Name: Sarah Sammis's review of Parrotfish by Ellen Wittlinger
Item: Parrotfish
Rating: 3
Author: Sarah Sammis

Ellen Wittlinger

Grady, a transgendered high school student, yearns for acceptance by his classmates and family as he struggles to adjust to his new identity as a male.

Parrotfish

Kit Lloyd

Sarah Sammis

Parrotfish by Ellen Wittlinger is about the transitioning of Angela into Grady — female to male. Problems arise at school — the administration doesn't have a clear cut policy in place and there's of course bullying, problems at home — the mother who desperately doesn't want to lose a daughter (even a tomboy one) and problems with friends (over reacting or not knowing how to react).

The title comes from a species of fish that changes its sex. Grady believes in his heart of hearts that he should be male even if his body isn't. He needs, though, to prove to others that his feelings are natural and normal.

While the book would be useful for teens either going through the same thing or even just feeling like fish out of water, the pacing and characterization felt forced. Except for Grady and a sympathetic gym teacher — and perhaps the father's over the top approach to Christmas decorating, the characters are presented at the extremes of both genders. Men are MEN and women are WOMEN.

In this sort of dichotomy, there's nothing for Angela (pre-Grady) to do except to change into Grady. There's no wiggle room, and therefore no way to explore the nuances of gender. As some one who isn't especially feminine and who has friends and family who fall somewhere between the two extremes — I had a hard time relating to Grady or anyone else in the book.

Rachel Evans

(1.25/5) Audiobook - 3 hours - This really wasn't great trans representation. I am aware that I am reading this as an 18 year old in 2022, and this book was published when I was 4, and that perspectives have shifted since then, but to me, and to other trans reviewers of this book, this just seems like a cis person with a half-decent idea of what it means to be trans. Aside from this, I really disliked the way this book was written. At random points, there were conversations made-up by the main character, which made the whole book seem disjointed, didn't add anything good to the book, and were sometimes just plain weird. This weirdness was spread throughout the whole book, and it definitely wasn't a good weird - there were times I was fighting a grimace off my face when I was listening to the book in public. All of the side plots seemed random and disjointed, and if I'm honest, entirely pointless. They were usually far too quickly resolved without any explanation as to how. It just happened. This book also came across lesbophobic - I am aware that it is just characters in this book holding these views and not necessarily the author supporting this, but the amount of lesbophobia in this book was excessive and almost totally unnecessary. I really did not like this book.

Amanda Wells

Well... mixed results really. This was in the recommended section since I've read some LGBT and YA books lately. And yes, it is LGBT and YA. 

I love the idea of featuring an MC who is a transman. That's great. And I want to rate it up because of that fact - I want more stories involving trans characters that are just normal people getting on with life. 

But this didn't really get there. The discussion of gender roles, femininity vs masculinity just wasn't as nuanced as it could have been... considering the insight that Grady finds towards the end, there was great opportunity to highlight the silly ways we gender so much stuff. He's partially aware that's true, but blind to a lot of other stuff.

Also there's a scene towards the end that I think is meant to be a bit of karma - but it left a bad taste in my mouth. Being horrible to someone, even if it is in retaliation for them being horrible - is not cool. Or if you give them back what they gave out, then at least show them there is a way to NOT be a total asshole by showing them some compassion. 

Finally, a lot of the humor in this book fell flat. I get that Grady exaggerates scenes in his head, but a lot of it came off poorly, making me like him less. Being snarky and mean about people - even in your head - doesn't make you a good person. It might have been nice for him to realise that towards the end too.

So, I think I might recommend it to ... 14/15 year olds interested in finding out about a different perspective? Maybe. But I wish it could be rewritten first. For now read Geography Club - it has a similar feel, and comes off less mean-hearted.

Kit Lloyd &
Parrotfish by Ellen Wittlinger

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Kit Lloyd &
Parrotfish by Ellen Wittlinger