Pig-Heart Boy

by Malorie Blackman

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Book cover for Pig-Heart Boy

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A powerful story about friendship, loyalty and family around this topical and controversial issue' - Guardian
'An engrossing story' - Daily Telegraph

'That's all I ever did - watch and listen. I was always a spectator, never a participant. I didn't call that living. I was alive - but that was all.'

Cameron is thirteen, and all he wants is a 'normal' life - friends, swimming, school, family.

But his life is far from normal. Not every thirteen-year-old desperately needs a new heart because theirs doesn't work properly.


Finally, one doctor offers hope.
Cameron could - if he and his parents agree - take part in a radical and controversial procedure involving the transplant of a pig's heart into his human body.

It's risky. And it's never been done before . . .

While Cameron comes to terms with the idea, he finds the world around him is much less accepting.

But surely everyone will understand that it's better to have a pig's heart that works than a human heart that doesn't - won't they . . .?

'A sensitive and informative story that provides a vivid insight into transgenics and xenotransplantations and still manages to squeeze in the inevitable guinea-pig and piggy in the middle jokes' - Independent

  • ISBN10 055255166X
  • ISBN13 9780552551663
  • Publish Date 5 February 2004 (first published 2 October 1997)
  • Publish Status Active
  • Out of Print 15 July 2022
  • Publish Country GB
  • Publisher Penguin Random House Children's UK
  • Imprint Corgi Childrens
  • Format Paperback (B-Format (198x129 mm))
  • Pages 256
  • Language English