There are a lot of instances of others hiding who they are. It was a major theme within this book. It was quite believable how each character would want to hide this aspect of themselves, whether out of fear for their well being or worry over damaging the image or the social standing they have created. Georgia's character hides her desire to be a writer, so she does not harm her popularity. However, this could destroy her chances of going to a college for journalism, denying herself the future she longs for. Her character growth throughout was a stand out. She never treated Pony as anyone other than who he was, even when she was questioning her being in a relationship with him after finding out he was transgender. She has a lot of realizations and starts to focus more on herself, her dreams and her beliefs and less on what other people will think of her. Pony's pain is so tangible, and the descriptions about how he feels in his body resonate with anyone who has ever felt out of place within their skin. Unfortunately, for Pony it is an every day issue that he hopes to correct with top surgery. This book taught me so much about transgender youth, about their pain, their suffering, the treatment they receive from others who do not understand their need to be who they really are. But, while we may see how awful it is for transgender youth, we also experience some of the love and acceptance that Pony experiences. *Spoiler warning* the ending is a little corny, but I think it needed to be. After dealing with all the traumatic experiences, the mention of suicide (and how prevalent it is for transgender youth), and death/loss, a happy ending was necessary. Before going in to this novel be aware that this book deals with a lot of heavy subjects, but it handles them so well and sheds light on a subject not often written about. Stay gold, Pony!
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