GRACEFULLY GRAYSON

This earnest, quiet audiobook focuses on lonely sixth-grader Grayson Sender, whose typical middle school travails are heightened by the gradual realization that, although assigned the male gender at birth, she's definitely a girl. This realization is thrust into the spotlight, quite literally, when Grayson is cast as the female lead in the school play, leading to changes for her both at school and at home. Narrator Emily Beresford channels Grayson's first-person voice in a matter-of-fact tone that is sometimes undercut by quavers of anxiety, moments of dramatic intensity, and the ring of burgeoning confidence. Listeners will empathize with Grayson as she finds new friends and takes the first brave steps towards self-discovery. R.A.H. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2019]