Synopses & Reviews
Last week I cut my hair, bought some boys' clothes and shoes, wrapped a large ACE bandage around my chest to flatten my fortunately-not-large breasts, and began looking for a new name.
Angela Katz-McNair has never felt quite right as a girl. Her whole life is leading up to the day she decides to become Grady, a guy. While coming out as transgendered feels right to Grady, he isn't prepared for the reaction he gets from everyone else. His mother is upset, his younger sister is mortified, and his best friend, Eve, won't acknowledge him in public. Why can't people just let Grady be himself?
Grady's life is miserable until he finds friends in some unexpected places -- like the school geek, Sebastian, who explains that there is precedent in the natural world (parrotfish change gender when they need to, and the newly male fish are the alpha males), and Kita, a senior who might just be Grady's first love.
From acclaimed writer Ellen Wittlinger, this is the groundbreaking story of one teen's search for self and his struggle for acceptance.
Review
“A thought-provoking discussion of gender roles, gender identity, and the influence of nature, nurture, and social construction on both.”—The Horn Book Magazine
Review
“A compelling and richly detailed story.”—The BCCB
Review
“Peopled with wonderfully wacky characters and scenes, this narrative snaps and crackles with wit, even while it touches the spirit of the sensitive reader. Wittlinger scores another success with this highly recommended novel.”—VOYA
Review
“Wittlinger’s writing skill will help YA readers understand transgender issues, and those readers will be entertained and moved as they read.”—KLIATT
Review
“The author demonstrates well the complexity faced by transgendered people and makes the teen’s frustration with having to “fit into a category” fully apparent.”—Publishers Weekly
Synopsis
"Last week I cut my hair, bought some boys' clothes and shoes, wrapped a large ACE bandage around my chest to flatten my fortunately-not-large breasts, and began looking for a new name."
Angela Katz-McNair has never felt quite right as a girl. Her whole life is leading up to the day she decides to become Grady, a guy. While coming out as transgendered feels right to Grady, he isn't prepared for the reaction he gets from everyone else. His mother is upset, his younger sister is mortified, and his best friend, Eve, won't acknowledge him in public. Why can't people just let Grady be himself?
Grady's life is miserable until he finds friends in some unexpected places — like the school geek, Sebastian, who explains that there is precedent in the natural world (parrotfish change gender when they need to, and the newly male fish are the alpha males), and Kita, a senior who might just be Grady's first love.
From acclaimed writer Ellen Wittlinger, this is the groundbreaking story of one teen's search for self and his struggle for acceptance.
Synopsis
The groundbreaking novel from critically acclaimed author Ellen Wittlinger that tells the story of a transgender teenand#8217;s search for identity and acceptance has now been updated to include current terminology and an updated list of resources.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Angela Katz-McNair never felt quite right as a girl. So she cuts her hair short, purchases some menand#8217;s clothes and chose a new name: Grady. While coming out as transgender feels right to Grady, he isnand#8217;t prepared for the reactions of his friends and family. Why canand#8217;t they accept that Grady is just being himself?andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;Gradyand#8217;s life is miserable until he finds friends in unexpected placesand#8212;the school geek, Sebastian, who tells Grady that there is a precedent for transgenders in the natural world, and Kita, a senior, who might just be Gradyand#8217;s first love.andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;In a voice tinged with humor and sadness, Ellen Wittlinger explores Gradyand#8217;s strugglesand#8212;universal struggles any teen can relate to.
About the Author
Ellen Wittlinger is the critically acclaimed author of the teen novels andlt;iandgt;Parrotfishandlt;/iandgt;, andlt;iandgt;Blind Faithandlt;/iandgt;, andlt;iandgt;Sandpiperandlt;/iandgt;, andlt;iandgt;Heart on My Sleeveandlt;/iandgt;, andlt;iandgt;Zigzagandlt;/iandgt;, and andlt;iandgt;Hard Loveandlt;/iandgt; (an American Library Association Michael L. Printz Honor Book and a Lambda Literary Award winner), and its sequel andlt;iandgt;Love andamp; Lies: Marisolandrsquo;s Storyandlt;/iandgt;. She has a bachelorandrsquo;s degree from Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois, and an MFA from the University of Iowa. A former childrenandrsquo;s librarian, she lives with her husband in Haydenville, Massachusetts.