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Stay Gold
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Debut author Tobly McSmith delivers a coming-of-age teen love story about a transgender boy who’s going stealth at his new Texas high school and a cisgender girl who is drawn to him, even as she’s counting down the days until graduation. Perfect for fans of David Levithan, Becky Albertalli, and Jenny Han.
Pony just wants to fly under the radar during senior year. Tired from ...more
Pony just wants to fly under the radar during senior year. Tired from ...more
ebook, 368 pages
Published
May 26th 2020
by HarperTeen
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Jul 23, 2020
Chelsea (chelseadolling reads)
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
queer
This was NOT an easy read, but wow, did I love it. If you're considering reading this one, please keep in mind that this is a heavy book that includes a lot of potentially triggering material.
TW: dysphoria, transphobia, homophobia, dead naming, bullying, cheating, use of slurs, alcoholism, suicidal thoughts, self harm, public outing, death of a loved one ...more
TW: dysphoria, transphobia, homophobia, dead naming, bullying, cheating, use of slurs, alcoholism, suicidal thoughts, self harm, public outing, death of a loved one ...more

oh man i have so many conflicting feelings about this book.
it was so nice to read a book about a trans dude. there really isn't enough representation out there, but, i gotta say, this was pretty much the boy version of If I Was Your Girl. plotwise it was so similar.
the first chapter from pony's pov was a lot of info dumping on what being transgender is for him, it felt a little stiff, but thankfully pony's pov became a lot more casual and i ended up really liking him. it was really cute experie ...more
it was so nice to read a book about a trans dude. there really isn't enough representation out there, but, i gotta say, this was pretty much the boy version of If I Was Your Girl. plotwise it was so similar.
the first chapter from pony's pov was a lot of info dumping on what being transgender is for him, it felt a little stiff, but thankfully pony's pov became a lot more casual and i ended up really liking him. it was really cute experie ...more

4.5 stars
I am so surprised by how much I loved this. I listened to this audiobook and I finished it within two days, I couldn't stop listening to it. This is one of the best young adult books I've read in a long time. I absolutely adore Pony and all the characters in this book. But just know going into this that this is not a fluffy sweet contemporary book, this book gets very dark and sad and hard to read at times. Here is a list of some of the trigger warnings for this book: dysphoria, transph ...more
I am so surprised by how much I loved this. I listened to this audiobook and I finished it within two days, I couldn't stop listening to it. This is one of the best young adult books I've read in a long time. I absolutely adore Pony and all the characters in this book. But just know going into this that this is not a fluffy sweet contemporary book, this book gets very dark and sad and hard to read at times. Here is a list of some of the trigger warnings for this book: dysphoria, transph ...more

❝ Stay gold, Pony. The world needs you. Stay gold when it’s hard. When it’s lonely. When it’s scary. Especially when it’s scary ❞
When I heard about this book from the publisher, I was pretty excited. It was pitched as a contemporary romance, comparable to ‘To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before’, which is a series I adore. I was expecting a sweet, fluffy romance between the new boy, Pony, who is trans and a popular cheerleader at his school called Georgia. This is what this book is … and it also ...more

10/14/19
"Stay Gold" ? "Pony" ? THE OUTSIDERS, anyone? Hello???? ...more
"Stay Gold" ? "Pony" ? THE OUTSIDERS, anyone? Hello???? ...more

This book is actually very traumatic to read. It's being comped to "Jenny Han and Becky Albertalli" and I think that marketing is a huge disservice to it. Yes, it has some cute highschool/first love moments -- but it is truly the story of a trans teen going stealth in highschool and the abuse, dysphoria, misgendering, and diminishing experiences Pony goes through the entire time. I definitely think there is a need for #ownvoices authors to write their pain! So I don't not recommend this book. I
...more

