By Christine McFaul
Assault /violence, dysphoria, transphobia, homophobia, deadnaming, bullying, cheating, use of slurs, suicidal thoughts, self-harm, public outing.
Stay Gold is a coming-of-age teen love story by debut and #ownvoices transgender author Tobly McSmith. Everything from the premise to the gorgeous cover art (which combines a graphic feel and citrusy palette to swoon-worthy result) felt modern, fresh, and fun, making it a highly anticipated read for me!
Sick of the attention he got at his old school after coming out as transgender, Pony is going stealth at his new Texas high school. Georgia is beginning to think there is more to life than the trope-y trappings of being a cheerleader and wants to lay low until graduation, a plan that includes a self-imposed dating moratorium. But when Pony and Georgia lock eyes on the first day of the semester, sparks fly, and best-laid plans quickly go by the wayside in the face of undeniable chemistry.
“Stay Cool. Stay Strong. Stay You.”
What a cover! What a tagline! What a pitch! … Unfortunately, the writing got off to a rocky start.
The reader enters the narrative on a movie set, with Pony describing his first day at Hillcrest as if it is being filmed. Rather than a catchy hook, this device feels confusing as it bounces the reader back and forth between a first-person narrator and a first-person narrator referring to himself in the third person. It creates a distancing effect, prolonging that special moment when the reader connects with the main character. From there, it continues to flounder with several information dumps that feel stiff, educational, and completely at odds with Pony’s otherwise endearing teenage voice. Luckily the dialogue, by turns snappy, sizzling, humorous, and vulnerable, proves to be a saving grace. The flow of conversation is natural and engaging, providing the perfect vehicle to carry readers through a bumpy opening and propel them into the narrative.
Once the writing finds its groove, it is easy to enjoy the story. Beginning with that first simmering look between Pony and Georgia, McSmith offers up some fun, if slightly predictable, rom-com moments (New Guy competes with Football Star to get the Girl, splashy first kiss, and an actual Love Actually riff). The romantic storyline is entertaining, but for me, the love really shines in the subplots. Here the reader finds thoughtful contemplations of what it means to love yourself, family, and found family. I was powerless to resist the unshakeable sibling bond between Pony and Rocky. Simply and perfectly summed up in this text message:
ROCKY: When your heart breaks, my heart breaks.
And don’t even get me started on the perfection that was the freeing, inclusive, and very teenage conversations around the intersection of love and sex.
“What’s sex to you?” I ask.
“A mutual exchange of bodily fluids?”
“Yes. Gross, but yes. And—connection. Mentally, spiritually, but mostly physically.”
As Pony comes of age over the course of the story, he faces rights of passage that are light, relatable, and poignant. But, as mentioned in my content warning, there are also some that weigh more heavily. Even the central message of the book to “stay gold” has a darker side as being true to yourself is equated with the act of being publicly out, even when that comes at the expense of one’s physical and mental safety. The immense pressure Pony faces to be open, as well as some of the darker motifs, have sparked discussion in the greater reviewing community, and I highly encourage you to take a look at some of the excellent #OwnVoices reviews available for this book (plenty to be found on Goodreads and Bookstagram as a starting point).
While Stay Gold is certainly not perfect, McSmith has created a main character who is impossible not to love and a story that is, ultimately, hopeful. I would recommend this book to anyone who reads the YA genre, enjoys a twisting-turning journey to a happy ending, and is informed of the potential for triggering material.
*Thank you, HarperCollins Canada, for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review