Pig-Heart Boy

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