Scan barcode
A review by tracey1981
Stay Gold by Tobly McSmith
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….
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
Graphic: Transphobia and Violence