Pighearted

Description

Jeremiah's heart monitor is a snitch. It's supposed to let him play soccer, but every time he's about to score a goal, it tells on him for getting excited. So when the monitor tries to ruin his first big game, Jeremiah smashes it. He doesn't need it. He's fine. Until he has a heart attack and spends his twelfth birthday in the hospital. J6 is a pig who knows he's destined for greatness. He's the only one of his five brothers who survived the research lab. Though he's never left his cell, he thinks of himself as a therapy pig, a scholar, and a bodyguard. But when the research lab sends him to live with Jeremiah's family, he knows what he wants his new title to be: Jeremiah's brother. At first, Jeremiah thinks his parents took in J6 to cheer him up. But why does he need a dumb pig that's going to tackle his mom, destroy his birthday cake, and ruin his first kiss? Before long, Jeremiah begins to suspect there's more to his new curly-tailed companion than meets the eye. When the truth is revealed just as Jeremiah and J6 are feeling like actual brothers, they must do whatever it takes in order to protect each other-even if their lives depend on it.

Alex Perry used to teach middle schoolers in Houston, but now she writes for kids everywhere. She currently lives in Arkansas with her family. Pighearted is her debut novel. She invites you to visit her at alexperrybooks.com or follow her on Twitter @Alextheadequate.

"Like J6 himself, this book positively sparkles with personality, and beats with so much heart, your own can't help but grow." --Sarah Allen, author of What Stars Are Made Of and Breathing Underwater "Prepare to have your heart stolen by this hilarious, heartbreaking entirely unique novel about what it means to be human, to give everything to help someone else and the powerful bonds of love between family." --Donna Gephart, award-winning author of Abby, Tried and True, The Paris Project and Lily and Dunkin "With a lightheartedness maintained by a delightfully fresh pig's-eye view of human life, Pighearted raises grave questions, showing the utmost respect for young readers." --Suzanne LaFleur, author of Eight Keys and Counting to Perfect "Debut author Perry, exploring the ethics of animal experimentation, offers two compelling first-person perspectives, alternating between a dying boy and an anthropomorphic pig and providing a sweet, if slightly farfetched, resolution." --Publishers Weekly "A heartwarming (and unsettling) reminder to never stop fighting for those you love." --Kirkus Reviews