Module 1

Zindel, Paul. 2005. THE PIGMAN. New York, NY: HarperCollins Children’s Books. ISBN 0-06075735-3

The Pigman is told through the alternating voices of high school sophomores, John and Lorraine. Lorraine describes John as extremely handsome, he smokes and drinks too much, tells fantastic lies, and will do anything to stir up excitement. John’s response is, “Actually, I hate school, but then again most of the time I hate everything.” John has a troubled relationship with his ex-alcoholic father and a mother described as a “disinfectant fanatic.” Lorraine desires to be a writer and views herself as compassionate. She too has a dysfunctional family living with her mother, for her dad deserted them fifteen years ago and has since died. Her mother is a private nurse who often steals from her employers. At every opportunity, Lorraine’s mother reminds her daughter she isn’t beautiful. In Lorraine’s words, “It’s not exactly easy being her daughter, and more than once I’ve thought about what a good psychiatrist could do for her.”

Against this backdrop, Lorraine and John, with some friends, play telephone marathon as a practical joke. Through this game, they meet Angelo Pignati, whom they refer to as the Pigman, a lonely old man who lives alone. Over time their lives become entwined. In time, John and Lorraine confess their practical joke to Mr. Pignati explaining they are only high school kids. “We just had to be honest with you because we like you more than anyone we know.” This moment of honesty causes the Pigman to make a confession about his wife, Conchetta, whom he has said was away. When Mr. Pignati is hospitalized with a heart attack, he grants John and Lorraine permission to use his house. This privilege leads to the pair having a wild party at Mr. Pignati’s house where things are broken and destroyed and the police become involved. Feeling guilty about what happened, they talk the old man into going to the zoo to visit his only other friend, Bobo, the baboon. With peanuts in hand to feed Bobo, they learn the baboon died the previous week. Upon hearing the sad news, Mr. Pignati slips to the ground and dies. John said, “But when he (Mr. Pignati) died something in us had died as well.”

Paul Zindel has crafted a story that touches the emotions, dealing with complicated issues of addiction, difficult home environments, finding a sense of belongingness and acceptance, growing up, friendship that crosses generational lines, and the similarities in the needs of both the young and old, and death. Using two narrators provides a contrast of perspectives that extends the richness of the story. The characters evoke realism as we see both their flaws and strengths. The pace of the novel is steady with dialogue that will draw the reader into the story allowing the reader to experience the complexities and pain of growing up. Zindel chooses to use symbols for expletives and explains that he feels there is a difference between the spoken and written word and curse words do not add to the literary merit. While the story may seem simple on the surface, it is anything but, as the reader discovers the intricacies with which the relationships of the characters are woven.

In an interview with Zindel, Teri Lesene acknowledged this book was considered by many critics to be the “first truly young adult book” where the author depicted the teens dealing with real problems.

Publishers Weekly review calls it “Headline news…remarkable…Zindel has written a story that will not be denied.”
Young Readers’ Review says, “This is a shocker of a book. Startling and truthful and vivid.”
Awards for The Pigman:
Children’s Book of the Year, Child Study Association of America, 1968
New York Times Outstanding book of the year, 1968
Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Honor Book, 1969
Maxi Award, Media & Methods, 1973
ALA Notable Children’s Book, 1940-1970
ALA Best Book for Young Adults, 1966-1988



Engle, Margarita. (2006) THE POET SLAVE. Ill. Sean Qualls. New York: Henry, Holt and Company, LLC. ISBN 978-0-8050-7706-3

The life of Juan Francisco Manzano is told in narrative prose through the various character voices. The story begins with Juan’s first owners Dona Beatriz de Justiz, La Marquesa and Don Juan Manzano on the sugar plantation where as a six year old boy he is treated as a pet poodle. He is called upon to entertain with recitations at Dona Beatriz’s parties. She says, “The boy is a genius, a pleasure to behold, a wonder to hear.” His mother who was set free to marry is filled with rage at leaving him and vows to stay close. In time, upon the death of Dona Beatriz, he is given a new owner. He was to have been set free but finds himself trying to please a “mad woman, crazy, cruel.” His one desire is for reading books and writing words, but this brings him severe punishment. Often being blamed for trivial incidents of which he is innocent, his legs are locked in stocks; he is tied to a cross or to a ladder and savagely lashed. At one point, he is made to run in front of horses and hungry dogs, suffering a savage attack. Twice his mother paid for his freedom, and it was denied. Throughout his ordeal, he longs to write and secretly practices. Besides sewing like his father, he is famous for curing the ill, creating pastry delicacies and painting. Juan demonstrates how words are a source of hope. After his mother dies, knowing that she had purchased his freedom that was denied, Juan escapes on horseback.

