New Releases by Paul Zindel

The day Chrysta Perretti runs away from her crazy parents in Benton, Illinois, she feels she’s angry enough to stay on the road forever. But two years later, when the car she’s in suddenly breaks down in a small Arkansas town, Chrysta''s road fever dies too, and something new is born: something tells her that it''s possible to start over and she doesn''t have to be alone. In Excelsior Springs, Chrysta comes to learn the power of lasting friendships, for it is because of her newfound friends that she just might survive a dark, unexpected, and dangerous new episode in her life. Crescent Dragonwagon and Pulitzer Prize winner Paul Zindel explore what happens when a thirteen-year-old runaway dares to stop running and learns to face the good – and the bad – in herself.

Sarah and her brother have grown up next to the world’s largest garbage dump on Staten Island in New York City. Little do they know, thousands of rodents at the dump have mutated into gruesome, killer rats and one of the workers there has just been badly mauled. Without mercy, the rats wreak havoc and devistation upon the once-peaceful neighborhood, entering homes through kitchen sinks and toilets. Now the entire city stands on the brink of total infestation. Can the kids save millions of innocent people from the approaching and unrelenting rat horde?

P.C. travels with his uncle to Australia on a mission to find a mysterious buried treasure. Soon, its secrets lead him to a beautiful Aboriginal girl and a terrifying monster that haunts the ocean reef. But an evil geologist is also on the hunt for the hidden fortune and P.C. must race to find it first. It’s a deadly game—who will find the treasure, and who will lose their life?

Jackson is looking forward to visiting his aunt who has been busy working on an anthropological dig at Stonehenge in England. Jackson can''t wait to finally see the massive and mysterious stone formations in person. But then he witnesses a vicious attack on a young man, and another on his beloved aunt Sarah. A savage beast no one has ever seen before is on the prowl. Now it''s up to Jackson and his new friend, Alma, a gravedigger''s daughter, to stop the beast. All the clues lead back to Stonehenge, where he and Alma must risk their lives to solve the mystery of the monster stalking the countryside-before it''s too late.

Deep in the Amazon jungle, members of an elite scientific team are disappearing and Jake gets word his dad is in grave danger. So Jake makes the journey into the remote jungle where he finds most of the team''s mutilated bodies. They’ve been slaughtered by a bat-like winged creature that’s now stalking Jake and the remaining survivors. What chance can Jake have to survive against this giant bloodthirsty winged beast?

From Pulitzer Prize-winning author Paul Zindel comes this touching, humorous, and delightful play that earned wide recognition in its National Educational Television (NET) Network production. The action is set in the laboratory of the American Biological Association Development for the Advancement of Brain Analysis, where curious experiments involving various mammals are taking place. Helen, a newly engaged cleaning lady, is particularly drawn to a dolphin and is shocked when she learns that, having failed to "talk" as hoped for, it is slated for brain dissection. She makes a desperate attempt to rescue the dolphin from the scientists, incurring first their indignation and then, when the dolphin does indeed "talk" for Helen, their futile pleas that she change her mind about leaving and stay on to help them in their experiments. But the gentle Helen has had enough—both of "Custodial Engineering" and of schemes to change man''s relationship to the other creatures with whom the world must be shared. Comedy/Drama One Act 5 women (or can be divided between men and women): 5 total Interior

Paul Zindel''s compelling and inspirational Pulitzer Prize-winning play that was made into a motion picture directed by Paul Newman starring Joanne Woodward. The old, converted vegetable shop where Tillie lives is more like a madhouse than a home. Tillie''s mother, Beatrice, is bitter and cruel, yet desperate for her daughters'' love. Her sister, Ruth, suffers epileptic fits and sneaks cigarettes every chance she gets. In the midst of chaos, Tillie struggles to keep her focus and dreams alive. Tillie — keeper of rabbits, dreamer of atoms, true believer in life, hope, and the effect of gamma rays on man-in-the-moon marigolds.

Presented on Broadway, this biting, explosive and very funny play examines the behind-the-scenes intrigues and power struggles that beset a famous regional theatre and its long-time artistic director. "For alley cat savagery, it would be hard to top the verbal battle royal that constitutes LADIES AT THE ALAMO..." —Variety. "Mr. Zindel is a very crafty writer; he has written an old-fashioned, well-made play, and he has made it very well indeed, with stingingly funny repartee and smashing exits, with suspense and reversals galore." —Village Voice. "...the bitchiest, most hilarious female free-for-all since The Women..." —NY Daily News. THE STORY: The setting is the lavish reception room of the new multi-million-dollar Alamo Theatre, a regional theatre complex that has grown from a small operation in a converted church to one of the glories of Texas culture. As the action begins we learn that the leadership of Dede Cooper, founder and artistic director of the Alamo, is being challenged, and the Chairman of the Board, a lady of great wealth and lust for power, is scheming to replace Dede with a fading Hollywood star. As the hour of the decisive board meeting nears, Dede and her supporters maneuver to outflank the opposition, and as the crisis point is reached the verbal battles and shocking revelations build to fever pitch. In the end no one is left unscathed; and while the insurrection is put down, the scars of battle will, it is clear, be long in healing. Comedy Full Length 5 women: 5 total Interior

From Pulitzer Prize-winning author Paul Zindel comes this powerful and deeply moving study of the destructive effects of lovelessness and loneliness on a sensitive adolescent. Presented to critical and popular acclaim by New York''s highly regarded Circle Repertory Company, the play probes unerringly into the unsettled lives of its characters and finds the compassion and simple humanity which circumstances have driven within them. "AMULETS becomes gripping and disturbing...the characters are invariably fascinating..." —NY Times. "...absorbing and vividly written study of mid-50s lower-middle-class alienation and emotional hunger...it''s the work of a true playwright." —Variety. "This is the play Williams or Inge would have written if they had been born 30 years later and avoided the sexual repression of their times." —BackStage. Drama Full Length 9 men, 3 women (of the 9 men several roles can be doubled): 12 total Interior

"Eight hundred and fifty-three horrifying things had happened to me by the time I was a teenager. That was when I met my Pigman, whose real name was Nonno Frankie." The year Paul Zindel, his sister, Betty, and their mother lived in the town of Travis, Staten Island, New York, was the most important time of his teenage life. It was the year he and Jennifer Wolupopski were best friends. It was the year of the apple tree, the water-head baby, and Cemetery Hill. And it was the year he met Nonno Frankie Vivona, who became his Pigman. Every word of his story is true. And The Pigman & Me has an added bonus--one crucial piece of information: the secret of life, according to the Pigman.

