A Part of the Sky

Twenty-two years have passed since the publication of the popular A Day No Pigs Would Die, but scarcely a year has gone by in the life of Robert Peck, the Vermont farm boy whose story is continued here. The sequel reprises the rural locale and Shaker way of life that characterized the first book, with one major change: with his father dead, Robert is now responsible for the upkeep of the family farm. The deaths of the ox and dairy cow in swift succession worsen matters to a point where Robert contemplates selling the farm in order to survive. Filled with country wisdom such as ``Forgiveness heals a hurt better than iodine or thread,'' this story may appeal to readers of the original book. But the author has omitted much of the detail that originally brought his setting so vividly to life, leaving this book a far less satisfying read. 35,000 first printing. (Sept.)