The Pigmanby Paul Zindel

• Born in NYC in 1936.

• Became a high school teacher in 1959.

• Began writing career while teaching.

• Uses teenagers as his protagonists.

• His ten years of teaching experience provided him with a “million stories” about young people.

Features of Zindel’s Writing

• Goal is to help young readers to stop feeling inferior.

• He wants his books to offer hope and to teach young people self-respect.

• Romance, mischief, and suspense are frequently found in his works.

• He uses these elements to enhance action and establish realism.

Setting

• A frequent feature of Zindel’s work is a school setting.

* He believes such an environment helps to create a realistic atmosphere

* This realistic atmosphere helps readers to identify with the story.

• Staten Island, New York• Late 1960s

Point of View

• Two first person narrators

• John and Lorraine

* main characters in the story

* take turns narrating

* often have insights into one another’s pesonality.

Themes

• Escape from loneliness

• Deception and lying

• Dealing with death and loss

• Family

• Relationships

• Friendship

• Responsibility

Symbols

• Baboons

• Ceramic pigs