← Literature & books Literature & books · Developing English

Pig Boy

Book by J. C. Burke

1 min
estimated reading
4
complete sections
7.16
algorithmic grade estimate

Before you read

Use the article and the local dictionary together

The complexity label is calculated from sentence length and syllable estimates; it is guidance, not an assessment of you. Open any highlighted word below for its full local dictionary page.

Words
95
Native text
704 characters
Dictionary match
75%
Revision
1360864135 · 2026-06-24T02:45:58Z
Key vocabulary

Words to check before reading

Overview

Pig Boy (2011) is a crime novel by Australian author J. C. Burke. It won the 2012 Ned Kelly Award.

Plot summary

Damon Styles is expelled from school on his eighteenth birthday. He gets himself a firearms licence and intends to get a job shooting pigs with Pigman. But Damon harbours secrets and the citizens of the town of Strathven believe they know what Damon is planning and set out to stop him.

Reviews

Holly Harper for Readings hadn't "been this impressed with a main character in quite some time" and thought the author "has created an absolutely unforgettable cast of characters".

Awards and nominations

* 2011 longlisted Inky Awards — Gold Inky * 2012 winner Ned Kelly Award — Best Novel * 2012 shortlisted Davitt Award — Best Young Adult Book

Literature & books

Continue with related local reading