Help, Pink Pig!

This sequel to Goodbye, Pink Pig begins when Amanda leaves Schenectady and her beloved grandmother, Pearly, to rejoin her mother in Los Angeles. Amanda feels trapped in the new apartment located near the freeway. Her only companions are Angel Delaney, the landlady's bratty daughter, and a shy boy named Robbie, who is staying with the Delaneys. Amanda once again relies on magic to escape loneliness and isolation; through the special powers of a tiny quartz pig, she is transported into a kingdom populated by knights, dragons and a beautiful ballerina. Readers may find that the troubles existing in the enchanted land are a subtle reflection of Amanda's own conflicts: for example, the dark knight who turns out to be a not-so-evil woman bears a striking resemblance to Amanda's high-strung mother. Wrought with wisdom and sensitivity, Adler's unusual blend of allegory and realism allows readers to decide how much is imagined and how much is true. Ages 8-12. (Mar.)