(image via goodreads.com)
Citation
Wittlinger, Ellen. Parrotfish.
New York: Simon & Schuster, 2007. Print.
Awards
- Finalist, Lambda Literary Awards, 2008
- NYPL Books for the Teen Age list, 2008
- Nominated: ALA Stonewall Awards, 2008
- Advocate Top Picks for Trans YA Fiction
- ALA Rainbow List, 2008
- Nominated: Cybils, 2007
Annotation
Grady, a high school junior, begins to live his life
openly as a transgender boy, and deals with the response of his friends,
family, and community.
Booktalk
What does it mean to be a transgender teen? To go through puberty and feel like your body is changing, but not in the way you had hoped? To have to explain to everyone else what it means to be transgender when you are figuring it out yourself?
Grady has cut his hair, has a wardrobe of boy's clothes from the thrift store, and has been binding his chest with Ace bandages. Now he's ready to take the next step - asking his friends, family, and school to stop thinking of him as Angela and start calling him Grady. While his dad has no issue with the change, not everyone takes the news as well. His principal thinks it's a phase and won't change his records, his mom is avoiding him, and his best friend and her new mean girl clique are openly calling him a pervert and trying to make his life hell.
Despite the obstacles, Grady is feeling good about his decision to be himself. What does the future hold for Grady?
*Be sure to check out the back of the book for transgender resources.
Grady has cut his hair, has a wardrobe of boy's clothes from the thrift store, and has been binding his chest with Ace bandages. Now he's ready to take the next step - asking his friends, family, and school to stop thinking of him as Angela and start calling him Grady. While his dad has no issue with the change, not everyone takes the news as well. His principal thinks it's a phase and won't change his records, his mom is avoiding him, and his best friend and her new mean girl clique are openly calling him a pervert and trying to make his life hell.
Despite the obstacles, Grady is feeling good about his decision to be himself. What does the future hold for Grady?
*Be sure to check out the back of the book for transgender resources.
(video by pritchwitt at youtube.com)
Teen Perspective
“[It’s my favorite book] because I don't think there are
enough books about transgendered people in circulation.” – Liam, 17.