Saving Marty

by Paul Griffin

Fans of Because of Winn Dixie will adore this warm and heart-wrenching story of the friendship between a boy and a pig who thinks it's a dog.

Eleven-year-old Lorenzo Ventura knows heroes are rare--like his father, who died in the war, or his friend Paloma Lee, who fearlessly pursues her dream of being a famous musician. Renzo would never describe himself as a hero, but his chance comes when he adopts Marty, a runt piglet.

Marty is extraordinary--he thinks he's a dog and acts like one too--and his bond with Renzo is truly one of a kind. At first, the family farm seems like the perfect home for Marty, but as he approaches 350 pounds, it becomes harder for Renzo to convince his mom that a giant pig makes a good pet. So when Marty causes a dangerous (and expensive) accident, Renzo knows Marty's time is up. He'd do anything and everything for his best friend, but will everything be enough to save Marty?

Paul Griffin masterfully melds the heartrending and the hopeful in this unforgettable story about the power of friendship . . . and the unsung heroes all around us.

Genres: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Animals, Childrens, Fiction, Friendship, Family

208 pages, Hardcover

First published September 19, 2017

About the author

Paul Griffin lives, writes, and trains dogs in New York City. His previous novel, The Orange Houses, was an ALA Best Book for Young Adults Top Ten, an International Reading Association 2010 Notable Book for a Global Society, a Chicago Public Library's Best of the Best Book of 2009, and an Amelia Bloomer Project Award winner.

Reviews

[Cassie Beasley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saving Marty sneaked up on me. I could tell from the first page that I was going to like it because Paloma and Renzo are great together, but I didn't expect that I would love it as much as I did. I mean, it was an animal story and my heart can only take so much.

But of course Saving Marty isn't just an animal story. It's a human story. And a brilliant one.

The characters are so alive on the page. I want to be Renzo's friend. I want to hear Paloma sing. I want to knock some sense into the bad guys who, by the way, are very believable bad guys. I have known people like them, and that makes it all the more painful to read about them. And to forgive some of them when those inevitable slivers of humanity make an appearance.

Also, a fair warning to you tender readers - be prepared to have your heartstrings strummed like Renzo's guitar.

Two thumbs up, up, up! I think this will appeal particularly to older middle grade readers who enjoy realistic fiction.

[Laura Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book and strong Newbery 2018 contender.

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! #booksday. An overweight boy, a musical girl, and a pet pig that keeps getting bigger and bigger. Such a beautiful story of friendship, family, secrets, and finding your true self. A must read!!!

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rounded up from 4.5. I love a good pig story and Marty is quite a pig. The connection between Paloma and Renzo is so well done and with this audio version you get to hear Pal's original songs. What makes a hero? The combination of the pig who started out as a runt with financial issues, questions about Renzo's dead father and the steady, ever-present Double Pop is a winner. Paul Griffin's narration makes me believe he is Lorenzo. Highly recommend the audio version!

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. I think these books that deal with the impact on children of losing a parent in the military are very important. I loved Marty, the pig!

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness! This book made me laugh, cry, and left me with both a happy and an achy heart. A beautiful story about Renzo, his best friend Paloma, their dreams of moving to California to be famous musicians and surf when they aren't performing, and how the love of a pig (who thinks he is a dog) fills an empty space they both have in their lives. An important story that middle grade readers will love. Another fantastic book from author Paul Griffin. I can't wait to share this book with students.

[Alex Hayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I started the book, it was pretty boring, and I was thinking about switching to another. But as I kept reading, it got much more interesting, and the ending is really good. I recommend it for 4th and 5th graders because it is a pretty short and easy to read story.

[Text Publishing · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Saving Marty is a gentle read about coping with horrendous news, surviving against the odds, and love in all its forms. It’s a keeper.’
Kids Book Review

‘Warm, sweet, funny and heart-warming…A unique story; fresh and contemporary, it will bring a lump to your throat but you’ll finish it with a smile.’
Magpies

[Scott Fillner · Rating 5 out of 5]

An imprint book, that will stay with me for a long time! Cannot wait to share this book with students.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was joyful yet sad at the same time. If you are an animal lover, then your heart will really melt while reading it. I love how the author came up with the idea of a pig thinking he's a dog because it's so funny. The end was kind of sad even though (spoilers) it's a happy ending. I only wish that the author would've put more into the book to make it longer. Overall, it was a great book and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to read a short, compassionate book.

[Freddie Lopez · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book I finished reading is called saving Marty by Paul griffin.This book is about a 11 year old boy Lorenzo Ventura and his pet big Marty.Nobody liked Marty because of him being a pig and acting like a dog.When Lorenzo's mom was ready to auction a box a puppy's but Marty got mixed up in the box.At one point in this book Marty gets entered in a dog race and at first they were making fun of him and making noises.This book also can have the theme of acceptance because through out the entire book Marty is despised for being a pet pig and acting like a dog.I reccomend this book to people who are animal lovers.

