Act Cool

Another YA book set in New York, but this time in the world of a performing arts school. August Greene, a trans boy from a conservative Pennsylvania community, not only gets accepted into a prestigious performing arts academy in the big city but gets to live his authentic life while doing so. Trouble is, his parents don’t know he’s trans. McSmith is heavily involved in the NY theatre scene, and he writes with insight and accuracy about both trans issues and trans representation in the performing arts. 

I couldn’t put Act Cool down. On the surface, it’s a fun look into the world of a prestigious performing arts high school in New York City. The dramas on and off the stage are addictive and I was totally invested in every twist and turn. But what makes Act Cool so special is the main character, August, a transgender boy who leaves his conservative mid-western parents to live with his free-spirited aunt in New York and follow his dream of becoming an actor. August is such a well-developed, likable, complex, and relatable character and his relationships with his aunt… show more.