Reviews

Stay Gold by Tobly McSmith

grace_koalateareads's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative 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? Yes

3.5

“We can’t change those people’s minds. We just love louder and harder than they can hate.”

Stay Gold by Tobly McSmith was a difficult  yet important read. The story is split into Pony’s (a trans boy) and Georgia’s (a cis girl) point of view. Both are seniors at a Texas high school just outside of Dallas. For Pony it’s all about going “stealth” and just being a normal guy, for Georgia it’s about cheerleading and being the person people expect her to be. I loved both of them so much, they had great personalities and felt real and genuine. I loved the puns, the banter and the deep and meaningful conversations. 

“When the school treats trans students like they’re different, it gives the green light for the other kids to do the same, but kids are way meaner.”

The side characters were where my discomfort started, especially with Max, Pony’s “out and proud” best friend, who came across very “black and white” and wanting him to share things on social media that made him feel uncomfortable. I know the ending sort of cleared those things up, but it felt too rushed and too shiny (or gold, if you will) like it wasn’t real.  Being “out and proud” is great, it’s awesome, but not if it isn’t safe to do so. It also made me uncomfortable with the amount of trans and queer slurs, especially as they didn’t need to be written down to get the point across.

“Some days, I barely think about being trans. And other days, it’s an obstacle course.”

Don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy the book, just not as much as I was expecting. A lot of really heavy topics were covered, such as transphobia, misgendering and forced outting - these weren’t the reason for my lower rating, but more how they were handled/written especially when a character was the one causing said topics. I was definitely hooked and finished the book in just over a day. It’s one that I think a lot of people, who don’t understand what being trans means, should read, however, overall it just made me feel drained.

“I raise my glass in toast and say (but not too loudly, “Here’s to being trans in Texas.””

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia, Violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Toxic friendship, Dysphoria, Suicidal thoughts, Outing, Emotional abuse, and Deadnaming

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Lesbophobia, Injury/Injury detail, and Bullying

Minor: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Body shaming, Medical content, Vomit, Drug use, and Grief

kfolezzz's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective fast-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

3.5

this was such a cheesy rom com, but trans kids DESERVE cheesy rom coms! i liked the characters so much i could even forgive the lead for naming himself “pony” 

it kind of read like a millennial trying to relate to youths (which it is), and i’m not sure it will *actually* relate to them because of how fast trends change. but also, who cares? if this book can be there for anyone at any stage in their life, it’s a win.  

stopthesun's review

4.0

[b:Stay Gold|45306326|Stay Gold|Tobly McSmith|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1570196048l/45306326._SY75_.jpg|70033346] is a tough book. It tells the story of Pony and Georgia as they struggle to share who they are with others. They each have a secret: Pony that he's transgender and Georgia that she likes to write (cheerleaders are apparently not allowed to have other hobbies?).

I have everything I wanted but nothing I want. What else have I lost because I've been worried about what people think of me?

Warnings for

Spoiler

Violence, Bullying, Assault & Hate Crimes, Transphobia, Homophobia, Slurs, Gender Dysphoria, Forced Outing, Dead Naming, Mis-Pronouning, Suicidal Ideation

Things I Liked:

The Banter: Pony and Georgia usually had some cute banter going and it made their positive moments really fun.

The Representation: This book puts a lot into sharing the experience of being transgender. Pony's experiences aren't just thought about or explained to other characters, they're shown in events ranging from bathroom confrontations

Spoiler

(both benign and horrifically violent)

to making friends to being misgendered by strangers.

The Acceptance Struggle: I don't mean to say I liked that acceptance was a struggle, just that it felt realistic. As an underrepresented aspect of humanity, I think it's good that McSmith gives us an (unfortunately) all too real look at how loved ones can struggle to accept us.

Pony's Dad, specifically, is ruthlessly and intentionally transphobic throughout the book. We're assured by Pony's Mom that Dad just loves Pony, but it really doesn't seem that way.

Spoiler

Later, we get to see him change a little, and it's revealed that he thought he was doing the right thing. And like, as horrible as that is, there really are people out there who think the way he does.

Spoiler

Georiga also struggles to accept Pony. Even though she only ever thinks of Pony as a guy, Georgia shows us another version of a loved one not being accepting. She's too worried about what people will think if they find out they're dating, so she just wants to be friends. She asks some incentive questions and repeatedly tries to uncover his deadname. But it's hard to hate her because she's misguided and does try to do better.

Things I Really Didn't Like:

Their Friends: They each had a friend that generally sucked? And I can't even say their friends had good intentions because their intentions were never about Georiga or Pony.

