copyright 1999, Sirpa Grierson
Novel Information and Resources:
A Day No Pigs Would Die
http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/fil/pages/listadaynopimr.html
This is the best web site. Designed by high school teacher Sherry Thurner, it has information about the novel, the author, and all the background on Shakers, Vermont history, and even baseball that a teacher or student could want.Gale Literary Databases
http://www.galenet.com
I thought the media adaptations section of this site would be most helpful. The only problem is it only works with a BYU password so it will not be helpful for teachers in the classroom.Haven Peck's Legacy in A Day No Pigs Would Die
Hartvigsen, M Kip and Christen Brog Hartvigsen. "Haven Peck's Legacy in A Day No Pigs Would Die." English Journal. April 1985. 74:4, 41-45.
This site gives a good feel for the internal structure of the novel and some of the emotions driving it. I especially liked that it pointed how the protagonist in this novel is supported and mentored by adults, instead of set in opposition to them.Literature Unit: A Day No Pigs Would Die.
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Academy/5867/pig.table.html
This is a no-frills page, just a literature unit devised by a high school teacher and useful for ideas.Hit List
Monk, Merri. "A Day No Pigs Would Die." Hit List: Frequently Challenged Books for Young Adults. Ed, Merri Monks. Young Adult Library Services Association: Chicago, 1996.
Gives an overview of the possible objections to the book. I thought this would be useful, especially since one the challenges came from a Payson middle school. It also lists some audiovisual resources that might be helpful.Every Man Must Face His Own Mission
Peck, David. "Every Man Must Face His Own Mission." Novels of Initiation. Ed, David Peck. Teacher's College Press: New York, NY,1989.
Offers a very complete picture of the novel. This is the most useful article because it was written expressly to help teach the novel. It has teaching suggestions along with discussions of style and theme and how to present them to an eighth grade audience.SCORE: A Day No Pigs Would Die-Teacher Guide.
http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/pig/pigtg.htm
This site was developed for student use and so "links have been scrutinized for their grade and age appropriateness."Robert Newton Peck and Shaker Beliefs.
http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/ALAN/fall97/sullivan.html
Sullivan, "Robert Newton Peck and Shaker Beliefs." ALAN Review. Fall 1997. 25:1, 13-17.
Shows inconsistencies in the novel one by one, the main one being the references to Shakerism. Sullivan seriously undermines the credibility of the novel through his investigation. I think this would be useful to create discussion in the classroom and get the students to challenge and ask questions of the author. However, I would still want to teach them about the wonderful qualities of the book, so they would get a complete picture.
Reading Resources and Unit Guide for this Novel