* "The story of a community working together is uplifting . . . Martinez uses nicely specific physical details to relate Masi's experiences, and the moments in the bakery seem particularly authentic and are suffused with love." — Kirkus Reviews, starred review
* "Martinez uses diversity to her advantage, showcasing Masi, her family, and all of the people living in this town. . . Overall, this is a quick read that touches on family issues, young love, and the strength that comes when times get tough." — VOYA Magazine, starred review
"Martinez creates an emotional dilemma for Masi, caught between a romantic crush and her family's struggles, yet. . . suggests a fairy-tale undercurrent within the novel." — Publishers Weekly
"Pig Park is a contemporary Faustian tale that forces us to look at the desperate lengths people will go to in the name of community — and maybe love. . . . Deftly crafted characters and an inherently fascinating and imaginative tale, Pig Park is enthusiastically recommended for personal reading lists and would make a popular addition to community library collections." — Midwest Book Review
"A fast-moving page-turner, Pig Park is an excellent example of how young people, through creative action, really can bring about personal and political change. It's highly recommended." — De Colores: The Raza Experience in Books for Children
"Filled with a first crush, an absent parent, fear of losing home and friends, and community engagement . . . readers will appreciate its strong characters and identify with the protagonist's teen angst." — School Library Journal
"Between those yummy covers is an equally delicious book. . . The novel tackles that age-old question of how far, how much, what exactly would you do for something that matters to you?" — All Brown All Around
2014-05-12
Residents of a declining neighborhood band together to turn their economy around by building a tourist attraction.Masi spent her life working in her family's bakery in Pig Park, so named for the lard company that, until outsourcing, provided most of the area's jobs. The multiethnic Chicago neighborhood agrees to the outlandish scheme of building a "Gran Pirámide" in their park, as a famous community developer suggests. Masi, at 15, is just happy to have a job outside with her friends, and she is also delighted to meet Felix, a college student from outside the area who shows up to offer help in the neighborhood. In a subplot, Masi's mother leaves for an extended stay with her parents in Texas, where she is diagnosed with diabetes, while her father struggles to keep the bakery going. Masi's anguish over her mother's absence is palpable, though it also distracts somewhat from the pyramid project. The story of a community working together is uplifting, but the project itself occasionally strains credulity, as the teens confidently frame the interior walls and measure for electric switches and plumbing. Martinez uses nicely specific physical details to relate Masi's experiences, and the moments in the bakery seem particularly authentic and are suffused with love.The warm, diverse community setting and the realistic family interactions help overcome the somewhat jumbled plotlines. (Fiction. 12-16)