Apr 21, 2020
Virginia Ronan ♥ Herondale ♥
marked it as to-read
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
young-adult,
lgbtq
Raise your hand if the first thing that came to your mind was:
"Stay gold, Ponyboy... Stay gold..." *sobs*
I love the cover and the plot idea so I'm really looking forward for this book to come out! =)
The best way to find love is when it unexpectedly bites you into your butt. ;-P ...more
"Stay gold, Ponyboy... Stay gold..." *sobs*
I love the cover and the plot idea so I'm really looking forward for this book to come out! =)
The best way to find love is when it unexpectedly bites you into your butt. ;-P ...more

okay, I very rarely do these trigger warnings but since this book is marketed as similar to To All the Boys I've Loved Before and said to be all fun and games, I feel like there need to be trigger warnings so people don't go into this blindly.
Trigger warnings for:
+ casual aphobia
+ lesbophobia in every other chapter, ranging from actual insults "scissor sisters" to internalized lesbophobia and pretending it is the worst thing that someone can be, also the involuntary outing of two lesbians in fro ...more
Trigger warnings for:
+ casual aphobia
+ lesbophobia in every other chapter, ranging from actual insults "scissor sisters" to internalized lesbophobia and pretending it is the worst thing that someone can be, also the involuntary outing of two lesbians in fro ...more

The more I've thought about this book, the less I feel like it's a round up book for me. There are aspects of I don't like at all and think has a bad message. Also, the marketing is insane around this book because this is NOT a happy little romantic book. It's very triggering.
I received an ARC through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review!
CW: outing, terminal illness, physical assault, bathroom harassment, transphobia, homophobia, using slurs such as "tranny" and "lesbos", pressuring someon ...more
I received an ARC through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review!
CW: outing, terminal illness, physical assault, bathroom harassment, transphobia, homophobia, using slurs such as "tranny" and "lesbos", pressuring someon ...more

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 Agenda and 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 ...more
First, a fact: this book is definitely not advertised correctly.
Stay Gold is compared to books like Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda and 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 ...more

Being true to yourself may be the hardest thing to do, but it’s the only thing. That's the message at the core of Tobly McSmith's
Stay Gold
.
As a military kid, Pony knows about starting over all too well. Since things at his last school went a little off the rails when it was revealed that he was transgender, for his senior year at a new high school he’s determined things will be different. This time he’s decided simply to pass as a guy and not tell anyone the truth. No one in his life thinks ...more
As a military kid, Pony knows about starting over all too well. Since things at his last school went a little off the rails when it was revealed that he was transgender, for his senior year at a new high school he’s determined things will be different. This time he’s decided simply to pass as a guy and not tell anyone the truth. No one in his life thinks ...more

I spent too many hours thinking about whether I should give this one or two stars. Turns out I'd be too nice if I gave it two stars. All the things I enjoyed about this were brutally canceled by the things I hated. I was so excited about this book when I found out it had a transgender mc and it ended up being my biggest disappointment of the year so far.
First off, the pros: the cover. That was the only thing I liked.
The cons: oh boy, I don't even know what I should start with. (view spoiler) ...more
First off, the pros: the cover. That was the only thing I liked.
The cons: oh boy, I don't even know what I should start with. (view spoiler) ...more

I went into this book expecting it to be a typical romcom setup, and I think that after walking away that's mostly what I got.
The story is told in altering perspectives of our two love interests, Pony and Georgia, chronically Pony's first semester at his new school and his romance with Georgia. I think that McSmith did a really good job of setting up the romance and then keeping the characters apart. Pony is a character that I'm going to think about for the rest of the year.
I don't have a lot to ...more
The story is told in altering perspectives of our two love interests, Pony and Georgia, chronically Pony's first semester at his new school and his romance with Georgia. I think that McSmith did a really good job of setting up the romance and then keeping the characters apart. Pony is a character that I'm going to think about for the rest of the year.
I don't have a lot to ...more

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.

STAY GOLD, PONY BOY. STAY GOLD

YEP! Another YA that had me crying at the end and it was so beautiful and so honest!
Pony is a trans youth who wants to be seen for who he is and not what he isn’t. But high schoolers can be cruel. So he’s starting fresh at a new school hoping to forge relationships based on his character and not just the labels that are placed on him.

