Reviews

Finished this a few days ago. I really liked Pony, I thought he was sweet and could do no wrong. The other characters, not so much. BUT this did remind me.... these are children. Like, YA would not sell as much as it did if they weren't teenagers, even if they're older teenagers, because we wouldn't give them as much leeway in learning who they are, their values, and what they believe. I didn't love Max as a character, nor did I appreciate some of the actions Georgia took, but I had to remind myself what I was like in high school and made me appreciate this book more. Anyway, it was good. And we got a new copy of this at The LGBTQ Iowa Archives and Library!!

thebookberrie's review against another edition

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Oof okay, after sitting on this one for a while, I've finally worked out my feelings. I still stand by my original opinion that this book wasn't for me BUT supporting trans authors, especially YA ones is so important. If this book worked for you, ugh I am happy for you and I wish that were me.

Stay Gold is about a transgender boy named Pony. Tired of all the attention he got at his old school, he's looking for a fresh start at his new school. Georgia is beginning to think there is more to life than cheerleading. She's trying to keep a low profile which means no dating but on the first day of school, the new guy and her lock eyes. Pony wanted to stay stealth but it gets harder to hide who he is as he gets closer to Georgia.

I wanted to like this book a lot and I'm so disappointed I didn't, rip. At first I thought it was because this book was all about the sad serious topics and that just wasn't my thing right now but that wasn't it?? I just didn't like it or the characters. There were even some messages that I didn't agree with at all.

The main message to me felt like, if you aren't out and loud then you're a fake fan and an awful person. Like you HAVE to make a big deal coming out or you're trash. ???? There are multiple characters in here who berate Pony for wanting to keep it on the need to know and then instead of showing how it's okay to not be loud and out, the book ends with Pony having a big moment of coming out. Sorry but nah. You don't have to do this. You can keep your sexuality and gender identity to yourself or just your friends and family. Safety is number one and strangers or random schoolmates don't need your life story??? Being out and proud is great but also respect that not everyone can or wants to be / is ready to be loud and out.

The romance is TRASH. Georgia is a dumbass trash can who says such awful things. I get people have to learn and grow and the things she says come from a place of ignorance, not hate but also fuck her. It isn't an LGBT+ person's job to teach you how to not be a shitty person, bYE. Pony goes through so much for her and for WHAT. There was another girl that was interested in Pony for who he is off the bat but nOoOoO he only had eyes for the trash can.

This book has a lot of transphobia and I get why but also it went so hard and I thought this was just going to be a cute romance so I kind of wanted to run away. Pony literally gets assaulted in a bathroom and deals with endless pages of bullshit at home and in school until Georgia FINALLY steps up and just unfucks everything easily. Then Pony comes out in spectacular fashion and everything felt so fake?? It was all so cheesy at that point and it felt like the dream ending the character would imagine having, instead of actually having this ending. All problems solved, so easily. Just bizarre.

Quick shout out to the only character I actually liked: Pony's sister. Can I get a book with her? She was so fun and cute oh my god.

But this is all a me thing and I'm happy for those who liked this book. (The cute cover lied though, they don't even have pink hair, smh.)

johnaespo's review against another edition

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4.0

You think it might be too sad. But it’s not.

tracey1981's review against another edition

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dark emotional informative medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

This started off really strong. I think the first 20% was the best. There are some strong characters here and their introduction and the two MCs meeting was quite delightful. I liked Pony, the trans kid going stealth at his school, and Georgia, the cheerleader who is seeing the world and dynamics around her more clearly all the time. I also liked the sister character.

I think this book did a good job of introducing ideas about trans identity for readers who might be new to it, but also works for readers with a fair bit of knowledge already.

I didn’t love the Pony-works-for-an-old-closeted actor plot-line just because it felt far-fetched and older people are so often written so cartoonishly as was the case here. I also didn’t like the plummet into darkness and then soaring back out again at the end of the book. Although it felt believable, I wasn’t sure it was necessary for it to be so jarring. But then again, when I was reading YA as a younger teen, I loved books with names like Baby Alicia is Dying [actual title, I didn’t look it up, I just remember], so maybe this is the level of realness kids want to see….

Content Warnings

bwithwings's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Content Warnings

sheena_00110101's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

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