'Still a loser, Pig,' Stormin says. 'Guess you haven't learnt much over summer.'
'Oh, I don't know,' I reply, bloody, bowed and hating his guts. 'I can read.'
Which is when he kicks me. I really should learn to keep my stupid mouth shut.
Seeing Stormin thoroughly occupied, the rest of Year 9 drift back, although they do wait till he's left before resuming their commentary.
'Loser.'
'Coward.'
'Hopeless.'
'Pussy.'
'Pig.'
That's me: Morgan Patrick Lohdi - otherwise known as Pig.
Life sucks for Morgan Patrick Lohdi. Used as the school punching bag, he's constantly bruised and harassed, and doesn't have anything even resembling a friend. Maybe it would be okay if he could keep his mouth shut, but Morgan has a sarcastic tongue that no amount of bullying is going to keep quiet.
And then there's Lissa, the girl he thought was his friend. Who might even have been something more - if the bullies hadn't made her turn her back.
When the art room burns down and Morgan's one safe haven disappears, things get much worse and he's determined to finally make it stop. But will learning to fight back work? Or is it possible to turn the other cheek? Or, just maybe, will help come from the unlikeliest source?
Otherwise Known as Pig is a book about bullying, the planet-sized blind spots of adults, and learning to accept help.
Praise for Otherwise Known as Pig
'This book casts a raw and unflinching light on bullying and will resonate with many readers.' - Charlie Archbold, author of
Mallee Boys
'Otherwise Known as Pig is hard to put down and very difficult to read. It is both distressing and powerful … This story touches on racism, intelligence, the lack of supervision in a school yard and in classrooms, teenage relationships, and trying to find a place in the world where you just might possibly be able to be yourself … This is a powerful story and one which is well worth a read. It encourages us to stand up to bullies or at the very least, if you see someone being bullied, tell someone.' FIVE STARS. - Sue Mauger (former teacher),
Glam Adelaide
'Otherwise Known as Pig is essential reading for parents, teachers, administrators and young people. The book is an engrossing read, and Tilly hopes that it will inspire people to be proactive about bullying and also encourage the targets to reach out for help.' - Lezly Herbert,
OutinPerth
'This is a story of warped and abusive friendships and a boy desperate for affection and self-respect. 'Loser' is a powerful word wielded by the stronger in a daily struggle growing up in our schools … The absence of an adult perspective may make the book popular with younger readers who may feel empowered by it and it will be a useful discussion starter for middle school students.' - Sue Speck,
ReadPlus
Catch Tilly is a former high school teacher now working as an author and script writer. It was after hearing students comment how realistic and empowering they found Morgan and Stormin's story presented in a play on bullying that she decided to write
Otherwise Known as Pig. She is married with five children and has an MA in creative writing.
Read an extract of the book featured on
InDaily here.
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