A boy named Barley is nine years old when he is uprooted from his Tennessee home and moves--together with his mom, his two sisters, and their pet pig Rumpy, to New York City. There they take up residence on the top floor of one of New York's finest hotels, where his mom works as a pastry chef.

But "No Pets Allowed" is one of the hotel's strictest rules, and as Barley and Rumpy learn about life in the city, they also live in fear of Rumpy being discovered--and the hotel's evil head chef is on their trail.

Jimmy Buffett brings his trademark playfulness, simplicity, and originality to this tale, which is based on true events in the life of the book's illustrator, Helen Bransford. It is a classic story that will appeal to his fans and their children alike and make an irresistible holiday gift.

I enjoyed this book.

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Buffett takes a somewhat different direction with his writing in this book. His technique remains a slow sway as in his other works. The story is playful and interesting.

Reviewed by Grandma Bev for TeensReadToo.com

Jimmy Buffett was presented with this idea, complete with photos by Helen Bransford, and he thought about it, and asked himself, "Swine Not?" - and this story was born.

Helen told Jimmy that it was based on something that actually happened...but a pig in a four-star hotel in New York City?

SWINE NOT? is a very entertaining romp told from the alternating points of view of Rumpy, the pig, and Barley, her boy owner. Rumpy is a pot-bellied pig who accompanies her human family to New York when they move there, and she has an agenda of her own. She heard that her brother, Lukie, is in New York City, and she is determined to find him.

They live in a glass box-like unit at the top of a fancy high-rise hotel. The hotel chef has a special affinity for pork, and he's sharpening his knives and dusting off his recipes with Rumpy in mind. Keeping Rumpy hidden is a challenging proposition that keeps the whole family on alert.

This story is not quite what I expected from the old pirate, but Jimmy Buffett tells a good tale in this light-hearted adventure that will appeal to all ages. The characters are compelling and the action never stops. It's a quick read that is highly recommended for reluctant readers.

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