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…