2014. A sweet story of girl in sixth grade trying to come out. She’s so tired of wearing boy’s clothes. She gets the female lead in the school play and that helps her move toward becoming herself. Takes place in Chicago. ( )

I'm not sure what to do with this book, because it has exactly the same plot as George -- and I don't know if they were in production at the same time or not. I want more trans books in the world, so I'm going with -- yay, another book with a trans main character for upper elementary/middle school audiences and then not put myself through reading the same book twice.

Sixth grader Grayson Spender's parents died in a car crash when he was four, and he's been living with his aunt and uncle and two cousins since then. A loner at school since his friend Emma moved away after second grade, Grayson impulsively decides to try out for the school play - for the role of Persephone. Grayson has always felt like a girl, and his teacher Mr. Finnegan (Finn) says anyone can try out for any part. When Grayson is cast as Persephone, his Aunt Sally objects on the basis that he'll be teased or hurt at school - but it's clear that she has a problem with Grayson not conforming to typical boy gender norms. Uncle Evan is more supportive but is largely bulldozed by Aunt Sally. Nevertheless, Grayson proceeds, and the supportive community he finds in the theater, including eighth grader Paige, is stronger than bullies in his class (including his cousin Jack).

See also: Melissa by Alex Gino, Too Bright to See by Kyle Lukoff, The Chance to Fly by Ali Stroker, Starfish by Lisa Fipps ( )

children's middlegrade fiction (6th grade trans girl). I like Grayson, and I could easily cry for her struggles, but she kind of bores me just a little with her obsession over wearing dresses; it's a relief when the plot moves onto different things. This is not the best trans-centered fiction I've read, but it's decently good, and pretty gentle for younger readers. ( )

Beautiful, beautiful book. ( )