[Meisbres · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for a good animal story so how could I resist one about a pig who thinks he's a dog.

[Sarah Easley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started out hating this book and by the end liked it ok. The writing overall is pretty bad: no developed characters besides the narrator and too much (unrealistic) dialogue, but I mean a pig who acts like a dog is pretty cute and the emotional passages are "just plain true."

[Benny Dunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is really funny and I can't believe what they did to save him

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. Suitable for the 10-14 age. Includes themes of suicide, abandonment , financial issues... but love, friendship and devotion.

[Hazel (and Nutsy) · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was great! I love the ending, and it was such a sweet story! They really captured Marty's personality! Totally a favorite!

[Hoover Public Library Kids and Teens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Renzo is a gentle-hearted dreamer who learns that there are some things worth fighting for. And Marty is the pig who guides him toward the man he is growing to be. [from Kirkus Reviews]

[Terrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Could you raise a runt pig as a pet knowing all along that when he gets big enough he will be sold and slaughtered? I love the bond between Marty and all of the family and neighbors. He even bonds with the dog. Very sweet, feel good story with decent, hard- working characters.

[Hannah D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was AMAZING. You are on the edge of your seat the whole 'ride'. Marty is a pig who wasn't auctioned, and by accident was brought home. He thinks he is a dog and acts like one. When he accidentally brings trouble, Lorenzo and Pal need to find a way to save Marty. This book is also a great mystery of the great fighter Marty (the human), Lorenzo's dad.

[Laura Gardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 for SAVING MARTY by Paul Griffin. I adore this book!
_*_*_*_*_*
Lorenzo (Renzo) is large for his age and has only one friend, Paloma Lee. Together they have a plan to move to California someday and make music together. Marty’s family is living paycheck to paycheck; his mom and grandfather, Double, work any jobs they can get. His father died before Renzo was born and left behind his guitar for Renzo, but Renzo has unanswered questions about his father. When a runt piglet comes into his life, Renzo adopts him and the pig quickly becomes an important part of his life. Marty, the pig, thinks he is a dog, except that when fully grown he is huge—350 lbs and 6 feet long. When Marty causes an accident, Lorenzo’s mom says he finally has to go. Can Renzo save Marty? Will he discover what his mother is hiding about his father?
_*_*_*_*_*
Much like Griffin’s first book, WHEN FRIENDSHIP FOLLOWED ME HOME, SAVING MARTY does not shy away from tough subjects. Marty is the most personality-filled pig I have ever met in a book. I giggled out loud at the part when Renzo entered Marty in a dog race. Marty���s performance is hilarious and inspirational—the pig will not give up! Griffin really shines at showing human-animal bonds. I recommend this book for all upper elementary and middle school libraries. It’s an incredible read!
_*_*_*_*_*
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[Hannah Jane]

I listened to the audiobook and I have to say Paloma’s singing has scarred me for life. Every time I listen to an audiobook now, I’ll be wondering if someone who is not the narrator is going to bust out in song. This story couldn’t persuade my crusty old heart to melt.

[Amber Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saving Marty was a lovely story of family, friendship, hardship and perspective. Marty has been friends with Pal his whole life, but then they discover a runt piglet who has been nurtured as a new puppy. Marty takes on the piglet and raises him as a dog and saves him from his doom at the butcher. The story is one of friendship between humans and pets as well as our notions of family and what makes someone good. The story tugs at your heart and connects to many different lives. A must have in classrooms and libraries.

[Robyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved these two kids' names.. Lorenzo (Renzo) and Paloma Lee. Each of these kids have only one parent. I was hooked when Marty snuggled up with his little runt self to the old dog. WHAT A STORY! I just loved it. It was everything so sweet, so sad, so disappointing and so wonderful that goes into making up life and growing up... Truly it is a bildungsroman. It is a story for all ages, all levels and all genders... It was just so ... everything!

The story is about love, and loyalty to each other and to Marty the pig. Trying to save Marty the pig on a peach farm that is losing money, the kids race him in a dog race, get him chewed up by a mean dog, almost killed by a backwards hillbilly and then a home for all.

One of the best reads so far. A 5 star read for sure, yall!

Happy Reading!

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lorenzo lives on a peach farm with his mom and grandpa (Double). His dad was killed in the military. The family is struggling and mom is always stressed about money. When the pig has a litter they are all sold off. Then the dog Bella also has a litter of puppies and it is discovered that the runt pig was missed. Bella raises Marty as her own and he grows up thinking he is a dog instead of a pig. He is Lorenzo's constant companion but his growing size means he gets into trouble quite a bit.

