Scan barcode
inkwell_god's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
5.0
First book to make me cry in about 7 years.
rinorsomething's review
3.0
I really wanted to rate this higher. Georgia spent so much of the book being ignorant, self obsessed, and unsympathetic. After Homecoming, she has this miraculous change of heart that was obviously supposed to be more meaningful than I found it, especially given that she immediately (and pretty successfully) makes everything from that point on about her. Her article, facing off with Pony’s dad, the grand display at the very end, she made certain to put herself at the center of it all to show off how Educated she suddenly is.
Also! The implication that Pony is lying to or deceiving people by choosing not to come out? Perpetrated by multiple characters? No thank you.
Also! The implication that Pony is lying to or deceiving people by choosing not to come out? Perpetrated by multiple characters? No thank you.
ifflandm's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
slow-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
nightlight_reader's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Some of the side characters in this are a bit unbearable, and this book feels like it gets really dark out of nowhere with very little warning.
Otherwise, I loved Pony and Georgia. Georgia was such a fun and light character who complemented Pony’s serious tone so well, and when you put them together, it’s really magical.
Otherwise, I loved Pony and Georgia. Georgia was such a fun and light character who complemented Pony’s serious tone so well, and when you put them together, it’s really magical.
jayraams's review against another edition
4.0
The ending is cheesy but the story is real and doesn't shy away from the truth about being trans. Trigger warning there is a hate crime in the story. The message about staying golden is so real. I loved this book and if you are looking for a teen rom-com mixed with a bit of drama this is the book.
eileenrwerst's review
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
sweetrosegirl76's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 I don't think I would reread this book and it wasn't bad but it wasn't something exceptionally amazing where I was on the hook the entire time. I found myself getting really frustrated for Pony and really sad. I think that this story is definitely a more normal one. A more common experience. Lately I've been in the mood for queer books that celebrate queer joy, that kind of let me forget about the real world and homophobia and transphobia. This book is not necessarily an escape from all those things which is maybe why I didn't like it that much because it's not something I was in the mood for but still a good book still a good story and very representative of a more common trans youth experience. Especially of someone who lives in Texas. Which reminds me that I need to order my Don't Mess with Trans Kids Texas t-shirt.
This book can be triggering as there is dead naming, trans violence, misgendering, transphobia, being publicly outed.
The one thing I would say I did not like or appreciate was that they didn't really acknowledge Pony's feelings. Pony is not obligated to come out. Him not coming out doesn't mean that he's lying. It doesn't mean that he's hiding. It doesn't mean that he's manipulating and betraying someone's trust. It doesn't mean that he is misleading someone. He and every trans and queer kid have the right to come out on their own terms and should not be made to feel guilty for not doing so. That was not explicitly stated in the book and I don't like the narrative for youth to be reading this and to not know the truth: that there is no bad thing associated with being in the closet. You come out when you're ready and only then, not because someone is telling you that you're lying. You come out when it's safe for you to do so on your terms. If it doesn't feel safe, then it's entirely your prerogative with what to do with your own journey and story. No one should be manipulating anyone to come out for the movement for visibility for Trans rights. You do not owe any organization any person any movement your mental health and physical, spiritual, emotional well-being. Coming out is on your terms and no one should be gaslit into doing it for the "greater good."
So I read this book via audiobook. The chapters were a bit long in the beginning for me to physically read it so I prefer to do the audio. But I could not listen to it at 1.2x speed I had to list it at normal speed which I have not really ever done. I mostly listen to books a little bit faster. This book was a little bit hard to pay attention to sometimes I wish I could explain why but it was easy to zone out while listening to the audiobook. Maybe it was the voice actors. That being said it was not a bad book at all!
This book can be triggering as there is dead naming, trans violence, misgendering, transphobia, being publicly outed.
The one thing I would say I did not like or appreciate was that they didn't really acknowledge Pony's feelings. Pony is not obligated to come out. Him not coming out doesn't mean that he's lying. It doesn't mean that he's hiding. It doesn't mean that he's manipulating and betraying someone's trust. It doesn't mean that he is misleading someone. He and every trans and queer kid have the right to come out on their own terms and should not be made to feel guilty for not doing so. That was not explicitly stated in the book and I don't like the narrative for youth to be reading this and to not know the truth: that there is no bad thing associated with being in the closet. You come out when you're ready and only then, not because someone is telling you that you're lying. You come out when it's safe for you to do so on your terms. If it doesn't feel safe, then it's entirely your prerogative with what to do with your own journey and story. No one should be manipulating anyone to come out for the movement for visibility for Trans rights. You do not owe any organization any person any movement your mental health and physical, spiritual, emotional well-being. Coming out is on your terms and no one should be gaslit into doing it for the "greater good."
So I read this book via audiobook. The chapters were a bit long in the beginning for me to physically read it so I prefer to do the audio. But I could not listen to it at 1.2x speed I had to list it at normal speed which I have not really ever done. I mostly listen to books a little bit faster. This book was a little bit hard to pay attention to sometimes I wish I could explain why but it was easy to zone out while listening to the audiobook. Maybe it was the voice actors. That being said it was not a bad book at all!
readingwithkaitlyn's review against another edition
challenging
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Deadnaming, Toxic friendship, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Misogyny, Hate crime, Body shaming, Dysphoria, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Lesbophobia, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Outing, and Transphobia
Moderate: Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Death, and Medical content
Minor: Child death, Alcoholism, Suicide, Physical abuse, Self harm, Murder, Excrement, Sexual content, Biphobia, Fire/Fire injury, Death, and Vomit
use of f slurmadelinearcaro's review against another edition
2.0
definitely read like trauma porn. very glad the survivor maryland book club did not decide to read this.
studio_rat04's review
2.25
So first of all this portrayed the idea of being out as trans as more important than safety because it fights against transphobia and helps spread awareness, as though every trans person is an activist, which only furthers transphobic narratives and ignores the fact that people are often in the closet or go stealth for safety reasons, not self-hating reasons. Like the main character gets hate crimed and is pressured by his friend to come out and post on his social media about trans suicide rates and is guilted into coming out to protect others because it's meant to show they don't care what people think. But the issue is that these things DO matter beyond just people being judgemental, again he literally get's hospitalized for being trans. I don't get it like this was so close to getting the message across well and yet kept missing depsite ACKNOWLEDGING the reason why it's flawed by depicting an on page hate crime. Also the dad suddenly being cool with Pony just because Georgia showed him a some Trevor Project stat on trans suicide rates and funding his top surgery was laughably unrealistic. In fact everyone randomly overcoming their homophobia was incredibly cartoonish.
By the way, this is an Outsiders retelling and my favorite part is that he tries to be stealth and not draw any attention to himself yet he chooses the name Pony and when people joke about that name he think's it's because they know he's trans when really it's because no cis guy is named Pony. Also I want everyone to know this book has a plot relevant lesbian furry. Was it bad from every thematic perspective, yes. Could a trans retelling of the Outsiders be good? Absolutely! Was this that good retelling of the outsiders, nope! But like it had some good moments and again the name took me out, it was also a fun read so ya.
By the way, this is an Outsiders retelling and my favorite part is that he tries to be stealth and not draw any attention to himself yet he chooses the name Pony and when people joke about that name he think's it's because they know he's trans when really it's because no cis guy is named Pony. Also I want everyone to know this book has a plot relevant lesbian furry. Was it bad from every thematic perspective, yes. Could a trans retelling of the Outsiders be good? Absolutely! Was this that good retelling of the outsiders, nope! But like it had some good moments and again the name took me out, it was also a fun read so ya.