Act Cool

by Tobly McSmith

Hardcover, 2021

Status

Available

Call number

PZ7.M4648 Act 2021

Genres

Young Adult

LGBTQ+

Fiction

Collections

Dennis R. Neill Equality Center, Transgender

Publication

Quill Tree Books (2021), 352 pages

Description

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 problem: 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?

User reviews

LibraryThing member bibliovermis

A really great story about a theater-obsessed trans teen dealing with concurrent extreme highs and lows in his life. August's struggles to fit in in a new, high-stakes environment, his attempts to perform all manner of painful contortions to try to keep the regard of his religious and bigoted

parents, and his desire to ignore or shoot past the painful work and the help he really needs to function and interact with others in a healthy way, were all really relatable for any reader.

I was concerned about some aspects of the book—there seems to be a kind acceptance of a certain level of horrible, abusive behavior from people in positions of power in the theater world. It seems to be implied that constant abuse from a director leads to August's improvement as an actor, and in fact his improved mental health, which I found really questionable. But overall the book showed how environments of support and love allow kids to flourish.

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LibraryThing member reader1009

teen fiction - 17 year old trans boy runs away from unaccepting parents, living with estranged but friendly lesbian aunt, deals with new school, making friends/chosen family, letting people get to know him, pressures of working with hostile Broadway director (author is also trans male).

This got so

intense in the last half--so much psychological trauma this young man goes through! I would gladly read more from this author.

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