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Act Cool
A trans teen walks the fine line between doing whatever it takes for his acting dream and staying true to himself in this moving, thought-provoking YA novel from the acclaimed author of Stay Gold.
Aspiring actor August Greene just landed a coveted spot at the prestigious School of Performing Arts in New York. There’s only one His conservative parents won’t accept that he’s transgender. And to stay with his aunt in the city, August must promise them he won’t transition.
August is convinced he can play the part his parents want while acting cool and confident in the company of his talented new friends.
But who is August when the lights go down? And where will he turn when the roles start hitting a little too close to home?
Aspiring actor August Greene just landed a coveted spot at the prestigious School of Performing Arts in New York. There’s only one His conservative parents won’t accept that he’s transgender. And to stay with his aunt in the city, August must promise them he won’t transition.
August is convinced he can play the part his parents want while acting cool and confident in the company of his talented new friends.
But who is August when the lights go down? And where will he turn when the roles start hitting a little too close to home?
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 7, 2021
305 people are currently reading
12606 people want to read
About the author
Tobly McSmith
2 books472 followersTobly McSmith is the co-creator/writer of eight somewhat successful musical parodies, including Friends! The Musical Parody and The Office! The Musical Parody. Tobly was born in Texas. He now lives in New York City with his two cats, Bam-Bam and Bananas McSmith. Tobly is proud to be transgender.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 788 reviews
February 6, 2022
It's wonderful to have more transgender representation in books and especially by ownvoice authors. That being said, the main character in this book was quite an unlikeable young man. His fake personas grew annoying and the desperation to increase his following was pretty superficial. I also didn't enjoy the writing as there was simply too much 'this happened and then that happened and then I did this'. It is, however, an important story which is why I kept reading. One where a young man is not accepted by his parents as a boy and plans for conversion therapy are been hatched behind his back. I did not feel drawn into the story until about the 90% mark where there were about 20 minutes of emotional and moving writing. Overall, this was a miss for me and the content warnings need to be checked out.
CW:
CW:
October 25, 2021
I said this in another queer YA contemporary review recently that it's important for queer and trans characters to have messy love lives, or messy stories, or just be messy, because so many of those stories already exist for straight and cis-gendered content.
However, queer or not, messy doesn't always make it easy to love.
August is a trans boy who has recently run away from tinytown, Pennsylvania to not only avoid conversion therapy as a result of his religious parents rejecting his identity but also to attend a prestigious acting school in New York courtesy of his aunt's connections. Suffice it to say August is going through it. He has baggage. He's recently transitioned, come out, and he's dealing with a new city, new school, and finally being his authentic self. Sorta. But because of all that, because he's new to almost every aspect of his life, he's also changing personas the way most people change shirts. This makes August a difficult character to get a read on.
Now, listen, I get it, I'm old now but I was hip and young once. I understand the concept of having a different angle with different groups; hell, most of us still have elements of that to our personality : it's called work and home life. However.. this isn't just August at Home vs August at School. This is too many Augusts; funny guy, serious guy, acting guy, flirting guy, humble guy.. again, how am I supposed to know who I'm reading about if he's just a mask?
Eventually this does phase out when he addresses it, or rather when he gets called out of it multiple times and then addresses it, and again, so much of it is understandable. But it's also hard.
August gets caught up in the buzz and high of being well liked and successful, focusing on followers and curating his social media presence, lying about not reading the articles and posts about him, because he happens to land a starring role in his school's play and then another opportunity shortly thereafter. Naturally.. things go to his head and he becomes outright unlikeable.
Which phases into the next thing I disliked. All the lies. Again, tied into his shifting in and out of being who he thought he had to be in the moment.
Probably it's just that, as much as I could empathize for August's struggle and what he had endured, and what he was going through in general, I never liked him. Infact, the only characters I loved (yes, I did love some!) were August's aunt and his trans fairy-godmother, Juliet. A+, five stars, for both of them. Everyone else.. meh? They were just too much drama for me, not going to lie, and that probably tied into why I wasn't down for any of the various romances. Besides the fact that none of them were particularly well developed.
I have also found with previous stories that focus this much on theatre or acting just don't interest me. And there was a lot of that in this one. Not helped, too, by August assuming his way was the right way to do things despite the advice of his teachers or discussion with peers -- you know, at the prestigious school he probably didn't deserve to be at and clearly didn't respect enough -- which also does get addressed, in a rather heartbreaking way, but it was one more thing that added to the arrogance and frustration around his character.
Much of the narrative in ACT COOL is about getting transpeople other narratives that aren't necessarily defined by their being transgender, telling different and happier stories, in addition to representation in general. And then there's also the emphasis on found family and finding those who will accept you no matter what.There's a lot of great in here. I just had to sift through a lot of less great to appreciate it.
That said, if you're looking for a diverse YA contemporary, with drama and romance that does get a wee bit messy and soap opera-y, but with some heavier themes to keep it from being too frothy, you could definitely do worse than picking this one up. But if you hate theatre or Broadway.. maybe avoid.
2.5 stars
** I received an unsolicited ARC from the publisher (thank you!) and this in no way influenced my review. **
---
This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
However, queer or not, messy doesn't always make it easy to love.
August is a trans boy who has recently run away from tinytown, Pennsylvania to not only avoid conversion therapy as a result of his religious parents rejecting his identity but also to attend a prestigious acting school in New York courtesy of his aunt's connections. Suffice it to say August is going through it. He has baggage. He's recently transitioned, come out, and he's dealing with a new city, new school, and finally being his authentic self. Sorta. But because of all that, because he's new to almost every aspect of his life, he's also changing personas the way most people change shirts. This makes August a difficult character to get a read on.
Now, listen, I get it, I'm old now but I was hip and young once. I understand the concept of having a different angle with different groups; hell, most of us still have elements of that to our personality : it's called work and home life. However.. this isn't just August at Home vs August at School. This is too many Augusts; funny guy, serious guy, acting guy, flirting guy, humble guy.. again, how am I supposed to know who I'm reading about if he's just a mask?
Eventually this does phase out when he addresses it, or rather when he gets called out of it multiple times and then addresses it, and again, so much of it is understandable. But it's also hard.
August gets caught up in the buzz and high of being well liked and successful, focusing on followers and curating his social media presence, lying about not reading the articles and posts about him, because he happens to land a starring role in his school's play and then another opportunity shortly thereafter. Naturally.. things go to his head and he becomes outright unlikeable.
Which phases into the next thing I disliked. All the lies. Again, tied into his shifting in and out of being who he thought he had to be in the moment.
Probably it's just that, as much as I could empathize for August's struggle and what he had endured, and what he was going through in general, I never liked him. Infact, the only characters I loved (yes, I did love some!) were August's aunt and his trans fairy-godmother, Juliet. A+, five stars, for both of them. Everyone else.. meh? They were just too much drama for me, not going to lie, and that probably tied into why I wasn't down for any of the various romances. Besides the fact that none of them were particularly well developed.
I have also found with previous stories that focus this much on theatre or acting just don't interest me. And there was a lot of that in this one. Not helped, too, by August assuming his way was the right way to do things despite the advice of his teachers or discussion with peers -- you know, at the prestigious school he probably didn't deserve to be at and clearly didn't respect enough -- which also does get addressed, in a rather heartbreaking way, but it was one more thing that added to the arrogance and frustration around his character.
Much of the narrative in ACT COOL is about getting transpeople other narratives that aren't necessarily defined by their being transgender, telling different and happier stories, in addition to representation in general. And then there's also the emphasis on found family and finding those who will accept you no matter what.There's a lot of great in here. I just had to sift through a lot of less great to appreciate it.
