Module 1: The Pigman

Zindel, Paul. The Pigman. New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 1968.

ISBN-13: 9780060757359

Summary:

John Conlan and Lorraine Jensen are sophomores at Franklin High School. Both are from dysfunctional families and have become fast friends. For fun, John, Lorraine, and a few other friends make prank calls to see who can talk the longest. Lorraine calls Mr. Angelo Pignati and convinces him that she is collecting money for a local charity. John and Lorraine go to collect the money from Mr. Pignati, and an unusual thing happens-they befriend him.

Mr. Pignati is a lonely older man. He has a room full of treasure: collectable, glass pigs. His wife has passed away and his only form of socialization comes when he visits Bobo, a baboon at the local zoo. Together with John and Lorraine, he rediscovers happiness and laughter. John and Lorrain find an adult who actually cares about them and spends time and money on them.

Mr. Pignati gets sick and is sent to the hospital. John and Lorraine decide to use his house to have a party. Consequences don’t mean anything until they come crashing down on John and Lorraine.

Analysis:

Zindel keeps readers interested in this realistic fiction book by alternating the narration between John and Lorraine and with the zany acts performed by John, Lorraine, and Mr. Pignati. Skating in the house, daily trips to the zoo, and shopping at an elite store are all secret wishes of teens. The interaction between the teenagers and the relationship developed with Mr. Pignati are moving as well as realistic. While a recent review was not available, HarperCollins website quotes School Library Journal saying, “An intensely moving story of believably alienated young people.”

Awards:

Notable Children's Books 1940–1970 (ALA)
Best of the Best Books (YA) 1966–1988 (ALA)
1969 Fanfare Honor List (The Horn Book)
Outstanding Children's Books of 1968 (NYT)
Best Children's Books of 1968 (Book World)

Connections:

Find lesson plans and activities at:

http://www.webenglishteacher.com/zindel.html

http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/ALAN/spring95/Russick.html

http://edhelper.com/books/The_Pigman.htm

Find information about the author at:

http://www.paulzindel.com/

Find corny jokes at:

http://www.brownielocks.com/cornyjokes.html

If you enjoyed The Pigman, you may also like:

Lewis, C. S. The Horse and His Boy. : Harper Collins Publishers, 1994. ISBN-13: 9780060234881

Paterson, Katherine. The Bridge to Terabithia. : Barnes & Noble, 2008. ISBN-13: 9781435110953

Peck, Robert N. A Day No Pigs Would Die. : Smith, Peter Publisher, Inc, 1999. ISBN-13: 9780844669908

Harper Collins Publishers. "About the Book: The Pigman." http://www.harpercollins.com/books/The-Pigman-Paul-Zindel/?isbn=9780060268282 (Accessed 17 September 2010).

Photo: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Pigman/Paul-Zindel/e/9780060757359/?itm=1&USRI=pigman