Gracefully Grayson

Grayson’s Uncle Evan is her father’s brother. He is married to her aunt Sally, and they have two children together, Jack and Brett. Jack is Grayson’s older cousin, and although they used to be close when they were younger, they have grown apart. Jack now bullies Grayson, although he seems to regret teaming up with Ryan when the latter assaults Grayson and breaks her arm. Brett, in contrast, is a naive and friendly second-grader who does not understand all the fuss about Grayson playing Persephone.

Evan says that his “biggest regret in life” is that he and his brother “didn’t talk much as adults [and] grew apart” (198). That is the reason why he was not aware of Grayson’s gender identity when she first came to live with them, and he and Sally convinced themselves that it was only a phase. After his niece is cast as Persephone, however, Evan supports her choice and helps her learn her lines almost every night. He does not fully grasp that Grayson is a girl, but he explicitly disagrees with Sally’s decision to have Finn fired and to conceal Grayson’s identity. At the end of the book, Evan invites Grayson to see Romeo and Juliet at the local theater with him, suggesting that he wants to connect with Grayson in memory of his brother, who also loved theater.

Grayson’s Aunt Sally is Evan’s wife and Jack and Brett’s mother. She is not depicted as an explicitly abusive parent, but the narrative shows that her well-intended decisions harm Grayson more than they help her. Grayson resents her aunt’s position and grows apart from her in the second half of the book.

After Grayson is cast in a female role, Sally (who believes Grayson is a boy) feels that Finn overstepped boundaries by exposing her niece to being bullied. This leads to Finn being fired, although Sally states that she did not intend for things to go so far:

What did I expect? I expected Mr. Finnegan to give Grayson a different role. Or he easily could have just agreed to switch Persephone into a male character—directors do that all the time. At the very least, he could have agreed that Grayson’s costume shouldn’t be a gown, for heaven’s sake. All I expected was for everyone to do the right thing—to keep Grayson safe (164).

Throughout the story, Sally tries to conceal Grayson’s gender identity and the risk of it being exposed publicly. When the young girl breaks her arm, for instance, Sally is upset that she chooses a pink cast. Sally claims that her intention is to protect Grayson, but she reveals that she is more concerned with denying Grayson’s identity. She and Evan have several arguments about the best way to support their niece. While Evan is an example of Allyship as Empathy and Support, Sally is an example of what not to do and how good intentions are not enough.

Mr. Finnegan, or Finn, is the humanities teacher at Porter, as well as the director of the school play. He is Grayson’s favorite teacher and the first adult to encourage her to audition for the role of Persephone. The narrative implies that Finn is gay (73), which may make him likely to recognize and support LGBTQ+ students. Overall, he is characterized as warm and friendly, and beloved by his students. He feels that “any teacher who is really going to make a difference in the life of a student is going to blur the boundary between the kid’s academic and personal life” (105).

Finn faces backlash after he makes the decision to cast Grayson as Persephone. Sally brings up the issue at a PTA meeting, arguing that Finn should not have cast Grayson without consulting her and Evan first. As a result, Dr. Shiner, the school principal, asks Finn not to interact with Grayson one-on-one anymore. Finn accepts this so he can continue directing the play until the end of the year, which leads Grayson to think he resents her. At the end of the story, Finn announces that he has gotten a new job as assistant director at a small New York City theater. After Sally confronted Finn, rumors circulated about Finn getting fired, so it is somewhat unclear whether he left Porter of his own volition. He sends Grayson a letter congratulating her on her performance and telling her:

I know it may feel like there are people who are against you, but I want you to remember that most people in the world are good. Look for the people who extend a hand to you. And when they do, take it. I’m so proud of what you’ve done this year. And always remember, Grayson, to be brave (199).

Paige is an eighth-grade student who befriends Grayson after they are both cast in the school play. Grayson notes that “nobody else at Porter dresses like [Paige]” (110). For example, she is described as wearing “layers of brightly colored, silky shirts, [a] clump of tangled necklaces and chains around her neck” (109) or “shimmery turquoise leggings, [a] gold scarf, and [a] colorful shirt [with] sparkling silver shoes” (169).

When Paige loses the role of Persephone to Grayson, she is initially upset and snaps at the young girl. However, she quickly apologizes and takes Grayson under her wing during rehearsals. In the play, Paige plays Demeter, Persephone’s protective mother, a role which symbolically parallels Paige and Grayson’s relationship in real life.

Paige’s mother, Marla, helps sew the costumes for the play and is characterized as equally quirky and friendly. When Grayson reveals she is wearing a girl’s shirt during dress rehearsal, Paige looks at her mother, seemingly to make sure that she will react appropriately. Later, the three of them have lunch together and Marla tells Grayson that she is “welcome at [their] house anytime [she needs] anything. Anytime” (175).

Paige also appears to be a symbolic counterpart to Amelia, the first student Grayson attempts to befriend in the story. Amelia, who is new at Porter, is eager to get to know Grayson at first but later dismisses her. Their relationship is further strained when Amelia reacts negatively to Grayson trying out a skirt at the thrift store; this contrasts with Paige’s acceptance later in the story.