The Pigman

Zindel, Paul. 1968. THE PIGMAN. New York: HarperCollins Publishing. ISBN 0-06-026827-1

“We murdered him!” captures the essence of why two high school students create an oath to tell “the truth and nothing but the truth, until this memorial epic is finished.” This oath signed by the two students humorously, yet seriously, starts the novel setting the tone; it makes the characters realistic especially with their signatures at the bottom.

Now in their sophomore year, John, the rebel who smokes and drinks, and Lorraine, riddled with self-loathing and whose mother is overprotective and critical of her looks, find friendship in their freshman year of high school while laughing hysterically on a bus ride home. The author, Paul Zindel, with his accurate character identification, alternates between Lorraine and John narrating the chapters telling “the facts about their experiences” with “the Pigman.” During one of their many practical jokes, they befriend the lonely old widower, Angelo Pignati, who seems just a little crazy with his big sparkling smile. This unusual life-altering friendship blossoms and they begin to spend more and more time at Mr. Pignati’s house becoming more comfortable there than in their own homes. The School Library Journal review expresses it as “conflicted teens [who] feel alienated from everything, but the Pigman's enthusiasm for life soon spills over onto them.”

In the beginning, John says, “Actually, I hate school, but then again most of the time I hate everything” hooking some of Zindel’s reluctant readers with similar feelings that they may be having. Interacting with their classmates, parents’ and “the Pigman,” John and Lorraine exhibit their adolescent lives at parties, trips to the zoo, nights at the cemetery and hospital stays. This story is as relevant to today’s teens as it was when it was first published in 1968. Only a few items like typewriters and telephones with dials date it. Zindel says of his writings, "I believe I must convince my readers that I am on their side." He accomplishes that with honesty, dignity, and humor (Scales 2002).

Those who enjoy The Pigman can also read The Pigman and Me, an autobiographical tale about Zindel’s own turbulent childhood and his relationship with his own “Pigman” or the sequel The Pigman’s Legacy about a vagrant living in Pignati’s abandoned house.

Looking for a way to use this novel in the classroom? Check out the Glencoe Literature Library Study Guide at http://www.glencoe.com/sec/literature/litlibrary/pdf/pigman.pdf.

Do you know a teen that needs support or information on alcoholism? They can visit http://www.al-anon.alateen.org/for-alateen.

Reference

Scales, Pat. "The Pigman and He. (cover story)." School Library Journal 48.6 (2002): 52. Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts with Full Text. EBSCO. Web. 8 Sept. 2011.