That said, if you're looking for a diverse YA contemporary, with drama and romance that does get a wee bit messy and soap opera-y, but with some heavier themes to keep it from being too frothy, you could definitely do worse than picking this one up. But if you hate theatre or Broadway.. maybe avoid.
2.5 stars
** I received an unsolicited ARC from the publisher (thank you!) and this in no way influenced my review. **
---
This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
April 12, 2022
3.25/5⭐️
Niezwykle wzruszająca historia która dała mi dużo do myślenia.
Początkowo nie mogłam się wkręcić w historie. Z niewiadomych powodów nie byłam w stanie zżyć się z bohaterami i nie miałam takiego poczucia, że płynę przez książkę. Nie zmienia to jednak faktu, że estetyka i klimat teatru, występów na broadwayu i Nowego Yorku niezwykle mnie zachwycił i sprawił, że poczułam całą historie trochę bardziej.
Sytuacja w której znalazł się August była trudna i z każdym
momentem kiedy musiał udawać kogoś kim nie jest bardzo mnie zasmucała. Ostatni rozdział jednak bardzo mnie zachwycił i cieszę się z tego jak cała historia się skończyła.
Niezwykle wzruszająca historia która dała mi dużo do myślenia.
Początkowo nie mogłam się wkręcić w historie. Z niewiadomych powodów nie byłam w stanie zżyć się z bohaterami i nie miałam takiego poczucia, że płynę przez książkę. Nie zmienia to jednak faktu, że estetyka i klimat teatru, występów na broadwayu i Nowego Yorku niezwykle mnie zachwycił i sprawił, że poczułam całą historie trochę bardziej.
Sytuacja w której znalazł się August była trudna i z każdym
momentem kiedy musiał udawać kogoś kim nie jest bardzo mnie zasmucała. Ostatni rozdział jednak bardzo mnie zachwycił i cieszę się z tego jak cała historia się skończyła.
February 27, 2022
3.5
Dlaczego kocham ten tytuł?
POMYSŁ - trans chłopak ucieka od swoich religijnych rodziców, którzy chcą go "naprawić" do szkoły aktorskiej w Nowym Jorku. August zaczyna tranzycję i zamieszkuje ze swoją gay-vegan-artistic ciocią.
August jest aktorem, który przez całe życie chodził w masce dziewczyny, a teraz... Zaczyna wchodzić w role wyluzowanego, imprezującego, pilnego ucznia, klasowego klauna etc.
Jednak emocje, nawet zamaskowane, muszą wybrzmieć. Kim tak naprawdę jest August, kiedy gasną światła reflektorów?
BRZMI GENIALNE!
Niestety... MINUSY:
- postać poboczna używa zaimków they/them i przetłumaczono to na... ON/JEGO
- jest powiedziane "jest tu kilka osoba trans, ale też są jakieś tam niebinarne" - osoby niebinarne SĄ TRANS
- użyto słów "zmiana płci" (a wcześniej było "korekta", czyli poprawnie)
- słowa "zdeklarowany gej", "przyznał się do bycia gejem" nie są spoko. Wystarczy powiedzieć: wyoutowany, "wyszedł z szafy", powiedział o tym, że jest gejem
Poznałam zarówno oryginał jaki i tłumaczenie i miałam wrażenie jakby tłumaczenie nie do końca poradziło sobie z "młodzieżowym językiem" (oryginał wypada w tej kwestii super)
Chyba tyle
Przykro mi, że te błędy się pojawiły (liczę na poprawki), jednak z pewnością jest to interesująca historia warta Waszej uwagi
TW: ❗myśli sämobójcze, transf0bia, używanie martwego imienia, trāuma religijna, lëczenie transpłciöwości
Dlaczego kocham ten tytuł?
POMYSŁ - trans chłopak ucieka od swoich religijnych rodziców, którzy chcą go "naprawić" do szkoły aktorskiej w Nowym Jorku. August zaczyna tranzycję i zamieszkuje ze swoją gay-vegan-artistic ciocią.
August jest aktorem, który przez całe życie chodził w masce dziewczyny, a teraz... Zaczyna wchodzić w role wyluzowanego, imprezującego, pilnego ucznia, klasowego klauna etc.
Jednak emocje, nawet zamaskowane, muszą wybrzmieć. Kim tak naprawdę jest August, kiedy gasną światła reflektorów?
BRZMI GENIALNE!
Niestety... MINUSY:
- postać poboczna używa zaimków they/them i przetłumaczono to na... ON/JEGO
- jest powiedziane "jest tu kilka osoba trans, ale też są jakieś tam niebinarne" - osoby niebinarne SĄ TRANS
- użyto słów "zmiana płci" (a wcześniej było "korekta", czyli poprawnie)
- słowa "zdeklarowany gej", "przyznał się do bycia gejem" nie są spoko. Wystarczy powiedzieć: wyoutowany, "wyszedł z szafy", powiedział o tym, że jest gejem
Poznałam zarówno oryginał jaki i tłumaczenie i miałam wrażenie jakby tłumaczenie nie do końca poradziło sobie z "młodzieżowym językiem" (oryginał wypada w tej kwestii super)
Chyba tyle
Przykro mi, że te błędy się pojawiły (liczę na poprawki), jednak z pewnością jest to interesująca historia warta Waszej uwagi
TW: ❗myśli sämobójcze, transf0bia, używanie martwego imienia, trāuma religijna, lëczenie transpłciöwości
November 22, 2021
4.5 stars, rounded up.
If you want people to like you for who you are, it helps if you show them who you really are. That's the message behind Tobly McSmith's newest YA book, Act Cool .
August dreams of being an actor. But his evangelical parents don’t approve of his being transgender—they just think their daughter is confused—so he goes to stay with his aunt in New York, and he’s able to get an audition for the prestigious School of the Performing Arts.
His mother agrees to let him stay there as long as he promises not to continue transitioning and act like their daughter. August is convinced that he’s a good enough actor to be the person he wants to be in school and with his new friends, and still play the role his parents want him to.
Of course, when you’re playing different roles for different people, it’s hard to figure out who you really are. And the role he chooses to audition for in the school musical further blurs the lines. But who is the real August? What does he want?
This is a great story about finding yourself and your chosen family, as well as a relevant conversation about representation in acting, the question of whether any actor should be able to play any role or if specific roles should only go to actors who live that role in real life—if a trans actor should only play a trans role.
I found Act Cool fun, sweet, poignant, and very thought-provoking, as well as a little sad. I’ve now enjoyed both of Tobly McSmith’s books, including his first, Stay Gold .
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
If you want people to like you for who you are, it helps if you show them who you really are. That's the message behind Tobly McSmith's newest YA book, Act Cool .
August dreams of being an actor. But his evangelical parents don’t approve of his being transgender—they just think their daughter is confused—so he goes to stay with his aunt in New York, and he’s able to get an audition for the prestigious School of the Performing Arts.
His mother agrees to let him stay there as long as he promises not to continue transitioning and act like their daughter. August is convinced that he’s a good enough actor to be the person he wants to be in school and with his new friends, and still play the role his parents want him to.
Of course, when you’re playing different roles for different people, it’s hard to figure out who you really are. And the role he chooses to audition for in the school musical further blurs the lines. But who is the real August? What does he want?
This is a great story about finding yourself and your chosen family, as well as a relevant conversation about representation in acting, the question of whether any actor should be able to play any role or if specific roles should only go to actors who live that role in real life—if a trans actor should only play a trans role.
I found Act Cool fun, sweet, poignant, and very thought-provoking, as well as a little sad. I’ve now enjoyed both of Tobly McSmith’s books, including his first, Stay Gold .
