Wittlinger, Ellen. Parrotfish. Simon and Schuster, 2007. 304 pages. ISBN-10: 1416916229. ISBN-13: 978-1416916222.Plot:
Angela has never really felt like a girl. At the age of 16, she decides instead to start living as a boy. She cuts her hair short, binds her breasts, starts dressing in boys clothes, and asks that everyone refer to her as Grady from now on. Grady’s family has a hard time accepting this, especially his mother and sister. His best friend, Eve, even drops him as a friend, deeply hurting Grady in the process. Acceptance isn’t quick to come in school either. Many of the teachers and the principal refuse to acknowledge his new identity and some of the students start to bully him. Eve’s new friends make Grady the target of some very cruel jokes. Even those who are more accepting of his change don’t fully understand how hurtful their ignorant and supposedly innocent comments and actions are, such as when two members of the basketball team decide to dress up as girls for a laugh. As Grady struggles with acceptance, he questions why it is so important what gender a person is.
Luckily, Grady has the help of his new friend Sebastian and the female gym coach. Both accept Grady for who he is without any reservation and do whatever they can to help him. He also falls in love for the first time with a beautiful and kind girl named Kita. With the support of his new friends, he gains the courage to deal with those who are against his transformation. In becoming who he really is, he also helps those around him begin to find out who they really are.
Critical Evaluation:
With Parrotfish, Wittlinger has made an important contribution not only to GLBT literature, but young adult literature in general. In young adult literature, there is a lack of books focusing on transgendered teens. Those that do often present it in either a joking manner or involve tragedy. Parrotfish does neither. There is humor and there are hardships, but it’s a serious and uplifting story over all. It’s not a story that is strictly about a transgendered character dealing with the change, however. It’s also about a teenager’s first love and friendship and dealing with family difficulties. These are all things to which any teenager can relate, not just those who are questioning their gender or their identity. By rounding out the story this way, Grady isn’t just a flat symbol to further a message, but an interesting and full person.
Wittlinger’s simple writing style and honest voice are a great vehicle for Grady’s story. The book moves along quickly, keeping the reader engaged. The first-person perspective personalizes the story, so that the reader becomes a part of it instead of looking in from the outside. The use of the imaginary dialogue was a humorous touch and really gives insight into Grady’s character. This book is a great read for those who are questioning their identity or want more insight into people who do. It’s also a great read for anyone looking for a good story to enjoy.
Reader's Annotation:
Transgendered high school junior Angela decides to start living as a boy named Grady. His transformation isn't easy, but he learns who he is and who his true friends and family are.
Author Information:
Ellen Wittlinger was born in Belleville, Illinois on October 21, 1948. As a child, her parents owned a grocery store that was joined to their house and she would often raid the ice-cream and candy shelves. She attended college at Millikin University and then moved to Ashland, Oregon. She stayed there until being accepted to the Iowa Writer's Workshop at the University of Iowa with the intention of becoming a poet. After that, she moved to Provincetown, Massachusetts for a fellowship at the Fine Arts Work Center.
She published a book of poetry and several plays. She first became interested in young adult literature after working as a children’s librarian and having children of her own. She published her first novel in 1993 and has written 12 more novels for young adults, with the last one published in 2008.
Genre:
Realistic Fiction: Gender Identity
Curriculum Ties:
Psychology: Gender Dysphoria
Sociology: Family Dynamic
Booktalking Ideas:
- Discuss why Grady's family and friends have such a hard time with his change
- Talk about figuring out who you really are, even if it means being different than everyone else
- Discuss what it means to be transgendered.
Reading Level/Interest Age:
14 and older
Challenge Issues:
Transgendered protagonist
Challenge Defense Ideas:
- Require the challenger to fill out a written challenge form with clear reasons stated and examples given.
- If not already familiar with the content, become familiar.
- Refer the challenger to the library's collection policy.
- Refer the challenger to reputable reviews of the books, as well as reviews by those in the book's target audience.
Reasons for Selection:
This is a wonderful book for teens questioning their gender or anyone who would life to better understand those who do.
