One name. Two generations. A journey toward understanding.
In Her Name is Grace, J. Hirtle delivers a moving, deeply human story that dares to step into the spaces where love is tested, identity is forged, and generations collide.
Fourteen-year-old Grayson Adair has always known that something about his reflection felt... off. The world sees a boy. But inside, Grayson is beginning to understand he is not who others see. With courage swelling in his chest and questions clawing at his mind, Grayson steps onto the path of self-discovery and transition—terrified but determined to live as her true self. To become Grace.
At the heart of Grayson’s world is his grandfather, a quiet, devout Christian who helped raised him after his father abandoned his family. To him, faith is unshakable, tradition is sacred, and gender is not something to question. But when Grace begins to shed the mask she was forced to wear, he is forced to confront his own beliefs—about family, about God, and about what it means to truly love someone.
Told through alternating perspectives, Her Name is Grace is a tender, unflinching exploration of identity, generational tension, and the redemptive power of empathy. J. Hirtle crafts a story that doesn’t shy away from the hard questions, but instead embraces them with honesty, compassion, and hope.
Perfect for readers of Laurie Halse Anderson, and Jodi Picoult, this novel is a must-read for anyone searching for light in the spaces between love and misunderstanding.
Sometimes, the most powerful transformation isn’t just one person’s story—it’s what happens when hearts are willing to change.
