Pig Heart Boy

by Malorie Blackman, Winsome Pinnock (Adapted by)

Overview

'I used to love swimming. Won medals for it. But when your heart has been affected by an infection it's like having a ticking time bomb inside you… tick… tick… tick… tick…'

Cameron is thirteen, and all he wants is to be normal – have friends, go to school, and dive to the bottom of his local swimming pool. But he desperately needs a heart transplant and time is running out.

When he's finally offered a new heart, Cameron must choose between a pig's heart that works… or a human heart that doesn't. How far will he go to get his life back?

Malorie Blackman's celebrated novel Pig Heart Boy was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal and adapted by the BBC into a BAFTA Award-winning TV series. This stage adaptation by Winsome Pinnock was directed by Tristan Fynn-Aiduenu and first performed in 2025 at the Unicorn Theatre, London, in a co-production between Unicorn Theatre, Sheffield Theatres and Children's Theatre Partnership.

'A powerful story about friendship, loyalty and family'Guardian on the novel Pig Heart Boy

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781788508872
Publisher:	Hern, Nick Books
Publication date:	02/13/2025
Series:	NHB Modern Plays
Sold by:	Bookwire
Format:	eBook
Pages:	88
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Malorie Blackman OBE has written over seventy books for children and young adults, including the Noughts & Crosses series. Winsome Pinnock is an award-winning playwright whose plays include Leave Taking and Rockets and Blue Lights.

Malorie Blackman, OBE, is a distinguished author, well known for her works for children and young adults. She was Children's Laureate 2013-15.

Winsome Pinnock is an award-winning British playwright of Jamaican heritage. Her plays include: Rockets and Blue Lights (Royal Exchange, Manchester, 2020; National Theatre, 2021); One Under (2005) and Water (2000) at the Tricycle Theatre; Mules (Clean Break/Royal Court Theatre Upstairs/Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles and The Magic Theatre, San Francisco, 1996); Talking in Tongues (1991) and A Hero's Welcome (1989; runner-up Susan Smith Blackburn Prize) at the Royal Court Theatre; and Leave Taking (Liverpool Playhouse Theatre/Contact Theatre Manchester/Belgrade Theatre Coventry/Lyric Hammersmith/ National Theatre, 1986).

She has adapted Malorie Blackman's novel Pig Heart Boy for the stage (Unicorn Theatre / Sheffield Theatres / Children's Theatre Partnership, 2025).

The prizes awarded to her work include the Alfred Fagon Award (2018), the Windham-Campbell Prize for Drama (2022), the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize Special Commendation (1990), the George Devine Award (1991), the Pearson Award for Best New Play (1991), and the Unity Theatre Trust Award (1989).

Author photo by Matt Roberts