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Title: Gracefully GraysonAuthor: Ami Polonsky
Genre: YA
Rating: 4/5
# pages: 250
Date read: September 2014
Grayson's parents died in a car accident when he was very young, and since then he has been living with his aunt, uncle and two cousins. He is very much a loner though - both at home and at school - because he is scared that somebody will get too close and discover the secret he's been hiding for as long as he can remember: Grayson is really a girl, trapped in a boy's body.
But in 6th grade, admitting such a thing would be tantamount to putting a "target" sign on your chest. So instead Grayson hides away in the library during recess and dreams himself away by drawing princesses that looks like doodling, and imagining himself in the pretty dresses he sees his classmates wearing.
Thanks to an openminded teacher and a new friend, Grayson gets the chance he needs to break out, when he tries out for the school play. Grayson may finally be able to show others his/her true self.
Much of this book made for rather unpleasant reading. It is never nice to read about people being bullied, and even more so when that bullying spreads over to a person's home life. I hope Grayson grows up to trust his uncle, and that his aunt realizes what a disservice she's doing him, by wanting him to appear "normal". I can understand her reasoning, but some things are just more important than keeping yourself "safe" from bullying (which obviously doesn't work anyway, but somehow some people keep thinking it will).
The book was a bit slow to start, but once the rehearsals for the school play began it really took off, and I found it hard to put down. I loved how Grayson finally managed to find a place for himself in the school, and how he started to relate to the other actors.
This could have been a 5-star read, but unfortunately the end fell a bit flat. I would have liked to see Grayson's relationship with Jack and his aunt be resolved somewhat. I'm glad Ami Polonsky didn't end it immediately after the play though, which is what I originally had feared.
I think it is an important book, and am glad such a book has been written for a younger audience than normal. Many thanks to Netgalley for this advanced copy.
