"If you’re a kid like Gavin Grimm (or any other kind of kid), you don’t get to choose who you are. You don’t choose your skin color. Or your parents. Or where you grow up. And if you’re a kid like Gavin Grimm, you don’t choose if you’re a boy or girl. But if you’re transgender like Gavin Grimm, you might choose to talk about it."
As kids do, Gavin knew about the many choices he could make on a daily basis. Some of them were easy. Will you eat worms? Where are you going on your bike today? Other choices are made for you.
In Gavin's case, he didn't have a choice to make about whether he was a boy or a girl. Although his parents thought he was a girl, Gavin knew he was a boy on the inside. Being transgender, Gavin did make a choice to talk about it with his family, and at school. Public bathrooms in the school were labeled as being for boys or girls. In the beginning, he chose to use the bathroom in the nurse's room ... a safe place all the time.
Most people at school were accepting of Gavin. He was free to be himself. Then, he decided he wanted to use the boys' bathroom like every other boy in the school. His principal was fine with that; others, apparently, were not. Laughter and bullying began after a teacher starting spreading gossip about Gavin. Soon, Gavin had another big choice to make.
"Gavin chose to speak up for himself.
He went to the meeting at his school
and told them where he belonged.
He tried to make them see that he was
just a kid, not a problem to be solved."
It didn't work. Gavin chose not to accept their ruling and stood up for himself once more - and for other kids who were dealing with some of the same issues he faced. He took his fight for rights all the way to the Supreme Court. He continues to advocate for himself and others today. Sadly, the fight for trans rights is not over.
This autobiography that chronicles Gavin's early life is quiet, powerful, and offers opportunities for discussion about identity, understanding, and the rights of all people to be who they are. Digital illustrations, awash in blues and pinks, highlight Gavin's journey and experiences. A note from both authors is worthy of attention.
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