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A Day No Pigs Would Die Robert Newton Peck The book took place in rural
Vermont with a young Shaker boy named Rob Peck. The novel was basically about
this boy going through joyful and trying times in his youth, and his friendship
with his pet pig named Pinky. Robert Peck was the main character, he was loving
towards Pinky and he was obedient,( he knew if he wasn’t, he’d be in big
trouble.) Throughout the book you could tell that his emotions were opening up
more, now that he had a pet to love and take care of, yet he still held back
some of his feelings. His father, Haven, was a good Shaker man and was a great
neighbor. He cared for his son but was still stern in his own way, but he had to
be, after all, he was a Shaker. Their neighbor, Benjamin Tanner, was grateful
for Rob delivering “The finest oxen in the county.” Pinky was a gift from Mr.
Tanner.
To show his appreciation, he pulled out a pig from underneath his jacket
and gave it to Rob. The theme of the book was traveling from boyhood to manhood
and how quickly it came about. Through the short time the book took place, Rob
turned from a boy into the man he is now. I think the first turning point was
the death of Pinky and how he reacted towards that. The second instance was the
death of his father and how he took it so well and even dug his father’s grave.
When pinky died, he had a conversation that showed him turning into a man. He
said, “Oh, Papa. My heart’s broke.” “So is mine,” said Papa. “But I’m thankful
you’re a man.” The second passage in the book describing manhood, is after Haven
killed Pinky and said, “That’s what being a man is all about, boy. It’s just
doing what’s got to be done.” Overall I liked this book, however, I didn’t like
the beginning. The author described the pain so well that I cringed as I read
the passage about Apron. I even felt sad about the dog getting weaseled. The
book was written well and the story was good, but I’m just thankful that I
didn’t have to grow up that way.
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