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
September 16, 2021
I really had hopes for this book. But, although the transgender representation was better than most, the book was a dud. August, a white, transgender boy runs away from his parents to his aunt and the bright lights of New York City. There his aunt, who is obviously well-to-do and connected, helps get August into the best drama high school in all off New York. There August proceeds to play versions of himself to match what he perceives the will make the people around him like him. Thus, we never get to really know August or his friends. But for August, everything is golden. He is cast into the prestigious school play and then to an off-Broadway play. And he does this in less than 6 months. So, except for his parents not accepting him as transgender, the whole world has bowed under his feet. So this book is really about a privileged, transgender youth who doesn't have to struggle much and gets all his dreams fulfilled by the age of 17 without much work. There was so little plot and so little character development and so much privilege that I was thoroughly bored. Nothing happened, August was a boring, egotistical lout, and all his friends were rich, entitled boy and girls who immediately love August. Happy trans endings are great; but trans people also deserve well written stories.
February 21, 2022
August Greene każdego dnia gra inną rolę. Gra wyluzowanego ucznia, szkolnego błazna, pewnego siebie aktora. Gra przed swoimi rodzicami, udając, że wciąż jest ich córką. Gra, udając, że wszystko jest w porządku, choć tak naprawdę zapomina o jednym - Kim naprawdę jest August Greene? Gdy dostaje się na renomowaną uczelnię, ma okazję uciec przez rodzicami, którzy go nie akceptują i rozpocząć życie od nowa, spełniając swoje największe marzenia. Ma także okazje w końcu być sobą. Tylko czy to na pewno jest takie łatwe?
August to nastolatek, którego trudno nie lubić. Jest co prawda trochę pogubiony, nie zawsze podejmuje dobre decyzje, ale ma ogromne serce i mnóstwo wiary w lepsze jutro. To nastolatek, do którego masz ochotę podejść, przytulić go i powiedzieć, że jest cudowny, chcesz być jego przyjacielem i obracać się w jego towarzystwie. Dostanie się do nowej szkoły otwiera przed nim ogrom możliwości, ale też mocno podkopuje jego pewność siebie i na każdym kroku zaczyna wątpić w swoją tożsamość.
To książka przede wszystkim o odkrywaniu swojego własnego ja, swojej tożsamości i próbie dowiedzenia się, kim jestem. Ale też mądra, wartościowa o transpłciowym chłopcu, nieakceptowanym przez swoich najbliższych, których powinni darzyć go bezwarunkowym uczuciem. O walce z demonami, o akceptacji siebie. O tym, że rodzina, to nie musza być ludzie, którzy cię stworzyli, czasem rodzica to ludzie, których sam sobie wybierasz.
Przyznaję szczerze, że płakałam na tej książce, miałam ogromna ochotę przytulić Augusta i powiedzieć mu, że jest cudowny i jedyny w swoim rodzaju i mocno kibicowałam mu na jego drodze. I trochę już za nim tęsknię :).
August to nastolatek, którego trudno nie lubić. Jest co prawda trochę pogubiony, nie zawsze podejmuje dobre decyzje, ale ma ogromne serce i mnóstwo wiary w lepsze jutro. To nastolatek, do którego masz ochotę podejść, przytulić go i powiedzieć, że jest cudowny, chcesz być jego przyjacielem i obracać się w jego towarzystwie. Dostanie się do nowej szkoły otwiera przed nim ogrom możliwości, ale też mocno podkopuje jego pewność siebie i na każdym kroku zaczyna wątpić w swoją tożsamość.
To książka przede wszystkim o odkrywaniu swojego własnego ja, swojej tożsamości i próbie dowiedzenia się, kim jestem. Ale też mądra, wartościowa o transpłciowym chłopcu, nieakceptowanym przez swoich najbliższych, których powinni darzyć go bezwarunkowym uczuciem. O walce z demonami, o akceptacji siebie. O tym, że rodzina, to nie musza być ludzie, którzy cię stworzyli, czasem rodzica to ludzie, których sam sobie wybierasz.
Przyznaję szczerze, że płakałam na tej książce, miałam ogromna ochotę przytulić Augusta i powiedzieć mu, że jest cudowny i jedyny w swoim rodzaju i mocno kibicowałam mu na jego drodze. I trochę już za nim tęsknię :).
February 28, 2022
ta książka była właśnie taka, jak to sobie wymarzyłam po przeczytaniu opisu - powiem wam, że nawet i lepsza💛
choć była poruszająca i bolała, to mimo wszystko mnie otuliła
otuliła całą sobą i nie zamierza szybko wypuścić z uścisku
broadway, teatr, sztuka - ten aktorski wątek to tak naprawdę podstawa książki (jeśli nie przepadacie za musicalami i teatrem, to może was tak nie zachwyci), jak i mojej miłości do niej
mnóóóóstwo reprezentacji!! I LOVE IT
ta książka to dosłownie jeden wielkie Q U E E R<333
totalnie przyjemny język, ciepło, świetna fabuła✨
choć była poruszająca i bolała, to mimo wszystko mnie otuliła
otuliła całą sobą i nie zamierza szybko wypuścić z uścisku
broadway, teatr, sztuka - ten aktorski wątek to tak naprawdę podstawa książki (jeśli nie przepadacie za musicalami i teatrem, to może was tak nie zachwyci), jak i mojej miłości do niej
mnóóóóstwo reprezentacji!! I LOVE IT
ta książka to dosłownie jeden wielkie Q U E E R<333
totalnie przyjemny język, ciepło, świetna fabuła✨
February 22, 2022
Act Cool has been on my mind since I first bought the audiobook. So, it's safe to say that I was very excited to jump into this one. Seriously, zero regrets. It's also pretty safe to assume that I absolutely loved and adored August.
Even though I can't put myself into his shoes, the transition he went through throughout this book was eye opening and brave. The difficulty of having his loved ones not being able to accept the true him was a hard pill to swallow. It definitely broke my heart listening to everything that they were saying. Family should be a safe zone and it hurt that his aunt was the only one supporting him.
Which, yes, I completely loved his aunt. His mom and stepdad are going to miss out on a lot of awesome stuff just because they can't accept their lifestyle. I would gladly let them him and his aunt into my family with open arms.
As for the book? I loved the theater kids. They cracked me up and the drama was just so easy to follow. I also really enjoyed the entire representation throughout this book. Even though I wasn't a huge fan of a certain someone's method to acting and forcing it on someone else. That just rubbed me the wrong way.
In the end, I'm so happy that I had the time to jump into this. I definitely need to read Stay Gold next. Well, once I get my hands on it that is.
Even though I can't put myself into his shoes, the transition he went through throughout this book was eye opening and brave. The difficulty of having his loved ones not being able to accept the true him was a hard pill to swallow. It definitely broke my heart listening to everything that they were saying. Family should be a safe zone and it hurt that his aunt was the only one supporting him.
Which, yes, I completely loved his aunt. His mom and stepdad are going to miss out on a lot of awesome stuff just because they can't accept their lifestyle. I would gladly let them him and his aunt into my family with open arms.
As for the book? I loved the theater kids. They cracked me up and the drama was just so easy to follow. I also really enjoyed the entire representation throughout this book. Even though I wasn't a huge fan of a certain someone's method to acting and forcing it on someone else. That just rubbed me the wrong way.
In the end, I'm so happy that I had the time to jump into this. I definitely need to read Stay Gold next. Well, once I get my hands on it that is.
