Student Question

Who is Miss Reillen in "The Pigman" by Paul Zindel?

Quick answer:

Miss Reillen, known as "The Cricket," is the librarian at Franklin High School in Paul Zindel's The Pigman. She is characterized by the distinctive sound her tight clothing makes as she walks. John humorously describes her appearance, while Lorraine offers a more sympathetic view, acknowledging Miss Reillen's kindness and possible financial struggles. Despite the students' teasing, she is portrayed as a nice woman facing her own challenges.

Expert Answers

An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

Miss Reillen is the librarian at Franklin High School, where John and Lorraine are students.  Since both John and Lorraine have seventh-period study at the library, they see Miss Reillen everyday. 

Miss Reillen is called "The Cricket" by the students.  John offers an explanation for this nickname in typically unfiltered fashion, saying that Miss Reillen "is a little on the fat side, but that doesn't stop her from wearing these tight skirts which make her nylon stockings rub together when she walks so she makes this scraaaaaaatchy sound", not unlike a cricket.  In an irreverent but humorous aside, he adds that "if she taught woodshop or gym, nobody'd really know she makes that sound - but she's the librarian and it's so quiet you can hear every move she makes" (Chapter 1). 

Lorraine tempers John's description of Miss Reillen, noting that "she's across the library watching me as I'm typing this, and she's smiling...she's really a very nice woman, though it's true her clothes are too tight, and her nylons do make this scraaaaaaatchy sound when she walks.  But she isn't trying to be sexy or anything...she just outgrew her clothes.  Maybe she doesn't have any money to buy new ones or get the old ones let out.  Who knows what kind of problems she has?" (Chapter 2).

Get Ahead with eNotes

Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.

Get 48 Hours Free Access
Approved by eNotes Editorial