The Pigman.

                  An Abstract
THE PIGMAN
Author ; Paul Zindel
Publisher ; Random House Children’s Book.
This is a book about kinds growing up in a fast-changing society. The inherent pains of growing up and adjusting to an adult-oriented society are clearly laid out in the story.
The main characters are John Conlan and Lorraine Truman. There is another character by the name   Angelo Pignati, whom they called The Pigman.
Their meeting was accidental. John, Lorraine and their two other friend were playing with the telephone one boring afternoon. They named it the ‘phone marathon’. Each of them would take turn choosing a number at random and dialled it. If the call was answered, the caller would try to hold on to the conversation for as long as possible.
It is here that the theme of loneliness and escapism was manifested. This group of teenagers, though coming from diverse background, were brought together by their common malady.
John Conlan’s father whom he called the Bore is a successful businessman.
So successful was he that he was elected a member on the Board of the Coffee Exchange. The Bore was disillusioned by John’s apparent unwillingness to follow his step.
Lorraine’s position was in stark contrast to John. Brought up by a single mother, who is also a nurse, Lorraine was disgusted by her mother’s poor opinion of her. Her mother would call her ‘child’ and reminded her that she was not beautiful.
Their parents lack of attention and intimacy towards them are the elements that tied the kids together. However, when their acting was reciprocated by Mr Pignati, they unknowingly let more contacts took the course. The clear innocence on Mr Pignati’s part drew John and Lorraine even closer to him.
As the book progressed, John and Lorraine made one fatal move. Urged on by their friends, they held a ‘party’ at the Pigman’s place. Urged further by music and alcohol, the kids ransacked the place.
From here on their relationship with the Pigman went downhill. On their last outing at the zoo, the Pigman, already very depressed due to the death of BoBo , his favourite baboon, breathed his last.
To John, the image of Mr Pignati was no different from the image of all adults. It was the image that he never wanted to have.