Gracefully Grayson by Ami Polonsky

Pages: 243
Intended Audience: Teens and mature tweens
Genre: Real life
Notes for Parents: Deals with some mature issues concerning a transgendered sixth grader.

The Inside Cover

Grayson Sender has been holding on to a secret for what seems like forever: “he” is a girl on the inside, born into the wrong gender’s body. The weight of this secret is crushing, but sharing it would mean facing ridicule, scorn, rejection, or worse.
Despite the risks, Grayson’s true self itches to break free. Will new strength and support from unexpected places be enough to help Grayson step into the spotlight she was born to inhabit?

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

This is the author’s first novel.

What’s good?

This is a compelling story about a sixth grade boy struggling with his desire to be the girl he knows he is. This book is a quiet celebration of differences, addressing the issue of gender at the age when it’s most relevant– puberty—without getting into the subject of sexuality. Characterization is well done. Grayson is a courageous and sincere character with insecurities that give us a real sense of his inner struggle. The supporting characters—mainly his aunt, uncle, cousins, and schoolmates—are realistic and varied in their levels of support and fear.
Best Part: The skirt in the second-hand store sounds awesome!

What isn’t good?

As this is intended for middle grades, the story stays pretty simple. The majority of the conflict is internal, with only bits of action. There isn’t a lot of depth to the secondary characters, although some still manage to play a vital role. I kept forgetting that Grayson was just a sixth grader because the atmosphere felt more high school level most of the time.
Worst part: Nothing is terrible.

Recommendation þþþþo

I’ve been consistently impressed with the high quality of books aimed at middle school students. Many would say it’s brave to address the issue of transgender children, and indeed LGBT issues continue to be under represented in middle school literature even though this is the age when many of these issues tend to surface.
This is an unpretentious journey of self-discovery and acceptance. I found it to be engaging and authentic. Definitely recommended.

Polonsky, Ami. Gracefully Grayson. Los Angeles: Hyperion, 2014. (Hardcover)