Books & Literature

Book Review: The Christmas Pig, by J.K. Rowling, Illustrated by Jim Field

JUNIOR FICTION: A heartwarming, page-turning adventure about one child’s love for his most treasured thing, and how far he will go to find it.

A perfect stocking filler for any child, full of heartache, love, and wonderful characters.
5

The very first thing that will draw you to this book is the beautiful cover, illustrated by Jim Field. Colourful and enticing, it makes you want to pick it up and look further. This hardcover book has been published with no expense spared. Underneath the paper cover, the hardcover is covered in gold embossed Christmas decorations, trees and reindeer. The paper is thick and glorious and the black-and-white illustrations at the beginning of each of the nine parts in the story are drawn with love. It is a book to treasure and pass on to future generations.

The Christmas Pig is the story of a small boy named Jack. Jack has a toy pig named DP (Dur Pig) who has been with him his whole life. DP has been lost, found, faded, mended but always loved. But one day, Jack’s dad leaves forever and is eventually replaced by Brendon. Brendon has a daughter named Holly and after mum and Brendon are married, things start to fall apart. DP is lost (you will need to read the story to find out how) and replaced with an identical toy named Christmas Pig (CP). But Jack only wants DP and so begins the Christmas Eve journey of Jack and CP to the magical Land of the Lost.

And what an exciting land it is. CP and Jack have only until midnight to find DP and bring him home. Along the way they meet many characters, both good and bad. We meet Specs, Compass and Lunchbox, and travel to places such as Bother-It’s-Gone and the Wastes of the Unlamented.

J.K. Rowling, author of the best-selling book series in history, Harry Potter, has proven that she is capable of writing a story filled with excitement and great characters. The Christmas Pig is no exception. Rowling is able to both move a story along at a cracking pace and also spend enough time that the reader can clearly imagine the characters and what is happening. She imbues her main characters with warmth and we fear the ones who want to cause harm. Her descriptive passages are perfect without ever bogging down the story and each character comes to life on the page.

Rowling certainly knows her craft and The Christmas Pig is sure to become a much-loved book that everyone will want to read. Jack is probably around eight years old, but this tale can be enjoyed by anyone who loves a good story. It is a perfect bedtime read and adults will gain as much pleasure as the children.

There are so many discussion points in The Christmas Pig, like family, friendships, what we lose and misplace in our lives (including hope, ambition and happiness) and whether something lost is gone forever from our hearts. It is thought-provoking and poignant and never gets bogged down.

If you are looking for the perfect stocking filler this Christmas, look no further.

Reviewed by Sue Mauger

Distributed by: Hachette Australia
Released: October 2021
RRP: $39.99

This review is the opinion of the reviewer and not Glam Adelaide.

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