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Paul Zindel
PaulZindel.gif
Born (1936-05-15)May 15, 1936
Tottenville, Staten Island, United States
Died March 27, 2003(2003-03-27) (aged 66)
New York City, New York, United States
Occupation Writer
Nationality American
Genre Drama, novels, screenplays
Notable works The Pigman
Notable awards Pulitzer Prize for Drama
1971
Margaret Edwards Award
2002
Spouse
Bonnie Hildebrand
​
​
(m. 1973; div. 1998)​

Paul Zindel, Jr. (May 15, 1936 – March 27, 2003) was a well-known American writer. He wrote many plays and novels, especially for young adults. He also worked as a teacher. His most famous book is The Pigman.

Paul Zindel's Early Life and Education

Paul Zindel was born in Tottenville, Staten Island, New York. His father was a policeman and his mother was a nurse. Paul had an older sister named Betty. When Paul was young, his family moved to different homes on Staten Island.

How Paul Zindel Started Writing

Paul wrote his first play when he was in high school. He kept writing plays as a teenager. Even though he loved writing, he first studied to be a chemist. He went to Wagner College and even worked for a short time at a chemical company.

While in college, Paul took a writing class. His teacher was a famous playwright named Edward Albee. Albee became a mentor to Paul and helped him with his writing. Later, Paul decided to leave his chemistry job. He became a high school Chemistry and Physics teacher. He taught for ten years at Tottenville High School on Staten Island.

Paul Zindel's Family and Later Life

Paul Zindel married Bonnie Hildebrand in 1973. They later divorced in 1998. Paul and Bonnie had two children together. Their daughter, Lizabeth Zindel, also became a novelist. Their son, David, became a publisher.

When Paul Zindel Passed Away

Paul Zindel passed away in New York City in 2003. He was buried in Moravian Cemetery, Staten Island.

Paul Zindel's Famous Works

Paul Zindel wrote many different kinds of stories. He wrote plays for the stage, novels for young readers, and even screenplays for movies.

Plays Written by Paul Zindel

  • The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds, 1964
  • The Ladies Should Be in Bed
  • And Miss Reardon Drinks A Little, 1967
  • Let Me Hear You Whisper, 1969
  • The Secret Affairs of Mildred Wild, 1972
  • Every 17 Minutes the Crowd Goes Crazy
  • Ladies at the Alamo, 1977
  • Amulets Against the Dragon Forces, 1989

Novels for Young Adults

Paul Zindel wrote many novels, often for young adult readers. Some of his books are part of a series.

The Zone Unknown Series

  • Loch, 1994
  • The Doom Stone, 1995
  • Raptor, 1998
  • Rats, 1999
  • Reef of Death, 1998
  • Night of the Bat, 2001
  • The Gadget, 2001

P.C. Hawke Mysteries Series

  • The Scream Museum, 2001
  • The Surfing Corpse, 2001
  • The E-Mail Murders, 2001
  • The Lethal Gorilla, 2001
  • The Square Root of Murder, 2002
  • Death on the Amazon, 2002
  • The Gourmet Zombie, 2002
  • The Phantom of 86th Street, 2002
  • Harry and Hortense at Hormone High, 1985

The Wacky Facts Lunch Bunch Series

  • Attack of the Killer Fishsticks, 1993
  • Fifth Grade Safari, 1992
  • Fright Party, 1993
  • One Hundred Percent Laugh Riot, 1994

The Pigman Trilogy

  • The Pigman, 1968
  • The Pigman's Legacy, 1981
  • The Pigman & Me, 1992

Other Novels by Paul Zindel

  • My Darling, My Hamburger, 1969
  • I Never Loved Your Mind, 1970
  • I Love My Mother, 1975
  • Pardon Me, You're Stepping on My Eyeball!, 1976
  • Confessions of a Teenage Baboon, 1977
  • The Undertaker's Gone Bananas, 1978
  • A Star for the Latecomer (with Bonnie Zindel), 1980
  • The Girl Who Wanted a Boy, 1981
  • To Take a Dare (with Crescent Dragonwagon), 1982
  • When a Darkness Falls, 1984
  • The Amazing and Death-Defying Diary of Eugene Dingman, 1987
  • A Begonia for Miss Applebaum, 1989
  • David & Della, 1993
  • Club de collecionistas de noticias
  • The Houdini Whodunit, 2002
  • Death by CD, 2003
  • The Petrified Parrot, 2003
  • Camp Megadeath, 2003

Short Stories by Paul Zindel

  • Love & Centipedes, 1999 (also in Places I Never Meant to Be by Judy Blume)
  • Rachel’s Vampire, 2001 (also in Lost and Found by Joan Abelove)

Screenplays for Movies and TV

Paul Zindel also wrote scripts for several movies and TV shows.

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