A man whose chief income derives from pig-keeping discovers a foundling one day. Is she a changeling left by the Crystal Folk in nearby Wickenwood or just an ordinary orphan? Firmly rooted in Celtic folklore and transformation myths, and infused with motifs from Jackson's The Lottery, Flieger's haunting rite-of-passage fantasy touches on a host of difficult subjects: rape, hatred, fear of the unknown, first love, spirituality and death. Young Mokie adopts Apple, the 13th pig born of a sow with only 12 teats, while working as the pig herder for her reluctant guardian in Little Wicken, where ritual pig stonings ensure good harvests. Through imagery and dreams, Flieger links the girl's fate with that of the pig's ("When she dreamed, she was not only the watcher but also the little pig, feeling her terror and the thud of the stones as they hit her body"). Readers may be disturbed by a graphic rape scene, which marks a turning point for 15-year-old Mokie: she and Apple then take refuge in the woods, where they meet up with a trio of magical characters who teach her the skills required to become a member of their "tumbling" troupe and earn her trust. But the three also know Mokie will soon play a pivotal part in "the pattern" that the Crystal Folk can never break. A redemptive ending brings this heartbreaking fantasy full circle. Ages 12-up. (Oct.)
