Growing up in an unconventional household compared to most and living in multiple parts of the country as a naive, goody "two-shoes" allowed Tory to grow up within a comical narrative. Elaborating about events in his life while spending time with friends brought to fruition how many different stories he had to tell. Rara Avis is a book deeply personal yet easily picked up by anyone, combining typography and illustration for a fun, creative read such as Memoirs of a Manatee, When Wiener Dogs Attack, Homecoming Terror, Ariel and the Gator, and For All Those Animals Whose Lives I Took.