Gracefully Grayson

Ami Polonsky
Disney-Hyperion
Reviewed by Nancy
4 out of 5 stars

Summary

Alone at home, twelve-year-old Grayson Sender glows, immersed in beautiful thoughts and dreams. But at school, Grayson grasps at shadows, determined to fly under the radar. Because Grayson has been holding onto a secret for what seems like forever: “he” is a girl on the inside, stuck in the wrong gender’s body.

The weight of this secret is crushing, but leaving it behind would mean facing ridicule, scorn, and rejection. Despite these dangers, Grayson’s true self itches to break free. Strengthened by an unexpected friendship and a caring teacher who gives her a chance to step into the spotlight, Grayson might finally have the tools to let her inner light shine.

Debut author Ami Polonsky’s moving, beautifully-written novel shines with the strength of a young person’s spirit and the enduring power of acceptance.

My Review

"White and black. Light and dark. And me, in the middle of it all. Gray."

This book caught my eye, but I was going to give it a pass, thinking it was more suitable for much younger readers. Then I came across a friend's review and grabbed it from the library. Surprisingly, the book was difficult to put down and I got through it in no time at all.

I am not going to summarize the plot here, since there is really none to speak of. This is a sensitive and delicately written portrayal of Grayson Sender, a 12-year-old who is harboring a deep secret. Grayson’s parents were aware of that secret and respectful of their child’s uniqueness, but they were killed in a car accident when Grayson was little. Grayson is now living in the home of an aunt, uncle, and older cousin, all of whom show love, but not the support or understanding Grayson needs.

Grayson struggles with loneliness and isolation and eventually makes a new friend. Auditioning for the female lead in the school play allows Grayson the opportunity for self-expression outside of established gender norms. While Grayson has the support of a progressive teacher and the play’s cast members, there is still fear and prejudice to contend with.

My only gripe with this story was that it lacked complexity. I would have liked to see a deeper exploration of Grayson’s desire to be a girl. The experimentation with clothing, hair and jewelry heavy-handedly presented outdated feminine ideals with no attempt to dismantle gender stereotypes.

Nevertheless, I liked this story a lot and found Grayson to be a very sympathetic and dynamic character. Grayson’s family was also realistic as they dealt with their fears and concerns.

Wonderstruck

Wonderstruck
by Brian Selznick

Review by Sesana
Five out of five stars

Wonderstruck is two separate stories that meet and intertwine at the end. Set 50 years apart, Rose and Ben live rather different lives, with more and more crossover as the book develops. In 1927, Rose lives just outside New York City. She's deaf, and her father doesn't want to let her leave the house. Not safe enough. Desperate for a certain amount of freedom, and to see a silent movie star she's somewhat obsessed with, she runs away to the city, and the American Museum of Natural History. In 1977, Ben live on Gunflint Lake, in Minnesota. When we meet him, he's deaf in one ear, his mother has recently died in a car accident, and he's looking for clues that will lead him to his father. And then he gets struck by lightning. Still, even after the accident, he's determined to follow those clues, which will lead him to New York City, and the American Museum of Natural History.

Readers of Selznick's previous, wonderful book [book:The Invention of Hugo Cabret|9673436] will recognize the format, part words and part pictures. Here, Ben's story is told entirely in words, and Rose's is told entirely in pictures. It's very effective, Selznick's lovely art aside. Watching Rose's story slowly unfold in pictures lets the reader discovery her story gradually, and it lets us experience the world soundlessly, as she does. I also like how he illustrates what are normally cinematic techniques like zooming in or out, something he did in Hugo Cabret, too.

But much as I loved Rose's half, Ben's was every bit as good. Poor Ben. I felt so bad for him before more than a few pages of his narration had passed, and then it gets worse. He goes through so much looking for his father, but it all comes honestly. Nothing felt amped up for dramatic impact, or like something that a boy his age wouldn't naturally do. And he's just so likeable, and such a sympathetic character, that it's easy to root for him to find what he's looking for.

Luckily, Selznick is every bit as talented of a writer as he is an artist. Both the text and picture portions of the story were equally compelling and well done. At no point did I find myself counting pages until I got through one perspective and back to the other. That can be a hard thing to do. I hope that Selznick has more books like this and Hugo Cabret in him. I'll be delighted to read them.

Also reviewed on Goodreads.