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A review by jecoats
Dotson: My Journey Growing Up Transgender by Grayson Lee White
5.0
This book was recommended and loaned to me by a French teacher, who is also part of my cohort at National Louis. The book was published April of 2023, and as of this review has not been nominated for any awards.
This is a touching, funny, and beautifully written memoir by 13-year-old Grayson Lee White, a young boy who takes us through his life as he transitions from female to male. It starts as he is receiving the first shot of a puberty blocking drug, and then transitions to his first memory as a two-year-old, wishing that one day he will be a boy. The memoir progresses in a similar way, showcasing various momentous occasions in his life as he transitions to his correct gender. The memoir then ends much like it began, with White finally receiving his first puberty blocker. White mentions at the end that there are so many things he worries about, such as starting his own family and not belonging. But it ends on a hopeful note, with White telling us he won’t let worry stand in the way of living his life, instead taking every challenge as it comes.
Although this story is told with a sense of humor about it, I found each vignette to be a touching, heartfelt account of White’s personal journey. I was moved from the first page. White is already an extraordinary author, and his voice is strong on the page. He isn’t just telling his story; he is inviting the reader in to experience it alongside him. This may be a work of nonfiction, but White’s conversational writing style mixed with the book’s emotional impact elevates it to something far more insightful and profound.
As a piece of nonfiction, Dotson aligns with quite a few of the nonfiction elements from Children’s Books in Children’s Hands. Besides being an informative text, I think Dotson certainly has the ability to arouse curiosity, open up a new world for the reader, and engage readers with learning and thinking (p. 284). White also manages to infuse his memoir with life, creating a lively and animated story that would capture the minds of a reader as fully as any work of fiction.
The book is easy to read and comprehend, and I think it could be used with students as young as 4th or 5th grade all the way up to high school. Dotson would work well in unit about memoir and nonfiction as it provides a fresh, unique take on the genre. It could also be used in a unit that focuses on LGBTQIA+ rights, social justice, and/or themes of acceptance. Although this book is about a transgender person, I think it would make a great mirror for any LGBTQIA+ students as it deals heavily with themes of self-acceptance and resilience. As mentioned, White’s conversational style really draws the reader into the story - we experience everything as White himself experienced it, making this a wonderful window and sliding glass door. In my opinion, Dotson is the perfect book to help cis students develop empathy and compassion for members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Even for me, someone who considers himself to be an ally to the community, this book was transformative and has fundamentally changed the way I think about transgender people. Dotson will absolutely go in my own classroom library.
This is a touching, funny, and beautifully written memoir by 13-year-old Grayson Lee White, a young boy who takes us through his life as he transitions from female to male. It starts as he is receiving the first shot of a puberty blocking drug, and then transitions to his first memory as a two-year-old, wishing that one day he will be a boy. The memoir progresses in a similar way, showcasing various momentous occasions in his life as he transitions to his correct gender. The memoir then ends much like it began, with White finally receiving his first puberty blocker. White mentions at the end that there are so many things he worries about, such as starting his own family and not belonging. But it ends on a hopeful note, with White telling us he won’t let worry stand in the way of living his life, instead taking every challenge as it comes.
Although this story is told with a sense of humor about it, I found each vignette to be a touching, heartfelt account of White’s personal journey. I was moved from the first page. White is already an extraordinary author, and his voice is strong on the page. He isn’t just telling his story; he is inviting the reader in to experience it alongside him. This may be a work of nonfiction, but White’s conversational writing style mixed with the book’s emotional impact elevates it to something far more insightful and profound.
As a piece of nonfiction, Dotson aligns with quite a few of the nonfiction elements from Children’s Books in Children’s Hands. Besides being an informative text, I think Dotson certainly has the ability to arouse curiosity, open up a new world for the reader, and engage readers with learning and thinking (p. 284). White also manages to infuse his memoir with life, creating a lively and animated story that would capture the minds of a reader as fully as any work of fiction.
The book is easy to read and comprehend, and I think it could be used with students as young as 4th or 5th grade all the way up to high school. Dotson would work well in unit about memoir and nonfiction as it provides a fresh, unique take on the genre. It could also be used in a unit that focuses on LGBTQIA+ rights, social justice, and/or themes of acceptance. Although this book is about a transgender person, I think it would make a great mirror for any LGBTQIA+ students as it deals heavily with themes of self-acceptance and resilience. As mentioned, White’s conversational style really draws the reader into the story - we experience everything as White himself experienced it, making this a wonderful window and sliding glass door. In my opinion, Dotson is the perfect book to help cis students develop empathy and compassion for members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Even for me, someone who considers himself to be an ally to the community, this book was transformative and has fundamentally changed the way I think about transgender people. Dotson will absolutely go in my own classroom library.