Gracefully Grayson by Ami Polonsky (review)

Grayson’s sure that if he could just find a way, he could strip off his ill-fitting male self and become the girl he was always meant to be. An uncharacteristically brave moment during an audition and a forward-thinking teacher willing to take a risk means that Grayson lands the role of Persephone in a school play. The ensuing controversy doesn’t keep Grayson from the role, but it does shake up the town in permanent ways. Grayson is an endearing narrator of his own life as he moves from quiet doodler waiting for some magical moment to a determined kid who realizes he can just make his own. Unfortunately, there isn’t much depth to the characters who surround him, and their flat rejection or immediate acceptance of Grayson end up being devoid of realistic complexity. In addition, a resources or further reading list would have been useful, particularly as the young intended audience isn’t likely to have read much about transgender preteens before. Nevertheless, this is a well-intentioned, warm look at a kid who finds a voice that feels true for the first time, and for that reason, many readers may find this to be a memorable read.