November 14, 2021
4,75/5
Eu acho que não poderia ter sido uma escolha melhor ter demorado quase 2 meses pra ter terminado Act Cool, mesmo ele sendo um YA contemporâneo bem fluido de ler com suas pouco mais de 300 páginas, que em um ritmo 'normal' meu de leitura, levaria no máximo 3 dias. A questão é que esse livro toca em pontos muito delicados que me remeteram a situações da minha vida e de pessoas próximas que, apesar de não me causar gatilhos, me fizeram ter longas respirações entre alguns capítulos.
August é um garoto que sonha em ser um grande ator. Na verdade, ele atuou sua vida inteira, tendo que se comportar como uma garota para seus pais religiosos de uma cidade pequena que não o aceitam como transgênero. Ao conseguir uma grande oportunidade de estudar em uma das mais renomadas escolas de atuação de Nova York, August vai morar com sua tia, mas vive um dilema quanto a seus pais, aos quais fez uma promessa: se ele não transicionasse, poderia entrar na escola. E August faria tudo pelo seu sonho. Mas vale a pena?
Pra você que já leu o livro de estreia de Tobly, Stay Gold, fique tranquilo que Act Cool não vai destruir tanto o seu coração quanto seu antecessor. Ele é triste, mas na medida certa; causa incômodo, mas na medida certa. Foi até estranho em certo ponto, porque pela metade do livro ele tava se encaminhando pra ser um 3,5 basicão, bom, mas nada estrondoso. Tinha críticas a coisas que o autor estava fazendo (especialmente quanto a construção do protagonista, August), mas esse tempo de pausa entre momentos de leitura foi essencial pra uma reflexão. Agora com a leitura já concluída, vendo o que o autor fez, percebi que ele criou as situações e montou o August do jeito que fez com um propósito, e tudo se encaixou no final. Me emocionei em diversos momentos no final (e eu jurando que o Tobly não ia me fazer chorar dessa vez), foi inevitável.
Act Cool nos mostra a essência da importância de viver o verdadeiro 'eu', e que sempre há esperança de que as coisas fiquem bem e que estejamos felizes, mesmo que não seja pelo caminho que planejávamos.
Eu acho que não poderia ter sido uma escolha melhor ter demorado quase 2 meses pra ter terminado Act Cool, mesmo ele sendo um YA contemporâneo bem fluido de ler com suas pouco mais de 300 páginas, que em um ritmo 'normal' meu de leitura, levaria no máximo 3 dias. A questão é que esse livro toca em pontos muito delicados que me remeteram a situações da minha vida e de pessoas próximas que, apesar de não me causar gatilhos, me fizeram ter longas respirações entre alguns capítulos.
August é um garoto que sonha em ser um grande ator. Na verdade, ele atuou sua vida inteira, tendo que se comportar como uma garota para seus pais religiosos de uma cidade pequena que não o aceitam como transgênero. Ao conseguir uma grande oportunidade de estudar em uma das mais renomadas escolas de atuação de Nova York, August vai morar com sua tia, mas vive um dilema quanto a seus pais, aos quais fez uma promessa: se ele não transicionasse, poderia entrar na escola. E August faria tudo pelo seu sonho. Mas vale a pena?
Pra você que já leu o livro de estreia de Tobly, Stay Gold, fique tranquilo que Act Cool não vai destruir tanto o seu coração quanto seu antecessor. Ele é triste, mas na medida certa; causa incômodo, mas na medida certa. Foi até estranho em certo ponto, porque pela metade do livro ele tava se encaminhando pra ser um 3,5 basicão, bom, mas nada estrondoso. Tinha críticas a coisas que o autor estava fazendo (especialmente quanto a construção do protagonista, August), mas esse tempo de pausa entre momentos de leitura foi essencial pra uma reflexão. Agora com a leitura já concluída, vendo o que o autor fez, percebi que ele criou as situações e montou o August do jeito que fez com um propósito, e tudo se encaixou no final. Me emocionei em diversos momentos no final (e eu jurando que o Tobly não ia me fazer chorar dessa vez), foi inevitável.
Act Cool nos mostra a essência da importância de viver o verdadeiro 'eu', e que sempre há esperança de que as coisas fiquem bem e que estejamos felizes, mesmo que não seja pelo caminho que planejávamos.
Want to read
May 22, 2020May 22, 2020: This book has just been announced and I absolutely can't wait for next year to come faster because a transgender rep is being promised AHH.
October 29, 2021
Sorry, I was expecting something more interesting. I also don't sympathize with August much, the feeling is uncomfortable. I'm sure the people like theater and stage will like it more. Sorry for the beautiful cover. ( ¡ ¡ )
September 5, 2022
3,5/5
Przeczytanie "Act Cool" zajęło mi parę miesięcy. Prawdopodobnie stały za tym studia, które może nie zabierały mi niewiadomo ile czasu, ale skutecznie mnie dezorganizowały. Myślę jednak, że problem mógł też leżeć w pewnym stopniu po stronie książki, ponieważ w międzyczasie byłam w stanie skończyć parę innych pozycji. Oczywiście to nie jest tak, że historia stworzona przez Tobly'ego McSmitha mi się nie spodobała, wręcz przeciwnie naprawdę przypadła mi do gustu, bo pomimo, że porusza wiele ciężkich tematów to czyta się ją lekko, szybko i przyjemnie. Możecie, więc zapytać, w czym problem? No cóż... Gdy ją odkładałam to nie czułam kompletnie potrzeby powrotu do niej. Nie interesowało mnie szczególnie, jak dalej się to potoczy. Nie czułam się kompletnie zaangażowana w historię Augusta. Dlaczego? Nie mam pojęcia. Owszem ktoś mógłby mi zarzucić, że to dlatego, że jego problemy mnie nie dotyczą. Tak, to prawda, ale w wielu pozycjach problemy bohaterów nie dotyczą mnie bezpośrednio, a nawet pośrednio, a mimo to jestem w 100% zaangażowana w akcję powieści. To chyba trafi do archiwum spraw niewyjaśnionych. Bardzo mi się podobało w "Act Cool", że mamy tutaj motyw aktorstwa, a ten jest rzadko spotykany, tak samo jak motyw muzyka, co mnie bardzo smuci, więc miło było uciec trochę w ten świat. Jest to pozycja na pewno potrzebna na polskim rynku, ponieważ jest ona chyba jedyną pozycją, która porusza problemy osób transpłciowych, a przynajmniej ja się z żadną inną nie spotkałam. Mam jednak ogromną nadzieję, że z czasem pojawi się ich coraz to więcej. A na sam koniec takie moje małe narzekanko. Ja się pytam, gdzie jest jeszcze jeden rozdział, który by mi tak idealnie i pięknie zamknął "Act Cool"?
Przeczytanie "Act Cool" zajęło mi parę miesięcy. Prawdopodobnie stały za tym studia, które może nie zabierały mi niewiadomo ile czasu, ale skutecznie mnie dezorganizowały. Myślę jednak, że problem mógł też leżeć w pewnym stopniu po stronie książki, ponieważ w międzyczasie byłam w stanie skończyć parę innych pozycji. Oczywiście to nie jest tak, że historia stworzona przez Tobly'ego McSmitha mi się nie spodobała, wręcz przeciwnie naprawdę przypadła mi do gustu, bo pomimo, że porusza wiele ciężkich tematów to czyta się ją lekko, szybko i przyjemnie. Możecie, więc zapytać, w czym problem? No cóż... Gdy ją odkładałam to nie czułam kompletnie potrzeby powrotu do niej. Nie interesowało mnie szczególnie, jak dalej się to potoczy. Nie czułam się kompletnie zaangażowana w historię Augusta. Dlaczego? Nie mam pojęcia. Owszem ktoś mógłby mi zarzucić, że to dlatego, że jego problemy mnie nie dotyczą. Tak, to prawda, ale w wielu pozycjach problemy bohaterów nie dotyczą mnie bezpośrednio, a nawet pośrednio, a mimo to jestem w 100% zaangażowana w akcję powieści. To chyba trafi do archiwum spraw niewyjaśnionych. Bardzo mi się podobało w "Act Cool", że mamy tutaj motyw aktorstwa, a ten jest rzadko spotykany, tak samo jak motyw muzyka, co mnie bardzo smuci, więc miło było uciec trochę w ten świat. Jest to pozycja na pewno potrzebna na polskim rynku, ponieważ jest ona chyba jedyną pozycją, która porusza problemy osób transpłciowych, a przynajmniej ja się z żadną inną nie spotkałam. Mam jednak ogromną nadzieję, że z czasem pojawi się ich coraz to więcej. A na sam koniec takie moje małe narzekanko. Ja się pytam, gdzie jest jeszcze jeden rozdział, który by mi tak idealnie i pięknie zamknął "Act Cool"?