One of the best-selling young adult books of all time, written by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Paul Zindel. John Conlan is nicknamed “The Bathroom Bomber” after setting off firecrackers in the boys’ bathroom 23 times without ever getting caught. John and his best friend, Lorraine, can never please their parents, and school is a chore. To pass the time, they play pranks on unsuspecting people and it''s during one of these pranks that they meet the “Pigman.” In spite of themselves, John and Lorraine soon get caught up in Mr. Pignati’s zest for life. In fact, they become so involved that they begin to destroy the only corner of the world that has ever mattered to them. Can they stop before it’s too late?''

Obsidian Prey

Loch and his sister are with their father on a scientific expedition to track lake monsters. Their father''s boss, Anthony Cavenger, a ruthless publishing mogul, is determined to prove that the legends are fact. Until now, it has been a fruitless exercise. But suddenly, on a routine exploration, a hideous water beast explodes out of the water, and a photographer, hoping to get the picture of a lifetime, loses his life instead. The plesiosaurs terrorize the secluded lake community, but Loch encounters a baby plesiosaur and realizes that the monsters only attack when threatened. So he risks his life-and the lives of his family and friends-to save the prehistoric creatures from destruction. 1995 Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers (ALA) 1995 Books for the Teen Age (NY Public Library)

Near the end of World War II, scientists in Los Alamos, New Mexico, are working on a project that will alter the fate of the world. Thirteen-year-old Stephen Orr is living at a top secret military base with his father who is a leading physicist building the atomic bomb. Stephen realizes the dangers involved when one of the scientists becomes hospitalized as a result of working with the project. The scientist alerts him to disasters that could come from The Gadget. Stephen feels it is up to him and his friend Tilanov to find the answers that lie behind this veil of secrecy.

The Scream Museum

Young P. C. Hawke and his buddy Mackenzie search for the real killer of the Museum of Natural History''s chief biologist after their friend, a custodian named Tom, is falsely accused.

This collection of stories for young adults feature award-winning authors including Paul Zindel, Adele Griffin, Jon Scieska, David Lubar, and others, who share real-life experiences of their youth through fiction. Each story is introduced with an essay by the author that describes the experience in the author''s life that inspired the story.

P.C. Hawke and his partner-in-sleuthing, Mackenzie Riggs, are shocked to learn that their friend, Tom, a custodian, is accused of murdering the chief biologist at the Museum of Natural History. As P.C. And Mackenzie dig deeper into the strange story, they discover a stolen world-famous necklace, an anthropologist trained in Indonesian medicine and hypnosis, and a fat, hairy tarantula named Aristotle.

Zack and his Ute Indian friend find themselves trapped in a cave with a living dinosaur--the deadly Utahraptor.

Funny, realistic story about the adventures of 5 fifth grade friends. The group nominates Max for student council rep.

Mrs. Wilmont''s class goes to the zoo but inter-class rivalries create problems at the zoo.

The true story of Paul Zindel''s life and experience that gave him the material for his teenage novels, which include The Undertaker''s Gone Bananas, Pardon Me, You''re Stepping On My Eyeball, The Girl Who Wanted a Boy and My Darling, My Hamburger.

Discovering that their beloved former teacher Miss Applebaum is terminally ill, fifteen-year-old Henry and his friend Zelda accompany her on her visits to the colorful parts of New York City and join her in confronting death with quiet courage.

Bright, aggressive 15-year-old Sibella decides to take aggressive measures to find herself a boy.

Sophomores Harry and Hortense are convinced they''re the only enlightened people in their messed-up, miserable high school, which Harry''s nicknamed Hormone High. When Harry and Hartense meet Jason Rohr, he confides in them that he is the last hero who can save the world, and he asks them to help him achieve his mission. Then Harry and Hortense discover some horrifying information about Jason''s past. Should Harry and Hortense believe what they''ve learned, or should they continue to help the Jason who may be the last real-life hero?

The Pigman has been dead for four months when John and Lorraine visit his empty house-and discover a down-and-out old man on the run from the tax collector. Convinced he''s a sign from beyond the grave, John and Lorraine decide they''ve been given a chance to make up for what happened to the Pigman. Suddenly they''re deep in another zany adventure with a surprising old man. What the learn along the way is the Pigman''s Legacy.

Two teenagers believe a neighbor, an undertaker, has murdered his wife but can''t convince anyone else.

Sixteen-year-old Chris Boyd must deal with the 30-year-old misfit son, Lloyd, of Mrs. Dipardi, a dying lady Chris''s mother is taking of along with his unsolved problems from the past.

Fifteen-year-old "Marsh" Mellow thinks the whole world hates him. Then he meets Edna Shinglebox, a classmate who looks as freaky and depressed as he is. Even though Marsh writes hate letters, carries around a raccoon in his coat pocket, and insults Edna constantly, Edna still likes him. After embarking on an incredible adventure that takes them halfway across the country, Edna and Marsh are surprised by what they learn about themselves and each other.