The life of Juan Francisco Manzano is known only because some of his notes were smuggled to England. Little is known about his life after the escape. He lived for many years as a fugitive. Juan was eventually arrested on charges of trying to stir up a slave rebellion and imprisoned until 1845. The censorship in Cuba prevented poets from writing anything having to do with slavery. His life as a slave provides a powerful witness to the triumph of freedom. At the end of the book are an informative historical note and a couple of excerpts of his poetry. Illustrator Qualls captures the deep sadness of the slave poet. The artwork successfully complements the raw emotions often stirred as the reader is able to vividly picture the hardships and cruelty endured by Juan. Author, Engle, has written an intense book that portrays the violence and brutality of the time. In spite of the horrendous life experiences of the main character, Engle successfully keeps hope alive, inspiring the reader with a deep appreciation of the human spirit. Themes abound for discussion related to slavery and more specifically the emergence of slavery in Cuba, censorship, sacrifice, and the yearning for knowledge. This book is a compelling read.

This 2006 Pura Belpre medal Book Author Award is a tragic biography depicting Manzano’s ability to maintain his dignity in the face of a brutal existence. The School Library Journal, starred review, says, “An absolutely lovely book…that should be read by young and old, black and white, Anglo and Latino.”
Horn Book, starred review, claims it is, “A work of literary imagination. Engle’s skillful portrait will spark readers’ interest in Manzano’s own poetry.”
Booklist, starred review, asserts, “Readers will hear the stories and never forget them.”


Myers, Walter D. 1999. MONSTER. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, Inc. ISBN 0064407314

Steve Harmon, a 16 year old black youth,is incarcerated at the Manhattan Detention Center, accused of felony murder during a failed robbery attempt in Harlem where the drugstore owner, Alguinaldo Nesbitt, was shot and killed with his own gun. He was one of four persons involved in the conspiracy to rob the store with Steve’s role being to go into the store prior to the robbery to check it out and make sure there were no police in the store.

Steve tells his story from his journal entries written as a screenplay. Steve says it is thinking about his movie that keeps him from going crazy. “All they talk about in here is hurting people.” Steve says, “I want to look like a good person. I want to feel like a good person because I believe I am. But being in here with these guys makes it hard to think about yourself as being different. We look about the same, and even though I’m younger than they are, it’s hard not to notice that we are all pretty young.” Steve continues to emphasize that he is not a bad person. He knows with certainty that in his heart he is not bad. Steve’s lawyer cautions him that there are bad guys he knows taking the stand, and the jury may not see a difference between the bad guys and him. Sadly, Steve believes his own dad thinks the same thing. The lawyer tells him her job is to make him different in the eyes of the jury. While hearing this, he thinks how he wanted to be tough like the bad guys. Steve fears being hit or raped while locked up, but the fear grows as the reality of getting 25 years to life takes over his thinking, realizing he will have to serve at least 20 years. Surrounded by violence or the talk of violence he yearns for his life to be normal again. He admits to thinking like all the other prisoners, trying to convince himself that everything will be all right, that the jury can’t find him guilty. “We lie to ourselves here. Maybe we are here because we lie to ourselves.” Thinking of his younger brother, Jerry, he desires to caution him to “think about all the tomorrows of your life.”

Monster is a novel written in a screenplay format with Steve’s journal entries mixed in throughout. The character in Monster is a composite character created by the author after interviewing many young men with similar stories. Myers is able to make the character, Steve real, and the reader is able to get into his thoughts and experience his feelings. The overriding emotion is fear. Fear of the loss of a normal life. Fear of being surrounded by violence. Fear of a life spent behind bars. Fear of being perceived as a bad person. Fear of the loss of family. Fear of the loss of hope. Fear that becomes so palpable the reader can taste it. The main character, Steve struggles with confronting the fear that he is a monster.

The reader is pulled into the courtroom drama and experiences a sense of the raw reality of the inner workings of the courtroom. We see that crime never touches one life but it ripples throughout the lives of those involved. It is not just the perpetrators and victims but families of mothers, fathers, younger siblings, teachers, citizens of neighborhoods, lawyers, and the ripples continue. The dialogue can be edgy, keeping the reader turning pages, searching for answers. Finally, the reader may find him/herself doing just what the jury must do – make a decision about guilt or innocence. The ending of the story takes a twist that leaves the question of Steve’s guilt or innocence unanswered. This plotting strategy keeps the reader thinking about the themes of the story and grappling with the complexity of finding truth. Myers has written an intelligent book that makes one think long after the last page has been read.

Publishers Weekly says, “This riveting courtroom drama will leave a powerful, haunting impression. An insightful look at a teenage suspect’s lost innocence.”
ALA Booklist finds it, “A fascinating portrait of a terrified young man wrestling with his conscience. The tense drama of the courtroom scenes will enthrall readers, but it is the thorny moral questions raised in Steve’s journal that will endure in readers’ memories.”
Kirkus Reviews writes, “A riveting novel. A taut and moving drama.”
The Bulletin said, “The drama and ethical questions raised will keep the audience not just reading but thinking.”