Swine Not?

Jimmy Buffet

In Vertigo, Tennessee, Rumpy is not an unusual pet. She plays goalie for Barley's soccer team when needed. She supports Barley's twin sister when Maple is designing new clothes. She has been with Ellie McBride and the children for years. She's quite happy except she misses her brother, Lukie, who lives up north in the city. Rumpy is a pig.

Then Ellie is offer a job in New York City as a pastry chef in one of the city's top hotel restaurant. Off the McBride family goes to the busiest city in America. They live in a glass house on the roof of the posh hotel. The head chef is a selfish, mean man. He soon gets a rule against exotic pets in the hotel. Now the McBrides have to keep Rumpy hidden. No visits to Central Park or walks on the roof. No chances of getting out and finding Lukie. Rumpy is part of the family and they are not letting her go. Barley and Maple sneak her out when they can. Barley quickly gains a spot on his exclusive schools soccer team. Maple keeps designing clothes. Ellie is doing well in the kitchen. The head chef is jealous of her skills and takes as much credit as he can.

Maple designs some costumes for Rumpy so they can sneak her out. First Rumpy is disguised as a room service table. Rumpy is a little nervous of being shut in the warming oven part. But Maple's plan works and they are able to sneak Rumpy out to Central Park. But they can't take her out very often. Barley can't play soccer with her. When people come up to their house on the roof to visit, Rumpy has to hide in Maple's closet. Rumpy gets more lonely despite her family. She wishes she could get out and find Lukie. Maybe it's time to run away and leave the McBrides.

Swine Not? is a cute, fun book. It is told in first person narrative by Rumpy and Barley. Jimmy Buffett took the true story of a friend, Helen Bransford, who hid a pig in a Manhattan apartment for a while. Buffett turns the true tales into a story. Although this may have been written for adults, this book is one for all ages. It's written from a 12-year-old's viewpoint and can easily be read by children at that age.

Rumpy is a pig who is smart and friendly. She is unbelievable - how does a pig put on a dog costume by herself without a human's help? She loves playing soccer and is unhappy when she can't join Barley in New York as he succeeds in soccer. She supports Maple with the designs the girl draws, including an amazing Halloween costume. How does a pig do that? But Rumpy is a special pig.

Buffett twines humor through the whole story. There are many places that brings a smile, chuckle, or laugh. Swine Not? is a fun romp. It's not deep but instead is a cute story to escape for a while.