August 8, 2021
Act Cool is definitely an important story to have out there for young teens, especially trans teens. Being able to see themselves on page and to have these discussions are great and amazing. The setting also feels just so right.
Now, I'm only really going to discuss the one part that I have direct experience with and that is the theatre/acting world. I felt like I was revisiting Fame. This is a very over dramatised version of what it is like to be in a performing arts school. It was also hard to not roll my eyes at August when he's been accepted into this prestigious NYC arts school and doesn't take it seriously. To go into classes and not take notes and to not even try different acting techniques feels like an insult. Sure, not all acting techniques work for everybody, but you need to try them and understand that your teacher is there to teach you because surprise, you don't know everything.
Parts that I did love - the discussion of identity (though I could have done without August's inner monologue of "I'm going to be the cool guy" or "I'm going to be the funny guy") and the focus of family, specifically found family, because it is such an important moment when you realise you can choose who you surround yourself with and what family can really mean. The moments with August's parents really broke my heart and knowing that this is a reality for many trans people is all the more saddening.
Overall, if you go into this expecting more of a soap drama version of this story then you'll be so fine and probably love it. I was expecting something a little more grounded personally.
Now, I'm only really going to discuss the one part that I have direct experience with and that is the theatre/acting world. I felt like I was revisiting Fame. This is a very over dramatised version of what it is like to be in a performing arts school. It was also hard to not roll my eyes at August when he's been accepted into this prestigious NYC arts school and doesn't take it seriously. To go into classes and not take notes and to not even try different acting techniques feels like an insult. Sure, not all acting techniques work for everybody, but you need to try them and understand that your teacher is there to teach you because surprise, you don't know everything.
Parts that I did love - the discussion of identity (though I could have done without August's inner monologue of "I'm going to be the cool guy" or "I'm going to be the funny guy") and the focus of family, specifically found family, because it is such an important moment when you realise you can choose who you surround yourself with and what family can really mean. The moments with August's parents really broke my heart and knowing that this is a reality for many trans people is all the more saddening.
Overall, if you go into this expecting more of a soap drama version of this story then you'll be so fine and probably love it. I was expecting something a little more grounded personally.
February 26, 2022
Możliwe, że będę jeszcze zmieniać kiedyś z piątki na czwórkę i na odwrót jednakże..
damn, podobalo mi się nawet mimo, że nie zawsze moglem jakoś się ustosunkowac co do Augusta i czasem mnie irytowal a bardziej jego czyny oraz myślałem, ze inaczej trochę się to zakończy to jestem tym bardziej usatysfakcjonowany z niego bo chyba moze bylem w pewien sposob negatywny co do zakończenia?? Ale samo to, do czego doprowadziła mnie książka a mówię tu o moich procesach myślowych gdzie mam na myśli tutaj swoją przyszłość w związku z aktorstwem, poszlo to na plus i myślę ze moze to być jedna z moich comfort ksiazek moze??👁️👁️ mysle ze bede ja milo wspominal bo doprowadzila chyba do zapoczatkowania mojego bycia smol theatre kidem 🦟🦗🦟🦗🦟🦗🦟🦗
damn, podobalo mi się nawet mimo, że nie zawsze moglem jakoś się ustosunkowac co do Augusta i czasem mnie irytowal a bardziej jego czyny oraz myślałem, ze inaczej trochę się to zakończy to jestem tym bardziej usatysfakcjonowany z niego bo chyba moze bylem w pewien sposob negatywny co do zakończenia?? Ale samo to, do czego doprowadziła mnie książka a mówię tu o moich procesach myślowych gdzie mam na myśli tutaj swoją przyszłość w związku z aktorstwem, poszlo to na plus i myślę ze moze to być jedna z moich comfort ksiazek moze??👁️👁️ mysle ze bede ja milo wspominal bo doprowadzila chyba do zapoczatkowania mojego bycia smol theatre kidem 🦟🦗🦟🦗🦟🦗🦟🦗
February 19, 2022
4/5
brak mi słów. to była wspaniała książka.
//pozbieralxm mysli i jednak zmieniam rating!!
brak mi słów. to była wspaniała książka.
//pozbieralxm mysli i jednak zmieniam rating!!
February 10, 2022
3,25-3,5⭐
"Act Cool" to książka porządna. Fabuły nie ma jako takiej, bo wszystko, co się dzieje, wychodzi od bohaterów, ich relacji, słów czy masek, które przybierają. To jest kluczowy aspekt tej historii, jako że opowiada ona o aktorach, jednak nie tylko tych na scenie. To opowieść o ukrywaniu siebie, układaniu pewnej roli, w którą musisz wpisać się w określonych okolicznościach, a poprzez to – o zapominaniu prawdziwego siebie.
Augusta można lubić i nie lubić, obie strony mają tak samo wiele za, jak i przeciw. Podobał mi się pomysł, że nie do końca jeszcze wie, jaki ma charakter ani kim powinien być, więc cały czas zmieniał przybierane role, choć czasami potrafił być w tym niekonsekwentny. Na plus też, oprócz reprezentacji samej w sobie, że August pokazywał, że bycie trans chłopakiem nie ogranicza się do skrajnej męskości, i że każde doświadczenie jest inne.
Reszta bohaterów była zaskakująco rozbudowana, co było jednocześnie przywarem i ujmą, gdyż nie zawsze narracja pozwała wszystkim wątkom rozwinąć się w pełni, bądź też je przyspieszała. Ale to raczej urok narracji pierwszoosobowej i czasu teraźniejszego.
Gratulacje dla AC za bycie jedyną książka, która posiada Elijah i Juliet. I would die for them.
"Act Cool" to książka porządna. Fabuły nie ma jako takiej, bo wszystko, co się dzieje, wychodzi od bohaterów, ich relacji, słów czy masek, które przybierają. To jest kluczowy aspekt tej historii, jako że opowiada ona o aktorach, jednak nie tylko tych na scenie. To opowieść o ukrywaniu siebie, układaniu pewnej roli, w którą musisz wpisać się w określonych okolicznościach, a poprzez to – o zapominaniu prawdziwego siebie.
Augusta można lubić i nie lubić, obie strony mają tak samo wiele za, jak i przeciw. Podobał mi się pomysł, że nie do końca jeszcze wie, jaki ma charakter ani kim powinien być, więc cały czas zmieniał przybierane role, choć czasami potrafił być w tym niekonsekwentny. Na plus też, oprócz reprezentacji samej w sobie, że August pokazywał, że bycie trans chłopakiem nie ogranicza się do skrajnej męskości, i że każde doświadczenie jest inne.
