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A review by middle_name_joy
Alligator Boy by Cynthia Rylant
3.0
Hmm. Well. Let's just say, I wouldn't peg Alligator Boy as written by Cynthia Rylant.
This is a story of a boy who no longer wants to be a boy; he wants to be somebody new. So, his aunt sends him an alligator costume and once the boy puts it on, he decides to live "a good green life."
First and foremost, it's a tale of acceptance. The alligator boy looks differently than everyone else, but he attends school and carries on as any child, going on field trips and singing in music class.
Meanwhile, it's also an allegory for young people who do not identify with their gender or otherwise. For one, the initial reaction from the boy's mother is worry, and she calls the doctor, who claims it's normal. Eventually, she comes to love her son in the costume. In addition, the boy never returns to being a boy. He is content to stay an alligator boy.
Either way, it's a story of finding a way to feel completely yourself and lead a full life in the process.
This is a story of a boy who no longer wants to be a boy; he wants to be somebody new. So, his aunt sends him an alligator costume and once the boy puts it on, he decides to live "a good green life."
First and foremost, it's a tale of acceptance. The alligator boy looks differently than everyone else, but he attends school and carries on as any child, going on field trips and singing in music class.
Meanwhile, it's also an allegory for young people who do not identify with their gender or otherwise. For one, the initial reaction from the boy's mother is worry, and she calls the doctor, who claims it's normal. Eventually, she comes to love her son in the costume. In addition, the boy never returns to being a boy. He is content to stay an alligator boy.
Either way, it's a story of finding a way to feel completely yourself and lead a full life in the process.