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Nancy H. (Foster City, CA)
An author with promise
Contains potential plot spoilersWhile Golden Boy had very gripping story elements, I did not find the dialogue or overall writing style particularly compelling. However, if the author's primary intent is to introduce the issues surrounding intersexusality, she did that well. There was far more character development for the Walker family than for Hunter and his family. To increase the believability, one needs a better understanding of Hunter's motivations and conflicts and there should be flashbacks to earlier interactions between Hunter and Max showing Max has previously accepted being dominated by Hunter –
…more particularly since Max is the star athlete, not Hunter. Also, it seemed like there was no build up between the two of them that pointed to a Hunter that would take such severe advantage of Max. And how was it that hyper-vigilant Karen never noticed any characteristics in Hunter that were of concern? Are we to believe that she eliminated her critical thinking abilities because Hunter's Mother is one of her oldest friends? I didn't buy it. Perhaps the foreshortened sequence of events were for dramatic effect, but it feels rather that critical scenes were eliminated. There are very charged scenes between the two young men.
Anyone who was not overly distressed or offended by any of the scenes from The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo series should be okay with Golden Boy. All in all, I was glad to have had a chance to read the book and I'm sure it will lead me to doing additional research on the topic of intersexuality. If the author's sincere desire is for the reading public to have a more clear understanding of intersex issues, she should include a suggested reading list of articles and books that she feels accurately portray such individuals at the end of the book. (less)
Daniel A. (Naugatuck, CT)
Golden Boy
Before I wrote this review, I peeked at the other reviews on this website and found out I am the only male. Are you ready for this male's perspective? I thought so. Here it is: I enjoyed this story a lot. I liked the writing, especially the writing style; each character gets to narrate the story, and pushes the story forward, never backtracks. The subject is tough to write about, so the dialogue is key, and it is filled with emotion, misunderstanding, and frustration. Overall, I highly recommend this book because it finally gives intersex people a voice.
Michele W. (Kiawah Island, SC)
Better than Defending Jacob
Golden Child is the story of a nearly perfect child whose caring and successful parents, confronted by a dilemma involving this child and which has implications far beyond their family circle, disagree on what should be done to the extent that the family fractures.
So far this sounds much like Defending Jacob, and it is very reminiscent, but Golden Child is better in that the parents are not totally blind and deaf, the science is not ridiculously exaggerated, the child's feelings are included along with those of the sibling, a friend, the doctor involved, as well as both parents, giving a much more balanced and
…more complete picture, and finally, the resolution is not insane. I liked the writing style and the structure, which I thought opened up the characters and made them much more three-dimensional. The resolution of the problem is nuanced as well as complicated and has the advantage of being possible in the real world assuming the essential normality of the characters involved. If you like Defending Jacob, you'll like this better! (less)This was an interesting read on a complex subject. Max Walker is a sixteen year old boy, popular, obedient, and seemingly normal in every way. The secret his family holds close is that Max is intersexual. He was born with both male and female anatomical features. As he reaches puberty, the inevitable problems arise. I thought the author developed the character of Max well enough, but the other characters seemed stilted and trapped in their roles. The family dynamics were too predictable for most of the story. Having said that, this was a compelling story, and I found myself rooting for Max as he tries to sort
…more out where his true sexual orientation lies. There are no easy answers, and the author wisely does not provide a cliched ending. (less)First of all, I think Golden Boy, which is the title, will confuse people. I thought it was about Sammy Davis Jr and his show on Broadway years ago. Would like to call it MAX which says it all. (Neither male or female).
Always difficult to raise a "special" child. Even more so, when a parent runs for public office and is subject to close scrutiny. You are drawn to Max (a child in his mid teens, with both XX and XY chromosomes, now referred to as "intersex"), who is popular, good looking and bright. But he carries his medical history pretty much in secret. This book would be a good read for older teens and young
…more adults to show tolerance. Also for psychiatrists, sociologists and teachers. You see how wrong doctors are when they discuss a child's problem with the parents and ignore the child who is in the same room. Readers, who previously read State of Wonder, or The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, will like this book a lot. Genetics and medical intervention play a very important part here.
The author divides her chapters by the characters and is well written.
There is a quote from Max that I think is so important. "It takes strength to be proud of yourself and to accept yourself when you know that you have something out of the ordinary about you. I had that strength." (less)As a fan of young adult novels, I think this novel would do very well if marketed in that category. As other reviewers have noted, it is easy to see the plot coming. But, Max is a very sympathetic character and his confusion is very believable. I found his parents to be unlikeable and difficult to understand - in that they didn't seem to have put much thought into addressing the situation with their son. The author wrote most comfortably in Max's voice and the switching of perspectives was not always seamless, but I think this format would appeal to a young adult audience.
MaryEllen K. (Albany, NY)
Golden Boy by Abigail Tarttelin
Max Walker was born intersex, a fact that apparently did not cause much conflict or confusion for him as a child. However, when he is 16, aspects of his sexuality are forced into immediate consideration for Max and his parents. Karen and Steve had been completely oblivious to the psychological and social dilemmas Max would face as a teenager, so they had not discussed sex with him at all. Max is tormented about something that has happened to him, and his anguish is made very palpable by the author. He is dealing with so many confusing issues, with no one to turn to who might be able to understand and empathize
…more with his unique condition. I very much liked the two characters who DO provide some support: his doctor, and his friend Sylvie. This book brought to mind two books I have read which also featured intersex protagonists: Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides and Annabel by Kathleen Walker. I think that having read these standout novels enhanced my enjoyment of Golden Boy. (less)I am glad I got a copy of this book. I'm an avid reader and it takes a lot to surprise me these days. Although I already guessed what the "betrayal" was before I cracked open the book, I felt that the author did a good job in handling it. She really captured the voice of Max. What I didn't like was the shifting of perspective. I thought a 3rd person would have sufficed in telling this story. First person would have been too typical, but having so many characters tell their side was a bit tedious. Still, the course of action was well-conceived. This book is not as lyrical as some books of this theme (Levithan's
…more Every Day is a good one), mostly the events unfold without any fuss. But the author is young so there's time to evolve. I am also partial to British authors. (less)
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