The Pigman

By Tyler Legrand

About the Author

Paul Zindel was born in Staten Island, New York in 1936. His parents separated when he was very young, and his mother and sister moved frequently around New York City. Paul Zindel received his Masters degree in science, and taught high school chemistry for ten years. In 2002, Paul Zindel won the Margaret A. Edwards award for his lifetime contribution to writing for young adults.

Genre

The Pigman, is a Realistic-fiction novel about two reckless teenagers and how they meet a happy man named Mr. Pignati when they were prank calling random people. They asked for a small donation. They went to pick it up, and became great friends.

Main characters

• Mr. Pignati (a.k.a. Pigman): the “funny” one

• Lorraine: the paranoid one

• John: the care free one

• Bobo: the monkey

Theme

• Drama about the underlying, and inevitable golden rule: Treat others how you want to be treated. Ex: When the Pigman dies, John and Lorraine feel horrible about prank calling him in the first place.

Symbols

• School: Authority

• Pig: Mr. Pignati

• Weekends: Do whatever the heck you want.

Summary

In the beginning of the book, Lorraine and John play a game with their friends. In this game, they look up random numbers in the phone book, and prank call them. On one of thes particular dars Lorraine calls a man named Mr. Pignati. While on the phone with Mr. Pignati, Lorraine asks for a donation for a made-up fund called the L and J fund.

Summary Cont’d.

They go to collect ten dollars from this man, even though Lorraine doesn’t want to. When they get to the house, Mr. Pignati invites them in for some wine, they chat for a while and Mr. Pignati shows them his pigs. He also invites them to go to the Zoo with him to see his favorite monkey, Bobo. They turn into good friends. One day they are playing, and Mr. Pignati has a heart attack.

Summary Cont’d.

He is taken to the hospital and while he is gone Lorraine and John throw a party at his house. He comes home during the middle of the party, and calls the police. They bring John and Lorraine home to their parents. The next day Lorraine and John try to make it up to Mr. Pignati by taking him to the Zoo. When they arrive they find out that Bobo died. Mr. Pignati never lived another day…