Reszta bohaterów była zaskakująco rozbudowana, co było jednocześnie przywarem i ujmą, gdyż nie zawsze narracja pozwała wszystkim wątkom rozwinąć się w pełni, bądź też je przyspieszała. Ale to raczej urok narracji pierwszoosobowej i czasu teraźniejszego.
Gratulacje dla AC za bycie jedyną książka, która posiada Elijah i Juliet. I would die for them.
April 20, 2022
✨💌3.25💌✨
Szczerze - zawiodłam się. Spodziewałam się czegoś o wiele lepszego. Koniec był spodziewany i mam wrażenie że zrobiony trochę na siłę. Uważałam, że pomysł fajny ale trochę złe wykreowanie.
Szczerze - zawiodłam się. Spodziewałam się czegoś o wiele lepszego. Koniec był spodziewany i mam wrażenie że zrobiony trochę na siłę. Uważałam, że pomysł fajny ale trochę złe wykreowanie.
February 19, 2022
„Act cool” to nic innego, jak świetna młodzieżówka, która porusza niesamowicie ważne problemy.
August od dzieciństwa wiedział, że nie jest tym, kim jest. Jego religijni rodzice nie pochwalają jego transpłciowości i planują wysłać swoją córkę na terapię konwersacyjną. Chłopak ucieka do Nowego Jorku, do swojej ciotki w poszukiwaniu pomocy. Wstępuje do Szkoły Sztuk Performatywnych i zaczyna realizować swoje marzenie o zostaniu aktorem. Ma nadzieję, że kiedy zacznie osiągać sukcesy, jego rodzice zaczną go akceptować.
Myślę, że z postacią Augusta może się identyfikować wiele osób. Bez względu na to, kim jesteśmy i jak pewni siebie jesteśmy, wszyscy czasami czujemy, że musimy spełnić oczekiwania innych.
Ta książka to ważna historia i powinna zostać przeczytana przez wielu nastolatków. Tobly McSmith opowiedział historię i dał głos tym, którzy przez lata byli niezauważani przez społeczeństwo.
Żałuję, że ta książka jest stosunkowo krótka. Wiele momentów nie wybrzmiało tak jak powinno, bo nie było na to miejsca. Momentami miałam wrażanie, że zbyt wiele rozgrywa w zbyt krótkim czasie.
Historia Augusta jest ostrzeżeniem i wezwaniem do zmiany postrzegania osób transpłciowych. To opowieść o poszukiwaniu siebie i swojej tożsamości. „Act cool” jest książką zabawną, słodką i wzruszającą, chociaż momentami bardzo smutną i prowokującą do myślenia. Myślę, że ta książka może uświadomić ludziom istnienie problemów, z którymi w codziennym życiu spotykają się osoby trans. Mam ogromną nadzieję, że ich sytuacja ulegnie zmianie na lepsze.
PS: Książka powinna się spodobać wszystkim miłośnikom teatru i musicali!
August od dzieciństwa wiedział, że nie jest tym, kim jest. Jego religijni rodzice nie pochwalają jego transpłciowości i planują wysłać swoją córkę na terapię konwersacyjną. Chłopak ucieka do Nowego Jorku, do swojej ciotki w poszukiwaniu pomocy. Wstępuje do Szkoły Sztuk Performatywnych i zaczyna realizować swoje marzenie o zostaniu aktorem. Ma nadzieję, że kiedy zacznie osiągać sukcesy, jego rodzice zaczną go akceptować.
Myślę, że z postacią Augusta może się identyfikować wiele osób. Bez względu na to, kim jesteśmy i jak pewni siebie jesteśmy, wszyscy czasami czujemy, że musimy spełnić oczekiwania innych.
Ta książka to ważna historia i powinna zostać przeczytana przez wielu nastolatków. Tobly McSmith opowiedział historię i dał głos tym, którzy przez lata byli niezauważani przez społeczeństwo.
Żałuję, że ta książka jest stosunkowo krótka. Wiele momentów nie wybrzmiało tak jak powinno, bo nie było na to miejsca. Momentami miałam wrażanie, że zbyt wiele rozgrywa w zbyt krótkim czasie.
Historia Augusta jest ostrzeżeniem i wezwaniem do zmiany postrzegania osób transpłciowych. To opowieść o poszukiwaniu siebie i swojej tożsamości. „Act cool” jest książką zabawną, słodką i wzruszającą, chociaż momentami bardzo smutną i prowokującą do myślenia. Myślę, że ta książka może uświadomić ludziom istnienie problemów, z którymi w codziennym życiu spotykają się osoby trans. Mam ogromną nadzieję, że ich sytuacja ulegnie zmianie na lepsze.
PS: Książka powinna się spodobać wszystkim miłośnikom teatru i musicali!
October 17, 2021
Thank you to Harper Collins Canada for sending me an eARC of this book and exchange for an honest review.
First off I would like to say that just like Tobly McSmith’s debut book Stay Gold, this book is a very important story and needs to be on the shelves for many young teens. It tells a story and gives a voice that is not always heard in YA books.
That being said, I found this book tried to do a little too much in a short period of time. This book follows August as he has run away from home, and is now living in New York with his aunt. He ran away from home because he realize that his parents would not recognize him as transgender and needed to start a life with you. Luckily, with his aunts connections he gets an audition to one of the most prestigious arts school across the country and nailed it. Now he has a new identity, a new school, a new city and this is very overwhelming and instead of trying to find himself he decides to act with every interaction he has. He decides to play a part before entering a class or a party or conversing with another character. I really like this element in the story. I felt like it is something that many people can relate to. No matter who we are or how confident we are in ourselves, all of us have felt like we had to act a certain way around people and situation.
I really enjoy watching theatre but I’m not into any of the production of theater. Therefore, a lot of the theatre scenes I didn’t find very interesting. I was really excited when the school started to put on their play because it is a play that I thoroughly enjoy. So I was sad when I didn’t get a lot of details of scenes when the play was being produced.
The character development that August goes through is very rich, but I feel like a lot of the plot of the story was not very realistic.
Nonetheless I still enjoyed the story I think it’s a very important voice for people to read. If you’re looking for a contemporary with some heavy topics or just want to learn more about social issues surrounding transgendered people that I think this is a good book for you.
First off I would like to say that just like Tobly McSmith’s debut book Stay Gold, this book is a very important story and needs to be on the shelves for many young teens. It tells a story and gives a voice that is not always heard in YA books.
That being said, I found this book tried to do a little too much in a short period of time. This book follows August as he has run away from home, and is now living in New York with his aunt. He ran away from home because he realize that his parents would not recognize him as transgender and needed to start a life with you. Luckily, with his aunts connections he gets an audition to one of the most prestigious arts school across the country and nailed it. Now he has a new identity, a new school, a new city and this is very overwhelming and instead of trying to find himself he decides to act with every interaction he has. He decides to play a part before entering a class or a party or conversing with another character. I really like this element in the story. I felt like it is something that many people can relate to. No matter who we are or how confident we are in ourselves, all of us have felt like we had to act a certain way around people and situation.
I really enjoy watching theatre but I’m not into any of the production of theater. Therefore, a lot of the theatre scenes I didn’t find very interesting. I was really excited when the school started to put on their play because it is a play that I thoroughly enjoy. So I was sad when I didn’t get a lot of details of scenes when the play was being produced.
The character development that August goes through is very rich, but I feel like a lot of the plot of the story was not very realistic.
Nonetheless I still enjoyed the story I think it’s a very important voice for people to read. If you’re looking for a contemporary with some heavy topics or just want to learn more about social issues surrounding transgendered people that I think this is a good book for you.
