a thank you gift. Rob names the piglet Pinky.
Pinky quickly becomes Rob's best friend. His closest companion is his father, Haven. Haven works as a butcher. He is trying to save money to pay off the family's farm.
Sadly, Pinky cannot have piglets. Rob and his father decide they must sell Pinky. This is because she cannot help the family make more money. Rob is very upset when his father sells Pinky. But he understands that his father is also heartbroken.
A few months later, Rob's father, Haven, passes away in his sleep. While doing chores, Rob finds out something special. His father had been secretly trying to teach himself how to write.
Meet the Characters
- Robert Peck: He is the twelve-year-old boy who tells the story. He learns important lessons about growing up from his father and his pet pig, Pinky.
- Haven Peck: Rob's father. He is a poor farmer and a butcher. He wants to take care of his family. He also wants to teach his son how to become a good man.
- Pinky: A female pig given to Rob. She is a gift for helping Mr. Tanner's cow. Pinky becomes Rob's special pet.
- Lucy Peck: Rob's kind and strong mother. She worries that her son is growing up too fast.
- Aunt Carrie: Lucy's older sister. She lives with the Peck family. She is like a second mother to Rob.
- Benjamin Tanner: A farmer who lives nearby. He is a good friend to the Peck family.
The Next Chapter
Robert Newton Peck wrote a sequel to the book. It is called A Part of the Sky. It was published in 1994. This book continues Rob's story. It starts right after A Day No Pigs Would Die ends.
In A Part of the Sky, Rob is only thirteen. He decides to leave school. He needs to find a job to pay for the farm. He also needs to take care of his mother and aunt.
A Part of the Sky was not as popular as the first book. However, critics still praised A Day No Pigs Would Die. They said it pulls readers into its world. It combines tough reality with kindness and humor.
