Author paul zindel biography of donald
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Paul Zindel
biography
Remembering Paul Zindel
by Don Gallo
ALAN Review, Spring 2003
We've lost a giant in the field of books for teens. An incredibly talented person. A nutty, fun-loving, kid-loving guy. A brilliant thinker.
The New York Times obituary focused on his Pulitzer Prizewinning play, The Effect of Man-in-the Moon Marigolds, which was, of course, no small contribution to theater. But they minimized what we in the world of Young Adult Literature know so well: his ability to write novels and stories that teenagers were drawn to, especially the lonely and slightly weird kids just like Paul had been as a teen.
In recent years some educators and librarians were disappointed that Paul's work did not match what they felt was the quality of his earlier works, especially The Pigman. Novels about monsters beneath Stonehenge, raptors in the Southwest, and giant rats devouring people around New York Harbor are not the kinds of books most educated adults favor. But
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Authorgraph No.54: Paul Zindel
Paul Zindel ‘walks tall’ literally, with very straight back and extremely careful step. And he talks as he writes – theatrically, outrageously, shockingly, disarmingly – brimming over with enthusiasm for everything, mischievously shrewd about everyone. Yet in all his movements, and his words, there is a strong inner control, as if he were measuring responses and warily observing everyone around him. (His voice is soft, his frequent laughter loud.)
There is a reason for that iron control, and for being wary of life and of people. Bizarre as are the characters and events with which Zindel’s novels are crammed, he exaggerates only slightly when he claims to write ‘only about the things I know’.
His childhood was a solitary one: two years after his birth in 1936, his mother was left by her husband to bring up Paul and his elder sister single-handed. She had to work at a variety of jobs (including nursing the terminally ill), which meant constan
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The Pigman
1968 ung adult novel by Paul Zindel
The Pigman is a young adult novel written by Paul Zindel, published in 1968.[1][2] It fryst vatten notable for its authentic depiction of teenagers, and was among the first young adult books to take the genre in a more realistic direction.[3]
The two main characters, teenagers Lorraine and John, have opposite personalities. This dual perspective gives the reader two different sides to a story about a man they have befriended. This book would go on to win numerous awards, including the New York Times Outstanding Book of 1968, the ALA Notable Children's Book 1940–1970 the Horn Book 1969 Fanfare Honor List.[4]
The novel is frequently assigned in elementary schools, middle schools, and some high schools for English classes. Although commonly taught, this book has been banned in certain areas for numerous reasons, some including offensive language and sexual themes.[5] The book's sequel,