April 28, 2021
Act Cool is one of the most important novels I’ve ever read. This story about identity, family (both biological and chosen), self-acceptance broke my heart and pieced it back together. August Greene is truly a superstar in the making - he made me laugh, he made me frustrated, and he made me root for him from beginning to end. I have no doubt in my mind that Act Cool will change lives, and I’m eternally grateful that a story like this exists to impact readers.
TW: transphobia, homophobia, misgendering, deadnaming, suicidal ideation
TW: transphobia, homophobia, misgendering, deadnaming, suicidal ideation
April 11, 2022
Książka została napisana w cudowny sposób, sama wkręciłam się w nią tak bardzo że odczuwałam wszystko razem z Augustem.
Niezlicze ile razy chciało mi się plakac, śmiać a czasami nawet rzucić tą książką.
Co prawda nie polubiłam się ze wszystkimi bohaterami ale zostali wykreowani tak dobrze że nie mam co do tego żadnych zastrzeżeń.
Act cool to niezmiernie ważna i piękna młodzieżówka, którą powinien każdy przeczytać...
Niezlicze ile razy chciało mi się plakac, śmiać a czasami nawet rzucić tą książką.
Co prawda nie polubiłam się ze wszystkimi bohaterami ale zostali wykreowani tak dobrze że nie mam co do tego żadnych zastrzeżeń.
Act cool to niezmiernie ważna i piękna młodzieżówka, którą powinien każdy przeczytać...
October 22, 2021
Έχοντας διαβάσει το Stay Gold, είχα προετοιμαστεί για ένα εξίσου σκληρό ανάγνωσμα. Το Act Cool, αν και σίγουρα περιέχει εξίσου πολύ σημαντικά θέματα, είναι αρκετά πιο ευκολοδιάβαστο. Αν και πονάει, σίγουρα δε σου ξεριζώνει την καρδιά με τον τρόπο που το έκανε το Stay Gold.
Ο August είναι από τους χαρακτήρες που έχω "υιοθετήσει" και πλέον τους αποκαλώ "τα παιδιά μου". Ξέρετε, πως ο κόσμος συλλέγει book boyfriends / girlfriends ε, εγώ συλλέγω book children. Υποτίθεται ότι οι γονείς δεν πρέπει να έχουν αγαπημένα παιδιά, αλλά ο August είναι σίγουρα ένα απ' τα πιο αγαπημένα μου.
Ο August έχει περάσει το μεγαλύτερο μέρος της ζωής του να υποδύεται ότι είναι η κόρη που η μητέρα του νομίζει ότι έχει. Έτσι η υποκριτική είναι κάτι που κυλάει στο αίμα του. Τόσο πολύ που συνεχίζει να παίζει ρόλους ακόμα και όταν φεύγει από το σπίτι του. Και όχι μόνο ρόλους για τη σχολή υποκριτικής, αλλά ρόλους που πιστεύει ότι θα τον κάνουν αρεστό στους νέους του φίλους και καθηγητές. Έχει συνηθίσει τόσο πολύ να προσποιείται ότι είναι κάποιος άλλος που του παίρνει μεγάλο χρονικό διάστημα για να βρει το ποιός είναι πραγματικά.
Νομίζω ότι αυτή είναι μια εμπειρία με την οποία μπορούν να ταυτιστούν, ως ένα βαθμό, πάρα πολλοί αναγνώστες. Οι περισσότεροι μεγαλώνουμε με κάποια ιδέα των άλλων για το πως και ποιοί πρέπει να είμαστε και στην πλειονότητά μας δεν μας ταιριάζουν οι ρόλοι και τα κουτιά στα οποία προσπαθούν να μας στριμώξουν. Ελάχιστοι όμως καταφέρνουν να αποτινάξουν αυτές τις ιδέες και να ζήσουν ως ο πραγματικός τους εαυτός.
Για τον August, αυτή η μάχη είναι ακόμα πιο δύσκολη. Αν και έχει καταφέρει να φύγει από την οικογένειά του και προσπαθεί να αφήσει πίσω του τους ρόλους που τον ανάγκαζαν να υποδυθεί κι ενώ προσπαθεί να ταιριάξει στο καινούργιο του περιβάλλον, εκεί προσπαθούν να τον εντάξουν πάλι σε κάποια κουτιά, ανάλογα με το που πιστεύουν ότι ταιριάζει. Ο August όμως δε χωράει σε κουτιά, ούτε στα παλιά, ούτε στα καινούργια, και είναι τόσο μα τόσο υπέροχο να τον βλέπουμε να τα σπάει!
Και αφού τελείωσα με την ωδή στον August, να πω ότι η θεία του είναι ο δεύτερος πιο αγαπημένος μου χαρακτήρας στο βιβλίο. Μαζί με τη μαμά του Felipe στο Here the whole time, είναι παράδειγμα για το πως πρέπει να φέρεσαι σε ένα παιδί.
Ο August είναι από τους χαρακτήρες που έχω "υιοθετήσει" και πλέον τους αποκαλώ "τα παιδιά μου". Ξέρετε, πως ο κόσμος συλλέγει book boyfriends / girlfriends ε, εγώ συλλέγω book children. Υποτίθεται ότι οι γονείς δεν πρέπει να έχουν αγαπημένα παιδιά, αλλά ο August είναι σίγουρα ένα απ' τα πιο αγαπημένα μου.
Ο August έχει περάσει το μεγαλύτερο μέρος της ζωής του να υποδύεται ότι είναι η κόρη που η μητέρα του νομίζει ότι έχει. Έτσι η υποκριτική είναι κάτι που κυλάει στο αίμα του. Τόσο πολύ που συνεχίζει να παίζει ρόλους ακόμα και όταν φεύγει από το σπίτι του. Και όχι μόνο ρόλους για τη σχολή υποκριτικής, αλλά ρόλους που πιστεύει ότι θα τον κάνουν αρεστό στους νέους του φίλους και καθηγητές. Έχει συνηθίσει τόσο πολύ να προσποιείται ότι είναι κάποιος άλλος που του παίρνει μεγάλο χρονικό διάστημα για να βρει το ποιός είναι πραγματικά.
Νομίζω ότι αυτή είναι μια εμπειρία με την οποία μπορούν να ταυτιστούν, ως ένα βαθμό, πάρα πολλοί αναγνώστες. Οι περισσότεροι μεγαλώνουμε με κάποια ιδέα των άλλων για το πως και ποιοί πρέπει να είμαστε και στην πλειονότητά μας δεν μας ταιριάζουν οι ρόλοι και τα κουτιά στα οποία προσπαθούν να μας στριμώξουν. Ελάχιστοι όμως καταφέρνουν να αποτινάξουν αυτές τις ιδέες και να ζήσουν ως ο πραγματικός τους εαυτός.
Για τον August, αυτή η μάχη είναι ακόμα πιο δύσκολη. Αν και έχει καταφέρει να φύγει από την οικογένειά του και προσπαθεί να αφήσει πίσω του τους ρόλους που τον ανάγκαζαν να υποδυθεί κι ενώ προσπαθεί να ταιριάξει στο καινούργιο του περιβάλλον, εκεί προσπαθούν να τον εντάξουν πάλι σε κάποια κουτιά, ανάλογα με το που πιστεύουν ότι ταιριάζει. Ο August όμως δε χωράει σε κουτιά, ούτε στα παλιά, ούτε στα καινούργια, και είναι τόσο μα τόσο υπέροχο να τον βλέπουμε να τα σπάει!
Και αφού τελείωσα με την ωδή στον August, να πω ότι η θεία του είναι ο δεύτερος πιο αγαπημένος μου χαρακτήρας στο βιβλίο. Μαζί με τη μαμά του Felipe στο Here the whole time, είναι παράδειγμα για το πως πρέπει να φέρεσαι σε ένα παιδί.
