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There are currently 65 member reviews
for Golden Boy
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John P. (Timonium, MD)
A very interesting and difficult dilemma
Max, an intersex adolescent confronts a very difficult situation. The decision is compounded and complicated by the careers of his parents and his own popularity. At times the path is predictable but it is not without twists and turns that startle, inform and educates as your race to the conclusion.
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Susan B. (Rutledge, MO)
Moving, maybe too heartbreaking?
I found this book well-written and thought-provoking, but also painfully, often needlessly, heart-wrenching. If you are interested in gender issues you should certainly check it out, but know that the story is driven by intense drama resulting from secret-keeping; secrets I think shouldn't have been kept. The issues involved are compelling enough that had the characters told the truth about themselves and the situations they found themselves in, how they dealt with it would still have made a fantastic story, but one far less agonizing. I assume the author wanted the reader to understand how intense and difficult these issues can be, but the secrecy element severely diluted the impact for me. Despite this, I think it is quite worth reading.
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Jill M. (Petaluma, CA)
Golden Boy
Something tells me Golden Boy is going to be widely read, debated and discussed. I needed to take some time to think about the impact and meaning of the book for a while after finishing it. It came to me that no one in the story was "wrong" in what (s)he did in dealing with the challenging intersex anatomy of Max--except of course Hunter, his former best friend. What a great book for discussion at book clubs. This is a tremendous work for such a young author. The wordiness bogged down for me in the second half. I'd love to know if this was the case for others.
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Rosemary C. (Austin, TX)
Perfection and Normalcy
Abigail Tarttelin has written a thought provoking, in your face novel about a boy born "different" and how he and those close to him navigate in a world that probably won't understand. The characters are well-developed and sympathetic, moral and ethical issues are presented and debated, and we come away informed about the interest condition. Tarttelin is a good, bold writer, frank yet compassionate. I wasn't sure at first if I'd get into the novel with the story told segment by segment by each main character. It didn't take me long to get hooked, however, and this book was definitely worth the read. The ending may not satisfy everyone, but as I thought about it a bit after finishing the book, it was the best decision for Max at his current age and circumstances.
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Nan G. (Mazomanie, WI)
Difficult subject handled with grace
As a mental health professional who has worked extensively with trangender clients, I was curious, and more than a little apprehensive about reading Golden Boy. Curious as to how the author would approach a subject not often addressed in any form, apprehensive for the very same reason. Twenty pages in and I was hooked. Tarttelin's grasp of the subject, the sensitivity and grace with which she created characters (in particular Max), her portrayal of a young person coming to terms with who he is and parents whose love for a child takes them in different directions--all combined to create a highly readable and ultimately, a very moving novel.
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Susan H. (Chappaqua, NY)
Golden Child?
For the most part I enjoyed this book but as a parent I could not understand how the parents in this book chose not to do anything about the child's sexuality at birth. How can you leave this to a teen when teens have enough "stuff" to deal without extra body parts!!! I also thought the book got a bit out there with the pregnancy and whether to keep the baby... A little much.
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Mary R. (San Jose, CA)
Golden Boy – Not a Typical Coming of Age Story
Golden Boy is definitely not a typical coming of age story. This complicated story revolves around Max, who is an intersex teenager. He is both male and female. The story asks questions like what does it mean to be male or female? When does no mean no? What kind of betrayals can be forgiven? This story is told from the viewpoint of many different characters in the book and we see through their eyes how Max's story unfolds. The best part about this book is that the ending is satisfying and real.
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