Lorenzo's best friend is Paloma who has aspirations of being a singer. She is quite good and accepted into an elite school and camp. While she is gone Lorenzo learns a disturbing truth about his father. He also has to figure out a way to save Marty when mom threatens to sell him off.

I enjoyed this book way more than I thought I would. Animal stories are usually not my favorite, but I enjoyed Marty. I felt sorry for Lorenzo and their financial situation, but I thought the mom was occasionally just mean. I did love the relationship between Lorenzo and Paloma. It is always nice to see best friends from the opposite sex who have no romantic interest in each other. I was glad Marty didn't die in the end and I think his ending was probably the best possible outcome. It still made me really sad.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Renzo keeps the runt piglet that has been left on his farm after his mom has taken the mother and the rest of the litter to be auctioned off. He names the piglet Marty after his father who died, before Renzo was born while serving overseas in a war. Marty, who acts more like a dog than a pig, becomes Renzo's loyal and lovable companion. Inevitably, Marty grows quite a lot in size and having him as a pet becomes quite challenging, especially in the eyes of Renzo's mom. Renzo's determination to keep Marty plays a role in his journey of self-discovery as he learns about friendship, family, and heroes. Renzo's relationship with his friend, Paloma, also brings sweetness to the story. Some of the content of the book is heavy as Renzo learns the truth about his father that has been kept secret. This book, recommended for the higher end of middle grade, will touch readers's hearts.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't put this book down. Full of Dreamers, doubters that change, a funny pig, music and danger. Yes, somehow, a very simple life. Loved it.

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy of this book to enjoy and review. Saving Marty by Paul Griffin is an adorable and witty book about a boy who saves a runt pig and a runt pig who brings together a family trough his hijinks. Renzo is a pre-teen growing up in Pennsylvania on a farm. His best friend Paloma and him bonded as children who have lost a parent. They spend their days on the farm making music and dreaming of making it big in hollywood. As a child, I lost a parent quite similarly to the way Renzo lost his father. This book though for pre-teens struck home for me. When Renzo finds Marty (the pig) in with the litter of puppies his dog just had, he almost instantly has a connection with him. Marty who grows up thinking he is a dog is comical and sweet. He comes into Renzo's life when he needs him most. Their friendship is sweet and I was constantly shocked by how draw-in I was to reading. Saving Marty had me laughing and crying, sometimes both at once. I loved this coming of age tale and can not wait for my son to be old enough to read it.All the characters in Saving Marty are all well-built, I especially love Double, though the areas to which they are in are lacking in detail. I was able though to be able to build it up with my imagination, and that is never a bad thing for kids to work on. 

Reading it with your pre-teen might also help open up the floor for various degrees of topics to talk about. Spoilers ahead!!!!!











Topics will include losing homes, war, PTSD, suicide, friends moving away, losing a pet, and handling bullies.

Saving Marty is intended for ages 10-14 but is a good tale for anyone.

Saving Marty is set to be released 9/19/17

[Jeannine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heartfelt, humorous coming of age story about a boy who discovers himself through the love of his accidental pet pig, Marty.

Renzo is no stranger to poverty and loss. His father died when he was young and he has grown up with a tired and broke mother who seems to be hiding a secret about his deceased father, who died while serving in the military. Struggling to keep their struggling farm afloat, Renzo’s mother is determined to sell a piglet left behind when it’s mother and babies are sold. Renzo takes a shine to the piglet, naming it Marty and raising it alongside his beloved dog, Bella. Renzo and his best friend Paloma make it their mission to save Marty and they do just that.

When the truth of his mother’s secret is revealed, Renzo must rely on the wisdom of music, his sense of humor, his friendship with Paloma, and his love for Marty to redefine what it means to be a hero.

There is hope for all in the end, which tempers the heavy topics it addresses. The author uses music and humor throughout the story to break up the sadness, which also serves to leaven it.

Such a great audio with the perfect narration and music throughout. This is a middle grade gem of a novel.

[Naomi · Rating 2 out of 5]

My son and I got to see this author at a Lit Fest and we hadn't heard of any of his books, let alone read them, or heard of the author. We were super-impressed with the author and his presentation and passion for life and children and living a life that matters, but we didn't like this book. It feels bad to say that, but anyway, we're not knocking the guy. Maybe it just wasn't our thing, this book. Happens. We're glad we got a chance to read it anyway, and we'll probably try another one of his because I bet we might like that one better! My son was like, "If (this thing I think might happens, happens, this is totally only getting 1 star)," but that thing didn't happen so he said it was okay after all. So we were glad of that. And it was cool how the songs were put in. In another season I probably would've plinked them out on my keyboard to get the tune of them and enjoyed them more, but we just didn't have time and needed to return the book we'd borrowed. Friend that followed me home, whatever that book, that's what we're reading next. Oh, I hope we really love that one!