April 12, 2022
4🌟Dialogi i styl pisania nie były jakieś porywające, aczkolwiek nie potrafię być surowa wobec książki, która idealnie zobrazowała moje uczucie i nieszczęsne zakochanie w teatrze <3
May 2, 2022
3.75⭐
June 24, 2021
I received an ARC from Edeweiss
TW: transphobia, homophobia, toxic parents, misgendering, deadnaming, suicidal ideation, religious-based prejudice, threat of conversion therapy, mentioned cheating
2.5
August has finally gotten a fresh start- he's in the school of his dreams, in the city of his dream, and living with his aunt, who's happy to accept him as a boy. But it only happened because he ran away, and he can only keep this life if he lies about it. His parents have to believe that he's living like a girl, or else they may make good on their threat of conversion therapy. Trying to hold on to his mother's approval, trying to be funny and cool in acting school- when does he get to just be August?
So. I had a lot of issues with this book. Mostly, it's personal issues because this book made me realize that I honestly need to stop getting tempted into reading theatre-centric books because all they do are make me mad. And it can be a little hard to see what I hated and what I hated simply because I was already keyed up- so I'll try to break it down and be fair here.
First of all, I'm always glad to see trans rep. August is a messy character with a messy story, and it's different than the ones who have come before him. I loved that he got to be openly trans and generally accepted by his classmates, and got to come from a small town to find diversity and another trans person to take him under her wing. The fact that this book exists is great, and I'm glad McSmith went for something more complicated than what he could have done.
This is also an extremely emotional book, that strikes a lot of chords at once. This book made me so upset, so many times. McSmith crafts difficult situations and oppression well enough to really embed them into you. It's impossible to read this book and not have a reaction.
Now, I did, as I said, have issues. And I'm going to start with the obvious, so I can get past it. The theatre in this book is unrealistic and frustrating! The information given, the way auditions are written, the sheer choices August makes- terrible! I cannot take this "acting school" seriously, because dear God they would have helped this boy. I was a theatre major, acting has been a part of my life for over a decade, and I have been on pretty much all sides of the stage and the audition room- and so many things in this book were written so badly. Which, because of the terrible choices made, and the weird way McSmith decided to characterize August as "a theatre person" as if he were a theatre everyman made me really hate him.
If you are not a theatre professional, you may not have problems with these things. But it really, really affected my reading experience.
However, even if this hadn't been the case, I doubt I would have liked August. All of the characters in this book are flat. They're pretty static and have barely any depth. As interesting as August should be, I find zero truth in him and I could not at all get into his arc. I think part of that is because there are three arcs happening and only one of them are good.
You have the theatre arc/school arc, which I will get to in a second, but was not good. And then the "making friends and being yourself" arc which just felt ill defined and confusing for lack of focus. And then the arc about August being trans and dealing with his parents and the reality of his identity- that was good! As upsetting as those sections tended to be, I wish there was more of them in this book.
With the education aspect, I could never have liked August. He comes into a new school where his acceptance is almost a miracle- and then takes no notes, doesn't take the classes seriously, refuses to learn acting techniques, etc etc. I kept expecting there to be a change here or a lesson. But there isn't! We're supposed to get mad at other people for thinking he shouldn't be there, and watch him worry if he belongs there but shrug at his refusal to actually do the work and act like he wants to be there???
There's also a sheer amount of unnecessary drama in this book. With the whole making friends and romance part of things, it feels up in the air and soap opera-y. I don't know why there had to be a romance in this book at all, but there definitely didn't need to be three. The friendship drama, the romance drama, the background cheating- literally what was the point? It was exhausting.
And, finally, I just fully do not like how this book is written. It's clunky, the transitions are weird, there is a complete lack of subtlety. It's not a book I enjoyed reading in basically any fashion.
I'm sure other people will like this book, and I respect the amount of emotion in it and the representation is brings. But it wasn't the book for me at all.
TW: transphobia, homophobia, toxic parents, misgendering, deadnaming, suicidal ideation, religious-based prejudice, threat of conversion therapy, mentioned cheating
2.5
August has finally gotten a fresh start- he's in the school of his dreams, in the city of his dream, and living with his aunt, who's happy to accept him as a boy. But it only happened because he ran away, and he can only keep this life if he lies about it. His parents have to believe that he's living like a girl, or else they may make good on their threat of conversion therapy. Trying to hold on to his mother's approval, trying to be funny and cool in acting school- when does he get to just be August?
So. I had a lot of issues with this book. Mostly, it's personal issues because this book made me realize that I honestly need to stop getting tempted into reading theatre-centric books because all they do are make me mad. And it can be a little hard to see what I hated and what I hated simply because I was already keyed up- so I'll try to break it down and be fair here.
First of all, I'm always glad to see trans rep. August is a messy character with a messy story, and it's different than the ones who have come before him. I loved that he got to be openly trans and generally accepted by his classmates, and got to come from a small town to find diversity and another trans person to take him under her wing. The fact that this book exists is great, and I'm glad McSmith went for something more complicated than what he could have done.
This is also an extremely emotional book, that strikes a lot of chords at once. This book made me so upset, so many times. McSmith crafts difficult situations and oppression well enough to really embed them into you. It's impossible to read this book and not have a reaction.
Now, I did, as I said, have issues. And I'm going to start with the obvious, so I can get past it. The theatre in this book is unrealistic and frustrating! The information given, the way auditions are written, the sheer choices August makes- terrible! I cannot take this "acting school" seriously, because dear God they would have helped this boy. I was a theatre major, acting has been a part of my life for over a decade, and I have been on pretty much all sides of the stage and the audition room- and so many things in this book were written so badly. Which, because of the terrible choices made, and the weird way McSmith decided to characterize August as "a theatre person" as if he were a theatre everyman made me really hate him.
If you are not a theatre professional, you may not have problems with these things. But it really, really affected my reading experience.
However, even if this hadn't been the case, I doubt I would have liked August. All of the characters in this book are flat. They're pretty static and have barely any depth. As interesting as August should be, I find zero truth in him and I could not at all get into his arc. I think part of that is because there are three arcs happening and only one of them are good.
You have the theatre arc/school arc, which I will get to in a second, but was not good. And then the "making friends and being yourself" arc which just felt ill defined and confusing for lack of focus. And then the arc about August being trans and dealing with his parents and the reality of his identity- that was good! As upsetting as those sections tended to be, I wish there was more of them in this book.
With the education aspect, I could never have liked August. He comes into a new school where his acceptance is almost a miracle- and then takes no notes, doesn't take the classes seriously, refuses to learn acting techniques, etc etc. I kept expecting there to be a change here or a lesson. But there isn't! We're supposed to get mad at other people for thinking he shouldn't be there, and watch him worry if he belongs there but shrug at his refusal to actually do the work and act like he wants to be there???
There's also a sheer amount of unnecessary drama in this book. With the whole making friends and romance part of things, it feels up in the air and soap opera-y. I don't know why there had to be a romance in this book at all, but there definitely didn't need to be three. The friendship drama, the romance drama, the background cheating- literally what was the point? It was exhausting.
And, finally, I just fully do not like how this book is written. It's clunky, the transitions are weird, there is a complete lack of subtlety. It's not a book I enjoyed reading in basically any fashion.
I'm sure other people will like this book, and I respect the amount of emotion in it and the representation is brings. But it wasn't the book for me at all.
March 8, 2022
4,5⭐️ TO BYŁA ŚWIETNA HISTORIA! Bardzo potrzebna i ważna. Chętnie niedługo napiszę Wam o niej więcej!
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