Parrotfish

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. andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt; 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? andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt; 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. andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt; From acclaimed writer Ellen Wittlinger, this is the groundbreaking story of one teen's search for self and his struggle for acceptance.

and#8220;A thought-provoking discussion of gender roles, gender identity, and the influence of nature, nurture, and social construction on both.and#8221;and#8212;andlt;Iandgt;The Horn Book Magazineandlt;/Iandgt;

and#8220;A compelling and richly detailed story.and#8221;and#8212;andlt;Iandgt;The BCCBandlt;/Iandgt;

and#8220;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.and#8221;and#8212;andlt;Iandgt;VOYAandlt;/Iandgt;

and#8220;Wittlingerand#8217;s writing skill will help YA readers understand transgender issues, and those readers will be entertained and moved as they read.and#8221;and#8212;andlt;Iandgt;KLIATTandlt;/Iandgt;

and#8220;The author demonstrates well the complexity faced by transgendered people and makes the teenand#8217;s frustration with having to and#8220;fit into a categoryand#8221; fully apparent.and#8221;and#8212;andlt;Iandgt;Publishers Weeklyandlt;/Iandgt;

Angela Katz-McNair has never felt quite right as a girl, but it's a shock to everyone when she cuts her hair short, buys some men's clothes, and announces she'd like to be called by a new name, Grady. Although Grady is happy about his decision to finally be true to himself, everybody else is having trouble processing the news. Grady's parents act hurt; his sister is mortified; and his best friend, Eve, won't acknowledge his existence. On top of that, there are more practical concerns--for instance, which locker room is he supposed to use for gym class? Grady didn't expect his family and friends to be happy about his decision, but he also didn't expect kids at school to be downright nasty about it. But as the victim of some cruel jokes, Grady also finds unexpected allies, including the school geek Sebastian, and Kita Charles, who's a gorgeous senior. In a voice tinged with humor and sadness, Ellen Wittlinger explores Grady's struggles--struggles any teen will be able to relate to.

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.

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.