Friends... listen to meeeeee: you need to read this! 👏🏽 This is such a special story. It’s one of love, courage, and belonging. But it ...more

YEP! Another YA that had me crying at the end and it was so beautiful and so honest!
Pony is a trans youth who wants to be seen for who he is and not what he isn’t. But high schoolers can be cruel. So he’s starting fresh at a new school hoping to forge relationships based on his character and not just the labels that are placed on him.

Friends... listen to meeeeee: you need to read this! 👏🏽 This is such a special story. It’s one of love, courage, and belonging. But it ...more

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.

Oct 02, 2020
Lyn❤Loves❤Listening #AUDIOBOOKADDICT
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Audio - 5 Stars
Story - 3.5 Stars
This was too YA for me, but there were some really great parts that made it worth finishing.
Story - 3.5 Stars
This was too YA for me, but there were some really great parts that made it worth finishing.

Novel Trigger Warnings: (view spoiler)
Summarized blurb:
Pony is the new guy at his school. He also happens to be transgender. He decides not to disclose his peers though, as it would complicate everything, including ... whatever this is with his new crush, a smart and charming cheerleader named Georgia. There is more than what meets the eye in this dual-perspective YA novel about what it means to be t ...more
Summarized blurb:
Pony is the new guy at his school. He also happens to be transgender. He decides not to disclose his peers though, as it would complicate everything, including ... whatever this is with his new crush, a smart and charming cheerleader named Georgia. There is more than what meets the eye in this dual-perspective YA novel about what it means to be t ...more

So...I've enjoyed the 111 pages of this book I've read, but I just learned that there's self harm and suicidal thoughts later on in the book, and I can't handle that dark stuff right now.
DNF. Not the book's fault, but I'm trying to read more lighthearted books. However, I do think this is an important book to read, so I'll return to it someday. ...more
DNF. Not the book's fault, but I'm trying to read more lighthearted books. However, I do think this is an important book to read, so I'll return to it someday. ...more

3.5-4 stars
This book felt like a typical YA contemporary romance with a realistic look at a transman’s journey. It’s so nice reading a book like this because it helps trans representation, gives statistics, and gives us a way to support them become who they were meant to be. Everyone should be able to find a book they feel represents themselves and feel like any other “normal” person. Not every journey looks like what’s in the book but sadly some do have to face all these things at once. It’s so ...more
This book felt like a typical YA contemporary romance with a realistic look at a transman’s journey. It’s so nice reading a book like this because it helps trans representation, gives statistics, and gives us a way to support them become who they were meant to be. Everyone should be able to find a book they feel represents themselves and feel like any other “normal” person. Not every journey looks like what’s in the book but sadly some do have to face all these things at once. It’s so ...more

The fact that I was expecting a cute rom-com when I picked this up and it turned into a big firey mess of trans and queerphobia was such an unpleasant suprise. But sure, as an issue book, it's pretty realistic, but shit there's so much transphobia and overall queerphobia that never gets challenged that it still makes me feel bad now, weeks later.
l really wanna throw all the people in this book in the trash except Pony himself and his sister, cause they were all absolutely awful. Max esepcially ...more
l really wanna throw all the people in this book in the trash except Pony himself and his sister, cause they were all absolutely awful. Max esepcially ...more

note : this is an ownvoices novel for transgender rep.
tw : deadnaming & misgendering of trans character, on-page physical and sexual assault, contemplation of suicide, on-page outing, use of slurs against trans and lesbian characters, homophobia, harassment.
rep :
🏳️🌈 trans mc
🏳️🌈 side lesbian character
🏳️🌈 side bisexual / pansexual characters
🏳️🌈 side trans character
🏳️🌈 side minor ( off - page ) polyamorous relationship
*
S T A Y G O L D
i'm extremely conflicted about this book.
on the one hand ...more
tw : deadnaming & misgendering of trans character, on-page physical and sexual assault, contemplation of suicide, on-page outing, use of slurs against trans and lesbian characters, homophobia, harassment.
rep :
🏳️🌈 trans mc
🏳️🌈 side lesbian character
🏳️🌈 side bisexual / pansexual characters
🏳️🌈 side trans character
🏳️🌈 side minor ( off - page ) polyamorous relationship
*
S T A Y G O L D
i'm extremely conflicted about this book.
on the one hand ...more

