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A review by forrestalexander
Stay Gold by Tobly McSmith
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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? Yes
3.5
I have a ton of conflicting feelings about this book. I was searching for a story about a trans boy because there are so few out there, and of course, the ones that do exist out there are almost always laden with trauma - including this one.
This book is heavy - so heavy, I almost didn't finish reading it. I wanted to put it down multiple times, so I took breaks, but I kept reading.
In the end, I'm glad I did. I kept flip-flopping between liking and hating the book because it was so dark and triggering for me, but in the end, I liked it. Many of the characters experience such tremendous character growth, and there are heart-warming moments.
With that being said, if you're looking for a sweet, coming-of-age book about a boy who happens to be trans, this isn't it. This book is dark, sad, and heavy, and I would tell anyone who wants to read it to know that beforehand.
TW: dysphoria, transphobia, homophobia, deadnaming, bullying, use of slurs, suicidal thoughts, public outing
This book is heavy - so heavy, I almost didn't finish reading it. I wanted to put it down multiple times, so I took breaks, but I kept reading.
In the end, I'm glad I did. I kept flip-flopping between liking and hating the book because it was so dark and triggering for me, but in the end, I liked it. Many of the characters experience such tremendous character growth, and there are heart-warming moments.
With that being said, if you're looking for a sweet, coming-of-age book about a boy who happens to be trans, this isn't it. This book is dark, sad, and heavy, and I would tell anyone who wants to read it to know that beforehand.
TW: dysphoria, transphobia, homophobia, deadnaming, bullying, use of slurs, suicidal thoughts, public outing
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming, Hate crime, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Transphobia, and Violence