Pig Heart Boy

Pig Heart Boy is a children's novel by Malorie Blackman which was first published in 1997. It was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal. The novel was adapted into a television series, which was broadcast by the BBC in 1999.[1]

Pig Heart Boy
AuthorMalorie Blackman
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
GenreChildren's

Plot

Thirteen-year-old Cameron Joshua Kelsey is dying of a disease, and time is running out to get a transplant. He had been given hope and had been turned down twice. So in desperation, Cameron's father secretly contacted Dr Richard Bryce, a transgenics expert. Cameron, aka Cam, found out through coming home early and discovering his parents arguing about it. Catherine Kelsey, Cameron's mother, is not happy that his father arranged this without her being involved and doesn't want her son to have a pig's heart. Cameron decided he wanted to see his fourteenth birthday, and the rest of his life, and chose to have the transplant.

However, Cameron is sworn to secrecy about the nature of the transplant, but he secretly tells his best friend Marlon. Meanwhile, Cameron goes to see the pig that will be donating his heart called Trudy. His mother announces she is pregnant because she doesn't want her baby to be damaged by the X-Ray needed to see the pigs. Cameron is delighted and proceeds to make recorded videos for his unborn sibling in case he dies during the operation. The operation eventually goes ahead and is successful, but Cameron is furious when he discovers that Marlon has told his parents which told the newspapers about the pig heart. He is let out of hospital, but he is now famous and his family are constantly bothered by the media. Even worse, the girl Cameron likes doesn't want to be near him anymore because she thinks he has germs, and some animal rights protesters threaten him and his family. At some point in the book, Cameron is out with his friends (Having made up with Marlon) joking about on their way to the burger shop. Then a friendly lady politely asked Cameron if he was called Cameron Kelsey. Cameron trusted her and said yes. She then revealed she had a bucket of red liquid behind her back and held it high above her head. Cameron knew what was coming and put his hands up in protest as she tipped the liquid on him. He tasted the liquid and realised it was blood. Pig's blood. His friend Marlon screamed abuse and Cameron was taking into Casualty.

Cameron always liked swimming, and decided he was fit enough now so he spends more time at the swimming pool, trying to touch the bottom like his friends did. He finally manages it, but gets trapped underneath the surface and accepts that he is going to drown. However, Marlon saves his life. Dr Bryce tells Cameron that his new heart is being rejected by his body, and that he will need another heart transplant. Cameron refuses, as he is sick of the attention. However, when his grandmother dies he realises that life is important, and he wants to be around for his younger brother or sister that he called Alex.

Reception

The book gained favorable reviews.[2]

BBC television version

In 1999, the BBC made a six-part television adaptation of the novel. Although the television adaptation was overall quite faithful to the book, some things were been changed; including some characters' names (Dr Bryce was called Professor Rae in the TV series), and also the fact that Cameron had not been the first patient to have had a pig transplant with Dr Bryce/Professor Rae. The series also ended with Alex being born; while the book merely ends with Cameron's decision to accept the second heart transplant.

The series was rerun in the summer of 2005. Pig Heart Boy has never been released commercially, though the episodes are available to watch on YouTube.

The TV series won the 2000 BAFTA Children's Drama award.[3]

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References
  1. "BBC children's to screen pig heart transplant drama". Broadcast. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  2. "Pig-Heart Boy by Malorie Blackman - review". Guardian. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  3. "Children's : Drama in 2000". BAFTA. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
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