Synopses & Reviews
Join the millions of readers who have discovered
The Pigman, the beloved, groundbreaking young adult classic from Paul Zindel, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of
The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds. This new paperback edition is packed with bonus material, including a Q&A with Paul Zindel, trivia, an extended author biography, and a teaser to
The Pigman's Legacy.
In The Pigman, what begins as a teenage prank soon becomes a timeless examination of grief, acceptance, and the transformative power of friendship. High-school sophomores John and Lorraine had no idea what they were starting when they made a prank phone call to a stranger named Angelo Pignati. Virtually overnight, they befriended the old man. But now Mr. Pignati is dead. And for John and Lorraine, the only way to find peace is to write down their friend's story—the true story of the Pigman.
Supports the Common Core State Standards
Review
“Headline news…remarkable…Zindel has written a story that will not be denied.” Publishers Weekly
Review
“An intensely moving story of believably alienated young people.” School Library Journal
Review
“This is a shocker of a book. Startling and truthful and vivid.” Young Readers & #8217; Review
Synopsis
Join the millions of readers who have discovered The Pigman, the beloved bestselling young adult classic from Paul Zindel, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds.
The Pigman is the perfect read for fans of modern classics like The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton and Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher.
When high school sophomores John and Lorraine made a prank phone call to an elderly stranger named Angelo Pignati, what starts as a practical joke quickly turns into a friendship that changes all of their lives forever. But when their friendship ends in tragedy, the only way for John and Lorraine to find peace is to write down their friend's story--the true story of the Pigman.
"Headline news...remarkable...Zindel has written a story that will not be denied." --Publishers Weekly
"An intensely moving story of believably alienated young people." --School Library Journal
Synopsis
The Pigman is Paul Zindel's groundbreaking, bestselling tour de force, now available in a teen trim size with striking new cover art.
Publishers Weekly called
The Pigman "remarkable. Zindel has written a story that will not be denied." This funny, sad, and unforgettable tale about two disillusioned teenagers who have their faith in humanity restored by a lonely, eccentric stranger is a timeless classic that new generations of readers will cherish.
It's an uneventful September afternoon when sophomores John and Lorraine make a prank call to a stranger named Angelo Pignati. But the two of them aren't prepared to be so touched by the old man whose loneliness reaches out to them through the phone line. And what starts as a practical joke quickly turns into a friendship that changes all of their lives forever.
Synopsis
Our life would be what we made of it. . . .
It's an uneventful September afternoon when sophomores John and Lorraine make a prank call to a stranger named Angelo Pignati. But the two of them aren't prepared to be so touched by the old man whose loneliness reaches out to them through the phone line. And what starts as a practical joke quickly turns into a friendship that changes all of their lives forever.
Then John and Lorraine make a terrible mistake that betrays their new friend's trust—and just like that, Mr. Pignati is gone. Now, the only way for them to find peace is to write down their friend's story—the story of the Pigman.
About the Author
Paul Zindel (1936-2003) was discovered in the mid-1960s by Charlotte Zolotow, who had seen a television production of his Pulitzer Prize-winning play, The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds and decided that Zindel must try his hand at young adult fiction. Mr. Zindel went on to become a pioneer in the genre as we know it today.
His books for HarperCollins include The Doom Stone and Loch, both Recommended Books for the Reluctant YA Reader (ALA), and the tragicomic memoir The Pigman & Me, which School Library Journal said in a starred review "allows readers a glimpse of Zindel's youth, gives them insight into some of his fictional characters, and provides many examples of universal experiences that will make them laugh and cry." The Pigman & Me was both a 1993 ALA Best Book for Young Adults and a 1993 ALA Notable Children's Book.