Gracefully Grayson

This section continues to explore the motif of the phoenix. After falling ill in Chapter 17, Grayson wakes up stating: “Someone has put the covers back over me, and the room is brightening. When I finally open my eyes, the first thing I look at is the phoenix flying in the painting over my bed” (93). The mention of the brightening room suggests a sense of rebirth and hopeful renewal. It also plays into the motif of Light and Darkness. Throughout the novel, Grayson’s mood will be reflected by literal images of light and dark.

Grayson recovers from her illness with a new sense of self. This is informed by her parents’ love and acceptance. Through Lindy, the novel explores Allyship as Empathy and Support. Her unconditional acceptance validates Grayson’s identity and gives her the confidence to express herself in the last part of the book. Grayson doodles a princess and now adds “a king on one side of her and a queen on the other” (112). These figures represent her parents.

As Grayson starts learning about her history, she says: “I feel like I’ve just read the prequel to my life story, like I’m understanding things for the first time” (99). Her storytelling metaphor underlines the similarity between her narrative journey and the reader’s. So far, the narrative has only provided implicit narrative clues about Grayson’s identity, and has never explicitly labeled her as transgender. Grayson viewing the recent revelations about her past as a “prequel” subtly breaks the fourth wall, drawing a parallel between her journey and the reader’s.

Each member of Grayson’s family takes on a more significant role in this section of the book. In the past, Jack’s teasing led Sally and Evan to ask Grayson to minimize her feminine presentation. Now that Grayson is planning to appear on stage as a female character, Sally believes that she can rely on the same strategy. Evan, however, is beginning to understand that “this whole play thing means something. Maybe the dressing up wasn’t ‘just a phase’” (106). This foreshadows the family conflicts to come as Sally and Evan take opposite stances on how best to support Grayson. The novel also hints at Evan's desire to reconnect with his brother’s memory, something which helps deepen his relationship with Grayson.

Brett’s role reinforces the novel’s message about the importance of acceptance, empathy, and tolerance. Brett, who is the youngest in the family, embodies the innocent point of view; this is a narrative technique, where a work comments on a situation from a supposedly natural and objective standpoint. Brett’s naive questions represent the presumed innocence of childhood; therefore his perspective is framed as an objective truth. The implied message is that Grayson presenting as a girl is perfectly natural and good, as the following exemplifies: “‘I don’t get it,’ [Brett] says. ‘Why can’t Grayson be Persephone? [...] It’s just a play’” (104).

The family then faces a communication crisis, and Grayson misinterprets some of Sally’s words. When Sally says that Finn is “creating a monster” (105), she is likely referring to the chaotic situation casting Grayson as Persephone has led to. However, Grayson believes that Sally is referring to her as a “monster.” This suggests that Grayson still feels her anxiety about her gender is justified.

Before the narrative transitions into Part 3, Grayson explicitly verbalizes her identity for the first time: “I am a girl” (128). This marks another turning point in her character development. Part 3 revolves around Grayson’s experimentation with her appearance. She still experiences anxiety, which manifests when she questions her legitimacy as a girl: “Anyway, what real girl wears a million crooked braids all over her head, sticking out all over the place? Real girls wear regular shirts, pants, skirts, jackets, and shoes, not crazy, exaggerated porcupine braids that make them look like an idiot” (133). This builds up to the resolution of Self-Identity Versus Perception, the gap between who Grayson feels she is and her presentation, in the final section.

The secondary characters are crystallizing as either allies or threats. Amelia distances herself even more from Grayson and aligns herself with Lila, who openly mocks the young girl. Evan’s disagreement with his wife shows that he is an ally. Paige is also an ally; she explicitly takes Grayson under her wing, and the main group of girls, also allies, include Grayson in their hairstyling activity. There is a growing difference between Grayson’s home and school life and her theater life, where she is accepted and praised.