Scan barcode
A review by yuunoel
Stay Gold by Tobly McSmith
challenging
dark
informative
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? It's complicated
1.0
(2022/04/04 - 2022/04/04)
I'm disappointed that I didn't like this book.
*spoilers ahead*
Let me just say this, it's truly wonderful that this book has trans representation. It's very important that stories about trans people get told.
I initially picked this book up from my school library because of the stunning cover and because the title reminded me of The Outsiders. uHm yeah, that's the only part I liked.
The excerpt reads to me as a funny, light-hearted YA rom-com. I was all for it. But... it's not??? Sure there are some funny parts, but it is overpowered by all the depressing moments in this book.
Please make sure to read the trigger warnings before you read this book.
- internalized transphobia
- transphobia
- homophobia
- suicidal thoughts
- assault
- outing
and those are just a few.
One thing that really bothered me was Pony's internalized transphobia. He's always saying that if he doesn't do ___ he's not a "real man." Pony lets his "friends" make homophobic and transphobic comments just so that he could "fit in." It was utterly upsetting to read.
Because this is set in high school, there are no high stakes at all. So, it was quite frustrating that Pony and Georgia couldn't get together because they needed some sort of conflict. And because this is a high-school setting, it was bound to be cringe. Some parts I had to skip because of the cringiness. Some parts used outdated slang. Nobody in my high school says BFFs, please don't say that anymore, I beg of you. 💀💀 I also wasn't a fan of all the name-dropping. Half of the celebrities that were mentioned were completely new to me.
I really hated that in the first half of the book, everyone around Pony was pressuring him to come out to his new school. That was why I didn't like Max's character. Max is in a school where it's normal to be in the LGBTQIA+ community, whereas Pony wasn't, so seeing Max basically threaten Pony to re-share a trans kid story and essentially come out made me perturbed.
The ending was where I was the most unsatisfied. Suddenly everyone is friends now. Whole plot points were ended quickly by just one to two sentences. Pony's dad, a man who was unsupportive of Pony's decisions, terrorized and broke up the family, and was a downright abusive man, changed his mind about Pony just because he read a news article? Really? And Pony just forgave him???
Which brings me to my final point.
Nobody ever really said sorry to Pony?!?!? Georgia told Pony right to his face that she couldn't date him because he was transgender. His so-called friends made homophobic and transphobic remarks. His father was unsupportive and still called Pony by his dead name. All these things and not one said sorry? Sure, they said "That was then. This is now," or "Yeah I said some pretty shitty stuff," or "I love you, son," BUT THEY ALL DIDN'T SAY SORRY?!?! The worst part is, Pony forgave them 😠No, Pony, you deserve so much more.
sO in conclusion, I really wanted to love this book because of its representation. But I didn't. Peace ✌
- noel
I'm disappointed that I didn't like this book.
*spoilers ahead*
Let me just say this, it's truly wonderful that this book has trans representation. It's very important that stories about trans people get told.
I initially picked this book up from my school library because of the stunning cover and because the title reminded me of The Outsiders. uHm yeah, that's the only part I liked.
The excerpt reads to me as a funny, light-hearted YA rom-com. I was all for it. But... it's not??? Sure there are some funny parts, but it is overpowered by all the depressing moments in this book.
Please make sure to read the trigger warnings before you read this book.
- internalized transphobia
- transphobia
- homophobia
- suicidal thoughts
- assault
- outing
and those are just a few.
One thing that really bothered me was Pony's internalized transphobia. He's always saying that if he doesn't do ___ he's not a "real man." Pony lets his "friends" make homophobic and transphobic comments just so that he could "fit in." It was utterly upsetting to read.
Because this is set in high school, there are no high stakes at all. So, it was quite frustrating that Pony and Georgia couldn't get together because they needed some sort of conflict. And because this is a high-school setting, it was bound to be cringe. Some parts I had to skip because of the cringiness. Some parts used outdated slang. Nobody in my high school says BFFs, please don't say that anymore, I beg of you. 💀💀 I also wasn't a fan of all the name-dropping. Half of the celebrities that were mentioned were completely new to me.
I really hated that in the first half of the book, everyone around Pony was pressuring him to come out to his new school. That was why I didn't like Max's character. Max is in a school where it's normal to be in the LGBTQIA+ community, whereas Pony wasn't, so seeing Max basically threaten Pony to re-share a trans kid story and essentially come out made me perturbed.
The ending was where I was the most unsatisfied. Suddenly everyone is friends now. Whole plot points were ended quickly by just one to two sentences. Pony's dad, a man who was unsupportive of Pony's decisions, terrorized and broke up the family, and was a downright abusive man, changed his mind about Pony just because he read a news article? Really? And Pony just forgave him???
Which brings me to my final point.
Nobody ever really said sorry to Pony?!?!? Georgia told Pony right to his face that she couldn't date him because he was transgender. His so-called friends made homophobic and transphobic remarks. His father was unsupportive and still called Pony by his dead name. All these things and not one said sorry? Sure, they said "That was then. This is now," or "Yeah I said some pretty shitty stuff," or "I love you, son," BUT THEY ALL DIDN'T SAY SORRY?!?! The worst part is, Pony forgave them 😠No, Pony, you deserve so much more.
sO in conclusion, I really wanted to love this book because of its representation. But I didn't. Peace ✌
- noel
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, and Transphobia
Moderate: Lesbophobia, Outing, and Deadnaming