Summary Of Pigs In Heaven By Barbara Kingsolver

Pigs in Heaven by Barbara Kingsolver follows the travels of Taylor and her illegally adopted child Turtle from Tucson, their “home,” to Heaven, the Cherokee Nation’s “home.” Turtle and Taylor are each other’s family, but after appearing on Oprah, there are questions brought up by the Cherokee Nation about the adoption. While Taylor is on the run with Turtle, they pass through several towns and states, but the most significant setting is at the conclusion of the book when Taylor takes Turtle to Heaven, Oklahoma. The significance of this place is that this is the home of Turtle’s race, Cherokee, who she has never known nor met. Turtle and Taylor both admit to being scared to travel to Heaven, Oklahoma, but Taylor makes the decision as Turtle’s

This comment made by Taylor makes me feel sorry for her that she was put into the situation of taking care of a child. She does love Turtle, but she escaped Kentucky to try and build a new life for herself. She is now having to care for a child and worrying about food for two, instead of being a child herself and enjoying life.

“She is the first woman he’s ever known who doesn’t give a damn how she looks, or is completely happy with the way she looks, wish amounts to the same thing” (37). This comment is made by Jax about Taylor, whom he is in love with. This shows Taylor’s strong attitude and her thoughts that there are more important things to do in life than to make yourself look “perfect” all the time. She is confident with herself and that reflects in how she speaks to others as well. Kingsolver wants the readers to think of Taylor as an independent woman who doesn’t care about others’ opinions.

“You must think I’m cracked. I’m trying to keep the birds out of the apricot tree. My little girl likes apricots more than anything living or dead, and she’s the kind of kid that just doesn’t ask for much. I’ve been going out of my head trying to think how to get the birds out of the fruit”