Zindel, Paul. The Pigman & Me. New York, Harper Collins Publishers,1991. Print.
Annotation: "Eight hundred and fifty-three horrifying things had happened to me by the time I was a teenager. That was when I met my pigman, whose real name was Nonno Frankie."
Justification for Nomination:
This autobiography by Paul Zindel, well known author of the popular YA novel , The Pigman,and The Pigman's Legacy, focuses on a very important year in his adolescence. This is the year he meets Nonno Frankie Vivona, who actually becomes Zindel's real life 'pigman'! Zindel ,growing up without a father, desperately needs a male role model. In this book , Zindel retells humorous and heart- warming encounters experienced with this discerning father figure, Nonno Frankie,as well as other memories of his mother and the year they lived in the small community of Travis,Staten Island, New York.
Paul's mother,raising two children on her own, moves the family from one apartment to the next, and it is when the family moves into the small town of Travis that Paul finally finds a bit of stability. Zindel describes the true accounts of his life as he, his mother and sister, Betty, move into a newly purchased home which they share with another single mom, Connie and her twin toddler boys.It is here where Paul Zindel meets Connie's father, Nonno Frankie (his' pigman').
Paul Zindel relies on his skillful writing to create a sometimes humorous, sometimes heart wrenching glimpse into an extremely important year in his life. His novel also includes family photos and special moments of his life growing up in Staten Island. Jennifer Wolupopski, a Polish girl in the neighborhood, becomes Zindel's best friend and they share many talks in his favorite hang-out, the apple tree.
The use of humor and the fluid writing style are tools which Zindel uses to extend this personal message to a teenage audience. His chapter headings are cleverly descriptive and get right to the heart of the matter. For example, Chapter 2, The Day it Rained Cockroaches is just as comically descriptive as Chapter 8,School Should Be a Big Pot of Juicy Meatballs!
Above all, Pigman and Me, is a book about friendship, self discovery and possibilities. Nono Frankie , when not cooking fantastic Italian meals, becomes a true friend to Zindel. Nono Frankie teaches Paul how to fish for 'killies', how not to become a zombie and how to win his first fistfight.
Even more importantly, this autobiography/memoir also points out the importance of realizing how many opportunities there are in life. Teens can learn by observing the choices others have made, in order not to make the same mistakes in their future. Zindel presents the reader with a difficult , but pivotal time in his adolescence. Life's secrets are never easy to uncover, but having a pigman by your side never hurts!
Genre Category: Autobiography/Memoir/ Coming of Age/
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