Georiga's friend Mia was horrible. She put everyone down constantly and had all these cheerleader rules that basically amounted to her making everyone do what she wanted. And she makes some pretty heinous comments and declarations that are ultimately brushed under the rug because that's just "how she is."

Pony's friend Max pissed me off the most. It seemed like he existed just to be pushy and insensitive about Pony's situation and feelings. At one point Max even

Spoiler

ghosts Pony because he doesn't want to post a fundraiser link for fear it might out him at school

. And that leads me to the thing that I disliked the most:


The Message(?): I think the message was supposed to be something like, "Be true to yourself and follow your heart" but instead came out more like, "Be honest about who you are or else."

You must, at all times and for everyone, be exactly who you are regardless of your wants, needs, or situation.

And this applies to both Georgia and Pony. The difference between the two is that Georiga didn't want to date Pony or admit that she likes writing because she was worried about her image. And those are average, dumb teen things that everyone eventually learns are not bad things and are fine.

But Pony. Pony wants to be seen as and treated like a regular guy. He shouldn't have to be out if he doesn't want to be. Especially since being out as transgender in southern small-town America can be extremely dangerous. But his two biggest supporters both repeatedly tell him that he should be out at school; one of them even stops talking to him for a while.

Spoiler

And then two guys beat the hell out of Pony! and he's in the hospital and contemplating suicide! and can't wear a binder anymore! and Max goes "oops"! and then they're still friends!

It's admittedly only a real issue when Max is around. But still. I don't know. It didn't sit right with me.


But clearly, I still liked the book. I liked seeing Georgia and Pony's individual development and their relationship. And the issue with the message is kind of dealt with at the end.

bookswithmaddi's review against another edition

3.0

*3.5

sofiireads's review

1.5

nobody in this book was likeable. i hated how every character was written because it showed exactly how out of touch the author is with gen z
and of course this was going to suck: the main character is called pony

jdk_andes's review against another edition

2.0

Though this book has some important representation, it falters in nearly every other way. This is a standard contemporary YA book, complete with the same recycled plots, characters, and mediocre prose which has come to define the genre. Nothing in this story is particularly new, following well-trodden clichés without subversion or self-awareness. It ticks all the boxes: new kid in school, artsy kid who can't choose between their passions, star-crossed crushes in different cliques, older siblings living in the "big city," older mentor who has nothing to do with the rest of the plot, tearful confession at the prom, and a convenient ending which perfunctorily resolves all the conflicts.

McSmith sticks to the "tell don't show" rule, instead of doing the work of building the world and characters. And this book indulges in over-explaining everything from character identities to pop-culture references to the functions of an iPhone. This book will likely mean a lot to some people, thanks to its representation. But for anyone who has read a YA novel before, this will feel derivative.

freja_ts's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful reflective tense medium-paced

3.5

gladiatorfox's review against another edition

3.0

So wonderful to read a trans rep book! It was cute, corny, cheesy n absolutely dramatic at times. I did have a problem with how Pony n Georgia were obsessed with each other from the first moment but I guess that's how teenagers feel n we've all been there but I just couldn't get on with the whole love story. I did however like the characters individually. I felt like the author could've done so much more with the book and the characters, give them a lil more depth. And the ending felt too perfectly tied up with a ribbon on top. It was nice to read such a happy ending but just a tad bit too much towards the last few pages. It does have quite a few trigger warnings, so please look them up. Overall a nice read, we need more of such books.

jessicadoom's review

3.0

I am conflicted on this book. I appreciate the fact that it's an own stories book about a trans boy. And I know I can't comment on an experience that wasn't mine. However, I feel like this novel sort of perpetuated some of those harmful tropes that leave me wishing for more. The bashing, the exposure of the concealed body, the idea that there's one way to be proud of who you are.

I liked the character of Pony and believe that most of his experience was well written. I can't honestly say I fault him for striving to go stealth, even if I do resent him for not sticking up for his community while doing so. At the same time, I can identify with his friend for wishing he would do more with his new life.

The part that bugged me the most was his strive to be with Georgia who...was kind of a shitty person? And he could very much see that in what she said to him several times. But still, he wanted so much to be with her and then in the end, she changed her mind and everything was suddenly okay? It hurts my heart to see that.

Lastly, I'm not sure the job for Ted London really added much to the story. I feel like it could have tied in a little better.

Overall, I do get where the author was going and I can appreciate the characters and how things turned out in the end. However, I wish we could find ways to focus on these trans experiences without the violence and need for shame.

calliledoux's review

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

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

4.25