E-Audio, 09:19:37
Narrated by: Theo Germaine & Phoebe Strole
Release Date: May 26, 2020
Published by: HarperTeen
Read from: July 17-18, 2020
Stand-alone
Source: Library (Overdrive)
TW: Transphobia (violence, insults, & internalized), Homophobia (insults & internalized), Assault, Suicide Idealization
For fans of: Realistic Fiction, Contemporary, Romance, LGBTQIAP+, Multiple POV, #OwnVoices, YADebut 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 all the attention he got at his old school after coming out as transgender, he’s looking for a fresh start at Hillcrest High. But it’s hard to live your best life when the threat of exposure lurks down every hallway and in every bathroom.
Georgia is beginning to think there’s more to life than cheerleading. She plans on keeping a low profile until graduation…which is why she promised herself that dating was officially a no-go this year.
Then, on the very first day of school, the new guy and the cheerleader lock eyes. How is Pony supposed to stay stealth when he wants to get close to a girl like Georgia? How is Georgia supposed to keep her promise when sparks start flying with a boy like Pony?
Funny and poignant, clear-eyed and hopeful, Stay Gold is a story about finding love—and finding yourself.
*MY THOUGHTS*
This was something that I actually came across on accident. I kept seeing this pop up on different places alongside The Outsiders, and since I’ve never read that, I was a bit nervous of this because I thought it was a retelling. I’m glad I went ahead and read this anyway, because it was nothing like I was expecting.
Pony is the new boy in town. And as he walks into his new school, he locks eyes with Georgia, a cheerleader. This sounds like the beginning of a great love story. But of course like each love story, nothing is ever easy. Pony has a secret, that he’s a transgender, and Georgia has vowed not to date anyone after a terrible experience with her ex. Are they both willing to give it a shot?
This review is a little hard because like I said, I came into this blind. I didn’t get all the references to the other book, but I think that’s what I enjoyed the most. It made this book a brand new experience for me and I think that’s what made it better. I did end up looking up some of the references just so I could understand how meaningful they are. It was really just the saying and the name of Pony. So if you’re like me, you don’t have to worry about being lost when you read it.
The characters were great too. I loved being able to get into both their heads. Especially Pony, since this was an Own Voices novel. His voice was so authentic and seeing how he navigated a new school and trying to make friends while he was trying to stay stealth. It was sad that he had to do that, but I know that is something that could 100% happen. And as for Georgia, I liked her and I was happy to see her growth in this novel. I don’t think we would have seen how far she’d come without us being able to see into her head.
The writing style was the other thing I really liked. I didn’t really want to stop listening to this book. And it was weird because I had no real background with this book. I just knew that I couldn’t stop listening. This was a pleasant surprise.
This book was a surprise for me. I find myself just requesting books because I like the covers or because they seem like retellings. Sometimes they don’t work out, but sometimes, they end up a winner like this one was.
Overall, I give this
What about you? Have you read this? Have you read The Outsiders? Do you know the meaning of “Stay Gold, Ponyboy?” Let me know in the comments!