Wow! Little did I know going into this book that it would have such a huge impact on my soul. Stay Gold deserves all the stars... it had me feeling every single emotion - a true roller coaster ride!
Thank you SO much Tobly for this powerful story!
Trigger warnings: violence/hate crime, suicidal thoughts, gender dysphoria, homophobia, transphobia.
Thank you SO much Tobly for this powerful story!
Trigger warnings: violence/hate crime, suicidal thoughts, gender dysphoria, homophobia, transphobia.

I didn’t love the way this was written at the beginning, it was a little cheesy, but it did get better throughout and I did get used to it. But the first-person addressing the reader style isn’t a favourite of mine. At times it made scenes and monologues feel info dumpy and as though I as the reader was getting educated and lectured to. It was almost like a guide for anyone who doesn’t know what it’s like to be a trans teen. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing but it felt stilted to read and mad
...more

A sweet, realistic romance and some thought-provoking exploration of what it means to be "out and proud" as a trans person in an unwelcoming culture. There were moments of YA wish-fulfillment overload, but Stay Gold was on the whole a fantastic read.
...more

Jun 30, 2020
Jane (whatjanereads)
added it
DNF @ 50%
TW: Homophobia, Transphobia, (almost) deadnaming, constant misgendering
(I think this book can be super triggering for many, so maybe keep that in mind before starting it. This is not your cute, fluffy romance.)
A transphobic loveinterest and homophobic friends, that use homophobic slurs all the time.
Parents and strangers constantly misgendering.
Nobody is ever called out on it.
Also to equal not telling everybody you’re trans with lying....(I was so mad at this!).
Sounds great?
Not to me.
I ...more
TW: Homophobia, Transphobia, (almost) deadnaming, constant misgendering
(I think this book can be super triggering for many, so maybe keep that in mind before starting it. This is not your cute, fluffy romance.)
A transphobic loveinterest and homophobic friends, that use homophobic slurs all the time.
Parents and strangers constantly misgendering.
Nobody is ever called out on it.
Also to equal not telling everybody you’re trans with lying....(I was so mad at this!).
Sounds great?
Not to me.
I ...more

"They raised daughters named Sarah and Rachel and now they have a transgender son named Pony and a unicorn named Rocky. They must wonder where it all went wrong."
I had no idea that this book would have such a profound impact on my soul. I implore everyone to read this if they get the chance.
SUMMARY
Pony sees his new school as an opportunity to hide the fact that he is transgender and enjoy his senior year in peace. But when he begins to develop feelings for Georgia, one of the cheerleaders, ...more
I had no idea that this book would have such a profound impact on my soul. I implore everyone to read this if they get the chance.
SUMMARY
Pony sees his new school as an opportunity to hide the fact that he is transgender and enjoy his senior year in peace. But when he begins to develop feelings for Georgia, one of the cheerleaders, ...more

Why did no one tell me about this sooner??!?!!?!

This book follows 2 main characters, Pony and Georgia. Pony is a trans man who has transferred to a different school so that he can pass as a cis male to avoid ridicule from his peers. Georgia is a cheerleader, and one of the most popular girls in school, so she is extremely focused on her image. However, it means that she is not being authentic or showing her true personality. When Georgia and Pony's worlds collide, Pony has to deal with revealing his identity and Georgia has to reevaluate what
...more
topics | posts | views | last activity | |
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How much did you hate the fact that Georgia knew she liked Pony but was scared!! | 1 | 6 | Nov 27, 2020 06:21PM |
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