The+Pig+Scrolls

Amy Restivo Young Adult Fiction October 26, 2009

The Pig Scrolls by Gryllus the Pig, Paul Shipton, Candlewick Press, 2005, 274 pages

Synopsis: This is a comedy that occurs in Ancient Rome as an extension of the Odyssey. Gryllus is a former member of Odysseus’ crew, but now happily lives out his days as a pig after the transformation by Circe. He has no desire to become human again. When he is captured by hunters in the woods and sold at auction, his buyer, the 15 year old Sibyl, tells him that Apollo has sent her to seek him in order to save the cosmos. After escaping from Sibyl several times, and ending up in even worse situations, he finally believes her and goes with her on her journey to Delphi to save the universe. On the way they deal with many mishaps and encounter such legendary figures as Thales (one of the fathers of science), multiple gods and goddesses, and Homer himself – now just a teenager with a serious love for epic poetry, which no one else seems to share. This book is a romping and roving tale of the journey of Gryllus, and in the end the question is, will Gryllus save the cosmos and live another day?

Evaluation: This is a very good book. Gryllus is himself such a flawed yet believable and lovable character that he will capture the hearts and minds of his readers. He speaks in a language that teens understand, and his thoughts are open for all to see. The book deals with issues that are relevant to teens, such as self-discovery, personality/identity development, and facing your fears. As well, the book is hilarious from beginning to end, and it will keep young readers engaged and sitting on the edge of their seat to find out what happens next. The book could be used by teachers as well to help connect their students to Ancient Roman history and culture without all the long works of literature that teens find boring.

Author’s view on adolescents and society: Even though the book is set in Ancient Rome, Shipton’s characters are without a doubt adolescents from the present time. Sibyl is only 15 or 16, Gryllus acts as if he is a teenager, and Homer is in his teen angst years as well. Shipton presents characters like Homer and Sibyl who are strong-minded and strong- willed, able to solve their problems and make a difference in the world. At the same time Gryllus shows the whiny, sarcastic, smart-alec side to a young person. The characters are believable and interesting, having issues they need to work out while at the same time aspiring to be something more and help save the universe. Teen readers can easily identify with Gryllus, as his narration is honest and in the moment. Gryllus speaks directly to his readers, so they will feel included in the book, as if they are having a conversation with him.

Recommendation: I would recommend this book to middle or high school students in order to help familiarize them with Roman mythology and as an introduction to The Odyssey. Even college students would enjoy reading the book for fun – I completed it on a 3 hour plane flight and it was quite engaging. Teachers could use this book as a reading for the whole class and choose how deeply they want to investigate all of the allusions and references contained therein. It could be used as a fun book to compliment learning about Ancient Rome, or teachers could delve more into the specifics of the history, culture, literature, and mythology presented in snippets throughout the book. Even if students knows nothing about The Odyssey or Roman mythology, the comedy and action of the book will keep them reading until the end.