Synopsis: 
 Twelve-year-old Grayson Sender is reaching an age where imagination is beginning to fail and the long sweater chosen for school no longer looks like a pretty dress. Grayson tries to fly under the radar and not bring attention to the secret that could lead to the ridicule and rejection from classmates, but Grayson's true self demands to be free. When auditions for the school play are announced, Grayson is encouraged to try out, and with the unexpected support of a teacher, gains the confidence to step into the spotlight. 
 Thoughts: 
 Seeing a trans* character in a middle grade novel was a very exciting find and I held high hopes for Gracefully Grayson. Thankfully, it did not disappoint. Ami Polonsky has done an amazing job at creating Grayson as a character instead of just an issue. Yes, there is the struggle of Grayson trying to understand why she feels so out of place in her body, but she also struggles with the loss of her parents, dealing with a friend who moved away and the struggle of making new friends, bullying, and auditioning for her first play. The auditioning and waiting along with all the nerves and anticipation was something I could definitely relate to being in shows myself. There's nothing more nerve-racking than waiting for a cast-list to be posted! I am thoroughly in love with Grayson and how she slowly comes into her own, both in her gender identity and in her self-belief. 
 This is definitely a story that will stay with its readers and it does an excellent job bringing the topic of gender identity to a middle grade audience. 
 Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. 
 Publication Date: November 4, 2014