Though a product of its 2007 publication, many cite it as the first time they saw themselves reflected in books written for them. Parrotfish was a rare story giving power to trans teens in a time when such stories were not being published, and ten years after publication, Wittlinger and her editor updated the book to use more accurate language around the trans experience. The book earned a Lambda Literary Award nomination. Published in 2007, the book follows Grady as he comes out as transgender and begins to transition, despite heavy opposition from loved ones. Wittlinger is maybe best known for her book Parrotfish, one of the first books in YA featuring a trans main character. Ellen Wittlinger was the critically acclaimed author of the teen novels Parrotfish, Blind Faith, Sandpiper, Heart on My Sleeve, Zigzag, and Hard Love (an American Library Association Michael L. Joe is emotionally withdrawn and has never been sexually interested in anyone, male or female. It follows the relationship between Joe and Marisol, two teens who meet and bond over the publication of 'zines. Printz Honor Book, a Lambda Literary Award winner, and a Booklist Editors' Choice). Wittlinger was one of those people who broke through in that era and inspired a lot of writers you love today. Hard Love is a young adult novel written by Ellen Wittlinger and published in 1999. Ellen Wittlinger is the critically acclaimed author of 15 young adult novels including Parrotfish, Heart on My Sleeve, Love & Lies: Marisol's Story, Razzle, What's in a Name, and Hard Love (an American Library Association Michael L. I know it's hard for people who came up in the mid-aughts golden era of YA to comprehend, but in the 90s there were just not very many YA books after a lot in the 80s.

Hard Love by Ellen Wittlinger