The Pigman and Me

Autobiography which weaves the fictional Pigman back into Zindel's own childhood, the book is interesting in its own right, with Zindel able to recreate his own growing amid the uncertainties of childhood when he moved to the new town. His own Pigman, Nonno Frankie, is a lovely character, full of awful jokes, knowledge of the world around him and worldly-wise. The scenes where he takes over are the real heart of the book - there's noise and energy to counter a sleepy world and there's certainty and understanding to counter Paul's doubts and fears. Worth looking at in tandem with Zindel's fiction and a valuable addition to the small stock of autobiography for Key Stage 3.