Call Me Bill

Call Me Bill is an historical YA graphic novel that focuses on the life of Bill Armstrong, a gender nonconforming sailor in the late 1800s.

The story begins on April 1, 1873 as the SS Atlantic sinks off the coast of Nova Scotia. As villagers race to help the survivors, the Captain begins identifying the dead. During one of his rounds, the wind lifts the shirt of a sailor to reveal women’s breasts, and thus begins the story of Bill Armstrong.

Born Maggie Armstrong in New Jersey, young Maggie loves to dress up in her brother’s clothes. Once her brother and mother die within a year of each other and her father remarries, Maggie struggles to live by her father and stepmother’s rules. Her stepmother wants her to dress and act like a “lady”, and Maggie, finding this stifling, decides to run away to New York and finds work as a sailor.

Once Maggie begins working on ships, she transforms into Bill, a hardworking sailor who is quick to learn and loves life on the sea. After travelling the world on various ships, Bill is one day outed by the Captain’s wife. Revealed to be a woman, Bill is sentenced to return to the US or risk imprisonment.

However, Bill has plans of his own. Disembarking in London, he finds refuge in a theatre whose inhabitants are accepting of Bill and his gender expression. Finally at peace with who he is, Bill decides to return to his one true love, the sea. Unfortunately, Bill’s final voyage is on the ill-fated SS Atlantic.

Beautifully written and expertly researched, Call Me Bill is a master class in creative nonfiction. I was particularly impressed with the author’s use of primary sources throughout the graphic novel. By using newspaper articles from the time to tell Maggie/Bill’s story, young readers are given a firsthand account of what it was like to be gender nonconforming 150 years ago.

Moreover, Lynette Richards, a stained-glass artist by trade, notes that she referenced wood engravings and rare photos of the event in her grey watercolour illustrations. It is this attention to detail that adds so much authenticity to the historical feel of the graphic novel.

Overall, a poignant story that elevates 2SLGBTQ+ voices, Call Me Bill is highly recommended.