The Christmas Pig

J. K. Rowling

47 pages 1-hour read

J. K. Rowling

The Christmas Pig

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2021

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Character List

Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.

Major Characters

Jack is a sensitive boy struggling to accept significant changes in his daily life, primarily his parents' sudden divorce and his mother's new marriage. He relies heavily on his beloved childhood toy, Dur Pig, as his primary confidant and source of emotional stability. When his step-sister destroys the toy, Jack's intense love for his friend drives him to venture into the magical Land of the Lost to find him.

Key Relationships

Best friend of Dur Pig

Son of Mum

Son of Dad

Stepson of Brendan

Stepbrother of Holly Macauley

Grandson of Gran and Grandpa

Traveling companion of The Christmas Pig

Dur Pig, affectionately known as DP, is Jack's favorite stuffed animal. Worn-out, grayish, and sporting replacement button eyes sewn on by Jack's mother, DP has been Jack's constant companion through years of childhood. He serves as Jack's primary comfort and silent listener during the tumultuous changes in the boy's family life, making his sudden disappearance devastating.

Key Relationships

Best friend of Jack Jones

Predecessor to The Christmas Pig

Repaired by Mum

The Christmas Pig is a brand-new stuffed animal purchased by Jack's grandparents to replace the missing Dur Pig. Brought to life by the magic of Christmas Eve, he is a clever and opinionated toy who understands the depth of Jack's grief. Despite Jack's initial hostility, the new toy bravely offers to guide the boy into the dangerous Land of the Lost to search for his missing friend.

Key Relationships

Guide to Jack Jones

Replacement for Dur Pig

Holly is a talented teen gymnast who initially shows kindness to Jack at his new school. As she copes with her own parents' divorce and learns her father is marrying Jack's mother, her behavior shifts dramatically. She becomes antagonistic and channels her hidden pain into bullying Jack, a conflict that ultimately leads to the tragic loss of Dur Pig on the motorway.

Key Relationships

Stepsister of Jack Jones

Daughter of Brendan

Creator of Bullyboss

The Loser is the fearsome and tyrannical monster who rules the Land of the Lost. He preys on lost, unwanted, and rule-breaking Things, devouring them to build his own horrific armor from their broken pieces. The constant threat of his hunting expeditions casts a dark shadow over the territory, forcing the lost items to live in strict obedience and fear.

Key Relationships

Hunter of Jack Jones

Threat to The Christmas Pig

Supporting Characters

Jack's mother is a hardworking nurse who does her best to support her son through the aftermath of her divorce. She loves Jack deeply and carefully repairs his toys, but she remains largely unaware of the extent of his inner turmoil regarding her new relationship. She attempts to create a happy, blended family environment while managing her own major life transitions.

Key Relationships

Mother of Jack Jones

Wife of Brendan

Ex-wife of Dad

Daughter of Gran and Grandpa

Jack's biological father moves abroad following a sudden divorce from Mum. Though he keeps in touch with Jack, his physical absence leaves a significant void in Jack's life and acts as the catalyst for the boy's heavy reliance on his stuffed pig for emotional support.

Key Relationships

Father of Jack Jones

Ex-husband of Mum

Brendan is Mum's new boyfriend and eventual husband. He is an affable man who tries to build a relationship with his new stepson while managing his own complicated dynamic with his teenage daughter, Holly. His integration into Jack's household represents a major adjustment for the young boy.

Key Relationships

Husband of Mum

Father of Holly Macauley

Stepfather of Jack Jones

Gran and Grandpa are Jack's supportive grandparents who help care for him while his mother works. They try to maintain peace during tense family holidays and frequently attempt to mediate between Jack and Holly. Well-meaning but sometimes misunderstanding Jack's deep attachments, they are the ones who purchase the new toy pig to replace the lost one.

Key Relationships

Grandparents of Jack Jones

Parents of Mum

Step-grandparents of Holly Macauley

Compass is a broken directional tool lost by a hiker in the forest. Condemned to the desolate Wastes of the Unlamented, she maintains a cheerful, brave disposition and a keen thirst for adventure. She willingly puts herself at risk to help guide desperate travelers through the dangerous territories of the Land of the Lost.

Key Relationships

Friend of Poem

Guide for Jack Jones

Poem is a personified piece of written verse who speaks entirely in rhyme. Despite facing her own gradual decline in relevance as her owner forgets her, she uses her resources to bravely shelter surplus items from enforcers, operating a secret network to aid fugitives.

Key Relationships

Helper of Jack Jones

Friend of Compass

Rival of Addie The Address Book

Hope is a powerful, glowing figure with majestic feathered wings who resides in the City of the Missed. Lost by a political prisoner in the human world, she awaits the day her owner can find her again. She embodies resilience and proves to be a formidable ally against oppressive forces.

Key Relationships

Friend of Happiness

Rescuer of Jack Jones

Defiant subject of Power

Happiness is a bright, glowing entity representing a lost human emotion. Cheerful and benevolent, she uses her radiant light to assist others in the City of the Missed, providing crucial distractions and support for those trying to evade capture.

Key Relationships

Friend of Hope

Helper of Jack Jones

Broken Angel is a fragile Christmas ornament originally crafted by Jack from a toilet paper roll. After being destroyed by the family dog and discarded, she ends up navigating the desolate Wastes. Despite her grim surroundings, she forms supportive bonds with other discarded toys to endure the harsh environment.

Key Relationships

Creator of Jack Jones

Companion of Blue Bunny

Blue Bunny is a cheaply made, unwanted fairground prize who was discarded out a window as a joke. Now wandering the Wastes of the Unlamented, the gloomy but loyal toy finds solace in his friendship with the Broken Angel, illustrating the camaraderie that forms among forgotten things.

Key Relationships

Friend of Broken Angel

Companion of Jack Jones

Power is the domineering and arrogant king of the City of the Missed. A human trait lost by his owner, he attempts to rule his domain with an iron fist, demanding constant flattery from his subjects and viewing outsiders as commodities to be traded for his own political gain.

Key Relationships

Captor of Hope

Interrogator of Jack Jones

Bullyboss is a physical manifestation of a discarded human behavior, specifically taking the form of a mean-looking fist representing Holly's decision to stop mistreating her stepbrother. He roams the Land of the Lost with other forsaken bad habits, hoping his owner will one day reclaim him.

Key Relationships

Discarded habit of Holly Macauley

Former tormentor of Jack Jones

Addie is a bossy, officious address book living in the town of Bother-It's-Gone. She enjoys lecturing others and adhering strictly to the rules of her new environment, making her a bothersome presence to the more rebellious inhabitants of the town.

Key Relationships

Enemy of Poem

Guide to Jack Jones

Sheriff Specs is a pair of spectacles acting as the cheerful but vigilant leader of the Disposables area in the Land of the Lost. Tasked with maintaining order among the recently lost items, he keeps a sharp eye out for anything that does not belong in his jurisdiction.

Key Relationships

Investigator of Jack Jones

Mayor Cheese Grater is the mean-spirited municipal leader of the town of Bother-It's-Gone. Desperate to appease higher authorities and maintain his own standing, he actively hunts down rule-breakers and outsiders who wander into his town.

Key Relationships

Hunter of Jack Jones

Hunter of The Christmas Pig