[Thanks to NetGalley & the author for providing me with this ARC]

What a beautiful memoir written by a middle schooler for other middle school kids! The story was told in a no-nonsense way, short and to the point. I believe this will be a very special book for so many young people who are either seeing themselves in Grayson or want to learn more about different forms of identity.
This journey is a very privileged one, even if it’s not without its struggles. Grayson is unconditionally supported by his family which on the one hand is such a beautiful thing to read about but seems almost fairytale-like. Makes me hope that maybe there are more realities out there where parents accept their children’s queer identity without a fight instead the experiences many of us others had to make. Hope is a wonderful thing and this book definitely hands out great portions of it!

Disclaimer: The ARC was provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The ARC category in no way impacts the rating of the book. All of my reviews contain my honest opinions.

A middle school memoir written by a middle schooler.

This is the type of story that I wish for every trans child out there. This level of support and love and acceptance should be the norm. I really hope this book finds its way into the hands of all groups of people.

I did go into this thinking it was more like a graphic novel but I think that was just my own misconception. It's more like an illustrated memoir. It's also written by a 12-year-old so keep that in mind.

Not a daughter, not a son, but a Dotson, Grayson encapsulates his gender journey in this charming memoir. Like other readers, I assumed Grayson was an adult writing about his childhood experiences but knowing this is coming from a 12 year old writer has helped me to feel even more encouraged by this book.

This book would be perfect for parents of trans kids and for trans kids as well, who are learning to feel validated in their trans-ness and are looking for community. Many of the thoughts Grayson was having about his existence and his identity are so common in trans kids that I think this could be a valuable piece of literature for this population. I also appreciated the acknowledgement of how lucky he was to have a family situation like he does, where everyone was ready to support him, and I also appreciated the reflections that he included later in life. Specifically, the reflection of his mom and how she had wished she had pushed harder for Grayson to use the boys bathroom.

My only point of contention was that so much of our community is focused on the physical aspects of trans-ness and the trans identity that I wished there was less of a “I’m a boy because I have short hair and wear boy clothes” and more of a “I’m a boy because I am a boy.” However, I do acknowledge the role that society plays in affirming gender because of how well someone “passes” so I can see where that may come from.

Overall, a thoughtful and encouraging story that many young trans readers could easily connect with.

This is a wonderful, heartfelt memoir of a transgender youth. I would absolutely recommend this to my middle school students, in particular to highlight the compassion and empathy Greyson’s classmates showed him in his elementary school years. They treated him with respect when he was going through a confusing time in his life.

What a refreshing read!
Dotson is a memoir told by the author Grayson Lee White. White gives us his personal insight about very pivotal times in his transgender journey. While White's journey is supported by his loving family and friends, he also knows that not every person's journey will be positive, which is why the book includes a glossary of terms that are heavily used in the trans community as well as several websites and books that offer help to those going through their own journeys.

I'll give this book 4/5 stars! There's so much I love about it and just a few things that didn't quite click for me.

First, let me break down what I enjoyed the most.

Firstly, what really stood out to me is how this book dives deep into the experiences of trans-child – how they navigate it and what it feels like. Bonus points for having a glossary at the back, which is pretty cool!

Secondly, the sweet dynamic between Grayson and his sister, plus the solid parental support, is heartwarming. Their bonding sets a good example for readers who might already be parents.

Lastly, I love how Grayson poured his feelings into this book. He went all out, detailing everything, even sharing how he navigated through it all and how the judgments and activities that cornered him made him stressed. I feel like I really got to experience his journey.

Now, on to the not-so-great part (maybe it's just my perspective). I'd say this book might not be the best fit for middle-graders. Grayson acknowledges that not all transgender individuals have the privileges he does. It sheds light on the harsh reality that not everyone is supportive, especially for young kids trans. I'm concerned this might leave them questioning why they're different, leading to frustration or sadness. It could also impact kids who don't have a strong foundation yet. You know, some young people like to follow suit on a whim.

Okay, that is all!

Written for middle-schoolers, by a middle schooler, this is a very easy to read and understand memoir of a transboy, and how he got to be where he is now. (The book ends with him being 13 years old)


We are introduced to him when he starts hormone blockers, and then we work our way back to when he was 2 years old and first told his mother that he felt he was supposed to be a boy, rather then being born a girl. He was that sure, at that age.
What is sweet was how understanding his parents and twin sister were about the whole thing. As he says, it could have turned out so differently.
This is a great book for middle-schoolers who want to know what it means to be trans. Plainly written. Just enough details.
Sad thing, reading this, was I thought to myself, wow, this is good, and then thinking, I bet it will be banned by some school districts, the way so many trans books have been.


Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book is being published the 2nd of April 2024

Yikes, I really didn’t love this book. As a non-binary reader, I hate giving a less-than-stellar review on a book by a trans author, so I’m grappling with integrity here. I think the book could be renamed “A child transitions: The best case scenario”. The book is set within a family utopia where acceptance and encouragement are ubiquitous. Of course we need more trans joy, but perhaps a child’s perspective is just too simplistic to fully acknowledge how different a lot of readers’ experiences will (unfortunately!) be. But the book describes how every trans child deserves to be treated by their family members, so that’s a worthwhile reason to pick it up.