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A review by laurenlanz
Stay Gold by Tobly McSmith
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
This was a seriously great book about a transgender teen trying to blend in. I couldn't help thinking about the protagonist's struggles, and if/how they stemmed back to the author's life.
First, a fact: this book is definitely not advertised correctly.
Stay Gold is compared to books like Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agendaand To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before in it’s synopsis, which couldn’t be more off. These comparisons make the book sound like a rom-com of sorts.
In reality, Stay Gold deals with several heavy and potentially triggering topics. It is a portrayal of what trans teens experience far too often, told by a trans author.
Now that that’s out of the way, here's for the plot.
~★~ What is this book about? ~★~
Pony just moved schools, and this time, he’s trying to blend in. Unlike at his old school, no one knows he’s transgender here, and Pony intends to keep it that way. It isn’t long before Pony falls for Georgia, a cute cheerleader that’s become his good friend. The only problem is that Pony can’t bring himself to tell her he’s trangender. He’s not prepared to face her reaction for fear that it might ruin everything.
~★~
It wasn’t long before I became glued to this story; Pony was a compelling and gripping narrator with a voice one can’t help but grow fond of. It was disheartening to read about some of the experiences Pony faced, though it was also a great window into the very real discrimination so many face. Georgia’s character growth was executed really well. High schoolers are still young and often have trouble figuring themselves out completely, which was reflected clearly in her character. It was nice to see her mindset change over the course of the book.
Tobly McSmith’s writing wasn’t anything outstanding, though to be fair most contemporaries don’t usually wow me in this sense. I enjoyed Pony’s stream of consciousness, though objectively there wasn’t anything unique about the articulation if that makes sense.
I would recommend this book to many, though be sure to keep the trigger warnings in mind before reading. This isn’t a light story, but it’s one with a message that pays off.
First, a fact: this book is definitely not advertised correctly.
Stay Gold is compared to books like Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agendaand To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before in it’s synopsis, which couldn’t be more off. These comparisons make the book sound like a rom-com of sorts.
In reality, Stay Gold deals with several heavy and potentially triggering topics. It is a portrayal of what trans teens experience far too often, told by a trans author.
Now that that’s out of the way, here's for the plot.
~★~ What is this book about? ~★~
Pony just moved schools, and this time, he’s trying to blend in. Unlike at his old school, no one knows he’s transgender here, and Pony intends to keep it that way. It isn’t long before Pony falls for Georgia, a cute cheerleader that’s become his good friend. The only problem is that Pony can’t bring himself to tell her he’s trangender. He’s not prepared to face her reaction for fear that it might ruin everything.
~★~
It wasn’t long before I became glued to this story; Pony was a compelling and gripping narrator with a voice one can’t help but grow fond of. It was disheartening to read about some of the experiences Pony faced, though it was also a great window into the very real discrimination so many face. Georgia’s character growth was executed really well. High schoolers are still young and often have trouble figuring themselves out completely, which was reflected clearly in her character. It was nice to see her mindset change over the course of the book.
Tobly McSmith’s writing wasn’t anything outstanding, though to be fair most contemporaries don’t usually wow me in this sense. I enjoyed Pony’s stream of consciousness, though objectively there wasn’t anything unique about the articulation if that makes sense.
I would recommend this book to many, though be sure to keep the trigger warnings in mind before reading. This isn’t a light story, but it’s one with a message that pays off.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Hate crime, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Transphobia