Parrotfish (review)

Abstract

Reviewed by: Parrotfish April Spisak Wittlinger, Ellen Parrotfish. Simon, 2007294p ISBN 978-1-4169-1622-2$16.99 R Gr. 9-12 Angela has never felt comfortable as a girl, and not long after she gets everyone used to the idea that she is a lesbian, she realizes, after spending time on GLBTQ websites, that this label doesn't quite fit her either. Finally recognizing that she is transgendered, Angela changes her name to Grady, starts dressing in masculine clothing, and binds her breasts as the first steps in her transition to becoming male. His only friend isn't handling any of this well, leaving Grady only his mostly supportive family as allies. School ranges from awkward to dangerous as students react to Grady's changes, though things become remarkably better after Grady's resolute calm and willingness to take the higher road earns him a few friends. Even with such a revelatory and life-changing experience as Grady's, however, mundane and small problems still crop up, and eventually his focus is as much on getting his father to stop turning their home into a gaudy Christmas attraction and trying to find the perfect gift for his brother as it is on seeking affirmation in the animal world (the title refers to the fact that some parrotfish can change their genders to balance population densities). It is in these humorous and endearing everyday moments, not the expository discussions of what is means or feels like to be transgendered, where this book shines as a compelling and richly detailed story about all of the elements that make up one teen's life. Of course, readers exploring their own sexuality or gender identity will find the informational aspects of the novel immensely helpful, but the sardonic asides, the exasperating parents, and the sweeping drama of high-school dances will also make this book strongly appealing to teens who consider themselves outside of the GLBTQ spectrum. References, resources and websites are included. Copyright © 2007 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois