Plot Summary
High schooler, Angela Katz-McNair has something important she wants to tell her family and friends. No, she's not a lesbian. No, she's not a tomboy. Angela wants to tell the world that she is a boy and wants to be called "Grady" from now on. Although she was born biologically female she knows on the inside that she is a boy. She is a "he." Grady begins to live life as a boy by binding his breasts and wearing baggy clothes. He just wants to be accepted as for what he truly is. It isn't going to be so easy. His mother is horrified and fears that she is losing a daughter. Grady's little sister, Laura, thinks it will ruin her status as a popular girl at school. His father tries is somewhat understanding, but hides behind strange family traditions like decorating the house in a hilarious and disturbing Christmas extravaganza complete with the family putting on a Christmas show for the neighborhood through the dining room window. Grady's best friend, Eve, distances herself and offers no support. The popular girls at school bully Grady relentlessly. His only friend is a strange boy named Sebastian who teaches Grady that he may have to accept himself before anyone else will accept him. Just like the parrotfish that can change from female to male depending on its environment, Grady must learn to accept the changes.
Critical Evaluation
Told from Grady's point of view, Parrotfish is an ambitious novel that tackles a tough subject not familiar to a lot of teens. People familiar with transgender issues may find it unrealistic in its depiction of Grady. Grady's voice is at times distinctly feminine which can be seen from two points of view. Either its because Grady is still young and finding himself, or the author did not do a good job at remembering to keep Grady in character. Either way, the book takes a light-hearted approach to the topic which is good for teens not familiar with a touchy subject. Its a great book that can open up the discussion about what transgender teens go through.
Reader's Annotation
Transgendered high schooler, Grady, wants to be accepted by his family and classmates as he struggles to identify as a boy.
About the Author
Ellen Wittlinger is the critically acclaimed author of the teen novels Blind Faith, Heart on My Sleeve, What's In a Name, and the Printz Honor book Hard Love. She is an advocate for LGBT youth and youth issues in general.
Wittlinger has a bachelor's degree from Millikin University and an MFA from the University of Iowa. She is a former children's librarian and lives with her husband in Haydenville, Massachusetts.
Genre
Sexual Identity, Transgender
Curriculum Ties
Sex Education, Sociology
Booktalking Ideas
1) Discuss why it is so hard for Grady's family and classmates to accept him.
2) Discuss your view about transgedered people.
3) Discuss bullying as it pertains to the book.
Reading Level/Interest Age
Ages 14+
Challenge Issues
Transgender issues, bullying
Challenge defense ideas
-Research and become familiar with transgender issues
-Become familiar with the book and its content.-Refer to the collection development policy of the library, see http://sfpl.org/pdf/about/policies/collection-development-plan.pdf
-Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Parrotfish-Ellen-Wittlinger/dp/1442406216/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1292473002&sr=1-1
-Try to get reviews of the book from teens who have read it.
Why Included in Titles Selected
Required reading for the course.
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