This study guide was created using the following version of this book: Kadohata, Cynthia. Saucy. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2020.

Saucy tells the story of Becca, an 11-year old girl who finds an abandoned piglet. Becca rescues the piglet and names her Saucy. The family takes the piglet to the veterinarian and the piglet is diagnosed with mange. While the piglet is at the veterinarian’s office, it is touch and go as to whether or not the piglet will even survive.

Becca is one of a set of quadruplets and the only girl. Becca feels like her brothers all have something that helps define them, but that she does not know who she is yet. Finding and rescuing Saucy gives Becca purpose. Once the piglet is allowed to go home with Becca, Becca feeds and cares for her. They form a close bond, and even though the entire family gets close to Saucy, the family knows that eventually the piglet will get too big for the family to keep at the house.

Becca’s parents try to prepare Becca for taking the pig to a sanctuary. Becca tries to rationalize how Saucy could stay with them. As Saucy grows bigger and stronger, Saucy begins to destroy things around the house. After Saucy bites Becca’s mom, the family decides that it is time for Saucy to go to the sanctuary.

The family takes Saucy to the sanctuary and Becca’s parents give the sanctuary a sizeable donation in order to help ensure that the sanctuary would never allow Saucy to adopted by someone who would slaughter the pig.

After leaving Saucy at the sanctuary, Becca talks to her brothers about going to explore the area where they found Saucy. The four children sneak out at night and discover that near where Saucy was found is a factory farm. The children sneak into the farm and discover shocking conditions. They take photos and each kid takes piglets with them. The children return home with nine piglets. Becca’s parents are shocked and have to decide what is best to do.

The family knows that they cannot keep the piglets, but cannot send them back to the farm. Becca’s parents explain that while the children think that they have rescued the piglets, the farm will consider the animals stolen. The family debates whether or not to go to the newspaper about the conditions at the farm. They also consider posting the pictures around the neighborhood.

Without Saucy, Becca tries to understand her purpose. She realizes that she does not even have a best friend. Becca remembers how she treated MacKenzie, a friend that moved away. As Becca reconciles her loneliness, she determines that she needs to reach out to her old friend.

When Becca calls MacKenzie to apologize, MacKenzie is not sure how she feels about reconnecting with her old friend. MacKenzie also does not think that her mother will approve because of how Becca treated MacKenzie. Ultimately, MacKenzie decides to see Becca. MacKenzie tells Becca about how she has tons of friends and is really happy and popular. After Becca and MacKenzie spend the day together, MacKenzie confesses that she still really does not have friends. The girls reconcile their friendship.