Stay Gold

by Tobly McSmith

Overview

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 plans to fly under the radar this year. Tired of getting too much attention at his old school after coming out as transgender, he’s hoping for a fresh start as a Hillcrest High senior. But it’s hard to live your best life with the threat of exposure lurking around every corner.

Georgia is beginning to think there’s more to life than cheerleading. She just wants to keep a low profile until graduation . . . which is why she promised herself that dating is a nonstarter for the foreseeable future.

Then, on the very first day of classes, the new guy and the cheerleader lock eyes…

In this moving, honest debut from Tobly McSmith, one transformative relationship opens the eyes of a whole town—and opens the door for Pony and Georgia to celebrate their truths, even when it feels hard.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062943194
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	04/16/2024
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	361
File size:	1 MB
Age Range:	14 - 17 Years

About the Author

Tobly McSmith is the co-creator/writer of seven somewhat successful musical parodies, including Friends! The Musical Parody. Tobly was born in Texas. He now lives in New York City with his two cats, Buster and Bananas McSmith. Tobly is proud to be transgender.

Editorial Reviews

04/20/2020

In theory, Vans-wearing new kid Pony should have nothing in common with popular cheerleader Georgia, but when they see each other on the first day at their Texas high school, it feels, as Georgia says, like their “eyes just made out.” They quickly become friends and maybe more, though Georgia is technically not dating at the moment, after being cheated on. But 17-year-old Pony is keeping his trans identity to himself, going stealth following “a year of too much attention” post-transition. Cisgender Georgia is struggling with her own image: bored with cheerleading and wanting to become a writer, she feels like she’s made herself into someone she no longer wishes to be. As the two grow closer and homecoming approaches, Pony is pretty sure his heart is going to be broken. Debut author McSmith, himself transgender, doesn’t soft-pedal Pony’s difficulties—his father’s lack of acceptance and the ever-present risk of prejudicial violence—but he also gives Pony and Georgia funny, flirty dialogue with a rom-com vibe. And it’s a rom-com with heart and purpose: when the traditional pranks between the football team and the cheerleaders veer into homophobic jeers, Georgia and Pony find their voices, fight for justice, honor The Outsiders (the source of Pony’s name), and maybe even find love. Ages 14–up. Agent: Tina Dubois, ICM Partners. (May)

Publishers Weekly

A necessary read that favors compassion and understanding.” — School Library Journal (starred review)

"A rom-com with heart and purpose." — Publishers Weekly

"[A] compelling #OwnVoices story that is populated by sympathetic characters." — Booklist

From the Publisher

"[A] compelling #OwnVoices story that is populated by sympathetic characters."

Booklist

"[A] compelling #OwnVoices story that is populated by sympathetic characters."

Booklist

★ 03/01/2020

Gr 9 Up—New kid Pony sees cheerleader Georgia and experiences an instant connection. Georgia feels the same spark, but they each have their secrets. Pony is transgender and hoping for a fresh start in a school where no one knows his past. Georgia hides behind fanciful stories to mask the pain of her mother leaving and the pressures of maintaining popularity. The struggle to fit in, cruel pranks, toxic masculinity, and parental pressures all play a part in this coming-of-age tale based in an affluent Texas high school. Themes of acceptance and being unapologetically who you are will resonate with readers. Georgia and Pony's playful personalities, as well as a diverse cast of supporting characters, will keep readers engaged. Multiple aspects of Pony's transgender experience are portrayed, including body dysphoria, the costs of gender affirming surgery, and both supportive and cruel friends and family. Struggles faced by the transgender community are presented in a realistic way, and inclusivity is praised without being overly preachy. The title is a reference to S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders and draws many parallels to the themes of the book. VERDICT A necessary read that favors compassion and understanding. A first choice for all high school and young adult collections.—Ashley Leffel, Griffin Middle School, Frisco, TX

School Library Journal

Narrators Theo Germaine and Phoebe Strole deliver a poignant coming-of-age romance. Pony, warmly voiced by Germaine, starts at a new high school where no one knows he’s transgender. Germaine’s enthusiastic narration adds authenticity and humor as Pony explores new friendships and develops a huge crush on cheerleader Georgia, voiced by Strole. Having sworn off dating after a rough breakup, the last thing Georgia expects is to start falling for a guy like Pony. Strole’s easygoing pace and light, youthful timbre complement Georgia’s introspectiveness as she balances her budding feelings for Pony and coming to terms with his trans identity. This emotionally charged audiobook pulls no punches while exploring trans issues. A.K.R. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine

JULY 2020 - AudioFile

Narrators Theo Germaine and Phoebe Strole deliver a poignant coming-of-age romance. Pony, warmly voiced by Germaine, starts at a new high school where no one knows he’s transgender. Germaine’s enthusiastic narration adds authenticity and humor as Pony explores new friendships and develops a huge crush on cheerleader Georgia, voiced by Strole. Having sworn off dating after a rough breakup, the last thing Georgia expects is to start falling for a guy like Pony. Strole’s easygoing pace and light, youthful timbre complement Georgia’s introspectiveness as she balances her budding feelings for Pony and coming to terms with his trans identity. This emotionally charged audiobook pulls no punches while exploring trans issues. A.K.R. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine

JULY 2020 - AudioFile

2020-02-09
A transgender boy starting over at a new school falls hard for a popular cheerleader with a reputation to protect in this debut.

On the first day of senior year, transgender boy Pony locks eyes with cisgender cheerleader Georgia. They both have pasts they want to leave behind. No one at Hillcrest High knows that Pony is transgender, and he intends to keep it that way. Georgia’s last boyfriend shook her trust in boys, and now she’s determined to forget him. As mutual attraction draws them together, Pony and Georgia must decide what they are willing to risk for a relationship. Pony’s best friend, Max, who is also transgender, disapproves of Pony’s choice to live stealth; this disagreement leads to serious conflict in their relationship. Meanwhile, Georgia and Pony behave as if Pony’s trans identity was a secret he was lying to her about rather than private information for him to share of his own volition. The characters only arrive at a hopeful resolution after Pony pays high physical and emotional prices. McSmith places repeated emphasis on the born-in-the-wrong-body narrative when the characters discuss trans identities. Whiteness is situated as the norm, and all main characters are white.

Several yards short of a touchdown. (Fiction. 14-17)

Kirkus Reviews