Grayson's aunt and uncle took him in after a tragic car accident claimed the lives of his parents when he was only four years old. Now in middle school, Grayson hides who "he" is from the world around him. He draws pictures of castles, hiding beautiful princesses in the corners. He ties his jacket around his waist, imagining that it is a flowy skirt. He goes through his day in camouflage, concealing his inner self and isolating himself from his peers. When his new friendship with Amelia starts to slip away, and his Grandma Alice passes away, Grayson fears becoming invisible and disappearing completely. Intrigued by a flyer in the library, Grayson auditions for the lead in the school's production of the play The Myth of Persephone. This will be Grayson's time to shine and feel truly seen as the beautiful, graceful girl that she is meant to be.
Grayson is a character facing a lot of misunderstanding. Most of the book refers to him as "he" and as a boy. The only time "she" is used is while Grayson is on stage, acting as Persephone and touching the pink cast on her arm. I think the author could have taken a stronger position, and allowed the dialogue to shift more toward inclusive pronouns, rather than misgendering Grayson. However, this may have been intentional, to avoid labeling Grayson as trans. The book ends with the new beginning for Grayson, finally being truly seen and accepted.
The other characters in Gracefully Grayson seem a bit flat to me. Each character's reaction to Grayson fits a certain stereotypical angle, without much development. Finn is the noble teacher who sacrifices his career for the good of his students. Uncle Evan is the supportive, open-minded parent, while Aunt Sally is the stubborn, unwavering one. Amelia is the fickle friend, only looking to improve her social standing, while Paige is not afraid to stand out in a crowd. Ryan and Sebastian are the bullies.
The book is set primarily at school, in Finn's class and at rehearsal. Most of the middle schoolers are kind and understanding, but some do challenge Grayson's decision to try out for Persephone. The parents, especially Aunt Sally, seem less open-minded, which is not surprising. In my experience as a teacher, I have found the young, school-age generation to be more accepting when it comes to gender identity. There are also scenes at a local thrift store, where Grayson can experiment with fashion and try on skirts and blouses.
A major theme of Gracefully Grayson is bravery, and of choosing to do the right thing despite fear of backlash. As the students in Finn's class read To Kill a Mockingbird, they discuss this idea, which is reflected in Grayson's story. Grayson demonstrates great courage in being herself, particularly in the final chapters, as she chooses a pink cast for her wrist and wears a sparkly shirt in front of classmates. In addition, the overarching theme is to acceptance. Just as Grayson's parents knew when he was a small child, it is important to support one another and accept others to foster their inner selves.
The issue at the center of Gracefully Grayson is an authentic issue facing children and adults alike. In the past decade, the issue has gained more attention, and people on both sides have become more vocal. From the North Carolina laws about restrooms, to the coming out of celebrities like Caitlyn Jenner, to the rise to fame of Laverne Cox, trans rights are extremely important. It is good to have books like Gracefully Grayson for young trans people to see themselves reflected in the pages they read.
The author, Ami Polonsky, was a teacher for several years. In an interview included with this excellent reading guide with discussion questions, she mentions that she witnessed issues like those in the book at the middle school level.
This is an important book for young trans people, who don't often get an opportunity to see themselves reflected in book characters. In addition, Gracefully Grayson offers a lesson to the peers of trans children, because they will benefit from putting themselves in Grayson's shoes. The theme of self-love and acceptance is critical for everyone. These themes are especially poignant for middle schoolers, who are coming of age and sorting out personal identity and social acceptance. Bullying and self-esteem issues are particularly common during the middle school years.
Gracefully Grayson was selected as a Book of the Month by the Anti-Defamation League and included on the Rainbow Project Book List of 2016, recognized for being a top LGBTQ children's/YA book.
For middle schoolers reading this book, frequent and meaningful discussion of the topics is critical. This topic may be considered controversial by some teachers and parents, and so a delicate approach may need to be taken by the librarian. However, the difficulty of the topic shows how necessary it is to confront. The discussion questions from the publisher, linked above, could be incorporated to a book club meeting. In addition, students could research issues of trans rights and engage in a discussion of civil rights movements throughout history, from women's rights to African American/Latinx rights, to LGBTQ rights movements.
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