The Pigman

Published in 1968, Paul Zindel’s The Pigman established the young adult genre in fiction novels and became a classic book that is still read by teenagers in classrooms today. Written from the dual perspective of two high school students, Zindel takes the reader inside the mind of a teenager’s thoughts, fears, and impressions of others and examines what it means to be kind and empathetic.

The novel was awarded the New York Times Outstanding Book of the Year in 1968, named an ALA Notable Children’s Book, and added to the Horn Book Fanfare Honor List in 1969. Though the novel made its way onto the reading list in many schools, it has become one of the most banned books of all time, ranking 44 on the ALA’s list of most challenged books from 1990-2000 when some parents found the author’s inclusion of teenage drinking, cursing, and disrespect of adults as offensive and deemed it inappropriate for young readers. Zindel published the sequel in 1980, titled The Pigman’s Legacy, and in 1990 he published his autobiography The Pigman & Me. Zindel wrote a screenplay for the novel, which was used for a 2001 film adaptation directed by Owen Emerson.

The source material was taken from the 1968 edition published by Harper & Row.

Plot Summary

John Conlan and Lorraine Jensen, high school sophomores living in Staten Island, compose an oath stating they are writing an epic memorial to someone they call the Pigman, and they vow to tell the truth. Each takes their turn narrating the story of how they came to know Angelo Pignati and what happened to him.

John and Lorraine met on the school bus right before high school began when Lorraine moved into the neighborhood. The other high school students cannot understand what draws handsome rebellious John to the plain and introverted Lorraine, but the two become friends bonded by their mutual understanding of dysfunctional families and shared appreciation of independence. Lorraine lives with a single mom who works as a palliative care nurse. Harboring hatred for men born out of her ex-husband’s betrayal, Lorraine’s mother seeks to control every aspect of her daughter’s life, from her wardrobe to her mode of transportation. Lorraine endures constant scrutiny of her behavior and her body size from her overworked, hostile mother, and she is forced to lie about her whereabouts when spending time with John and his friends.

Earning the nickname “the Bathroom Bomber” after setting off firecrackers in the boy’s restroom, John has a reputation as a prankster and liar, but he gets by on his charm and wit. He, too, suffers under the tyranny of an unhappy household and copes by drinking alcohol, a trait he learned from his father, and chain smoking. In contrast to Lorraine’s overly controlling mom, John’s parents seem to care little about his day-to-day life. His father only takes notice of him long enough to compare him to his older, more successful brother and point out how he does not measure up to his standard of hard work.

Happy to be swept up in John’s attention, Lorraine follows along as he and his other trouble-making friends, Norton and Dennis, break into the local cemetery for drinking binges. John describes Norton as a depraved, corrupt kid and someone he does not enjoy being with. When they are bored, the teenagers prank call strangers and compete to see who can keep the unwitting victim on the phone the longest.

One day, Lorraine dials Angelo Pignati and pretends she is a charity worker collecting funds. Mr. Pignati is a kind man who likes to tell silly jokes, and when he offers to donate $10, Lorraine feels guilty and wants to end the prank. However, John jumps at the chance to collect $10 for beer and urges her to tell Mr. Pignati they will come and collect the donation in person the following day. When they visit his house, posing with fake names, they find a lonely man living in a run-down house who is overjoyed to have their company. He invites them inside and shows them his extensive collection of ceramic pigs, which he started when he met his wife. Mr. Pignati tells John and Lorraine he visits the zoo daily and invites them to accompany him the next day. He writes them a check for $10 to cash, and as soon as they leave, John uses the money to buy beer at the store.

John and Lorraine skip school to accompany Mr. Pignati to the zoo, and he introduces them to Bobo the baboon, whom he calls his best friend. Though the teenagers find the encounter a bit strange, they soon grow fond of the old man and enjoy spending time at his house, which provides the sense of a happy family life each of them does not have on their own.

Mr. Pignati takes them on a trip into the city to Beekman’s department store and buys them strange and exotic foods, and they purchase roller skates and skate through the middle of the sporting goods section. As they spend more time at his home, John neglects his schoolwork, and Lorraine continues lying to her mother, who has become increasingly suspicious of her cover story of being at Latin Club.

One evening while visiting the Pigman, John discovers a receipt for Mr. Pignati’s wife Conchetta’s funeral. Once he tells Lorraine, the guilt over lying to the poor man consumes her, and she confesses to him that the phone call was a prank and reveals they are not charity workers but instead are high school students. Mr. Pignati sobs while trying to conceal his emotions and admits through tears that his wife is dead. He keeps all her clothing and jewelry in the house as a comfort, and the pig figurine collection is like a memorial to his lost love. Though Mr. Pignati is hurt by their deception, he quickly forgives them, and they all put on their roller skates and zoom through the house. When John initiates a game of tag, and Mr. Pignati chases him up the stairs, the old man collapses from a heart attack and falls down the stairs.

While Mr. Pignati recovers in the hospital, John and Lorraine tend to his house. They promise to visit Bobo, but instead, they spend time dressing up in the Pignati’s clothing, pretending they are adults. Though they share a kiss, their romantic charade quickly descends into domestic strife as they argue over washing dishes and trash removal. In frustration, John decides to invite a few friends to a party. Lorraine objects but does little to stop John as he gathers up all the alcohol in the house and creates the guest list. He is careful not to invite Norton, fearing he will steal Mr. Pignati’s belongings.

As the guests arrive, the party gets out of hand quickly as more people than were invited show up, and everyone drinks heavily. Several girls, including Lorraine, dress up in Conchetta’s gowns, damaging some of them in the process. The house, now packed with 40 inebriated teenagers and a live band, becomes a raucous party scene, and when John sees Norton walk through the door, he knows he has lost control of the situation.

John, wearing his roller skates, drunkenly chases Norton upstairs, where he tries to steal Mr. Pignati’s broken electronics. The two boys fight, and Norton escapes downstairs, where John hears Lorraine shouting that a cab has arrived outside and Mr. Pignati is home early from the hospital. Norton smashes all the pig figurines before John tackles him to the ground. As they fight, Mr. Pignati opens the door, and John loses consciousness. Someone calls the police, but Mr. Pignati does not press charges. The police take the teens home, and Lorraine’s mother slaps her face when she learns of her daughter’s lies.

The next day, John and Lorraine call Mr. Pignati and apologize, asking if they can help clean up the house. He barely speaks, and Lorraine pleads with him, offering to join him in visiting Bobo. Mr. Pignati agrees, and they meet at the zoo the following morning. Though he looks sick and weak, they purchase peanuts and excitedly make their way to the primate house. When they arrive, they see an empty enclosure, and the zookeeper informs them that Bobo died the previous week from pneumonia. Mr. Pignati cries out in grief and collapses dead from another heart attack. Lorraine flees while John stays with Mr. Pignati’s body until the ambulance arrives, and while he waits, he experiences an existential crisis while considering his mortality. He finds Lorraine sitting on a bench in the zoo, and she calls them murderers. John says nothing but thinks they are responsible for their actions.