Our reviews and ratings are 100% unbiased. Screenwise is a Bookshop.org affiliate and an Amazon Associate, so if you buy a book through one of our links, we may earn a commission. Bookshop.org purchases also support independent bookstores.
Screenwise Verdict
Act Cool is a thoughtful, emotionally honest look at what it costs to hide yourself—and what it takes to stop. McSmith writes from lived experience, and it shows: August's struggle feels real, not performative. The theater setting adds clever meta-commentary about identity as performance, and the book doesn't sugarcoat the pain of unsupportive parents.
This isn't a light read—it sits in the discomfort of family rejection and the exhausting work of pretending. But it's also about finding your people and your voice, even when the cost is high. The critical acclaim is deserved: it's a necessary book that builds empathy and offers representation.
For mature teens ready to engage with nuanced LGBTQ+ themes, this is powerful stuff. Just know going in that it's emotionally heavy, and that's kind of the point.
Age Fit
Best for ages 14+ who are ready for emotionally complex LGBTQ+ themes. The family rejection and dysphoria discussions require some maturity, but the book is ultimately about resilience and self-acceptance. Strong fit for teens navigating identity questions or wanting to understand trans experiences.
WISE Breakdown
Wholesome
78
Tackles the emotional complexity of a trans teen navigating family rejection and self-acceptance with compassion and authenticity. The story centers on August's struggle to balance parental expectations with his identity, modeling resilience and self-advocacy. The family conflict is realistic but not gratuitous—parents are conservative and unsupportive, creating genuine tension without veering into cruelty. Theater setting provides a supportive community counterbalance. Some emotional heaviness around dysphoria and family rejection, but handled with care.
Imaginative
72
The premise of 'performing' different versions of yourself—both on stage and in life—creates interesting thematic layers. Theater setting with musical productions adds creative texture, and the exploration of representation in performance art is thoughtful. However, this is primarily a character-driven contemporary drama rather than a world-building or high-concept story. The imaginative work happens in how McSmith explores identity as performance, which is clever but grounded in realism.
Safe
82
Age-appropriate for its target audience (14+/grades 9-12 per Amazon). Deals with challenging topics—family rejection, gender dysphoria, the pressure to hide one's identity—but does so without graphic content. No violence, sexual content, or substance abuse flagged in reviews. The emotional difficulty comes from realistic family conflict and internal struggle, not from shocking or inappropriate material. Trans readers may find some dysphoria discussions triggering, but this is expected content for the genre, not a surprise.
Enriching
85
Powerful window into the transgender experience, particularly the pressure to 'perform' cis identity for family acceptance. School Library Journal notes it helps readers 'understand how multifaceted and complicated the transgender experience can be.' Booklist gave it a starred review calling it 'necessary.' The theater angle adds discussion of representation in the arts. Written by trans author Tobly McSmith with authority and lived experience. Builds empathy, challenges assumptions, and offers meaningful representation. PopSugar called it 'one of the most powerful YA books of the year.'
Parent Info
✓
Why It Might Be Great
Own-voices storytelling from trans author Tobly McSmith brings authenticity and nuance to August's journey
Theater setting explores representation in the arts and the irony of 'performing' your identity offstage
Doesn't shy away from the real pain of family rejection while still centering August's agency and dreams
Strong critical reception including Booklist starred review calling it 'necessary' and PopSugar naming it one of the most powerful YA books of the year
Offers meaningful representation for trans teens and builds empathy for all readers navigating identity vs. family expectations
⚠
What to Watch For
Emotionally heavy—August's parents won't accept his trans identity and force him to promise not to transition, which is painful to read
Discussions of gender dysphoria may be difficult for some trans readers, though handled with compassion
The family conflict is realistic and unresolved in ways that reflect real life, not a tidy bow
Best for teens ready to sit with complex, sometimes uncomfortable emotions about identity and belonging
Conversation Starters
"August has to decide between his parents' approval and being himself. Have you ever felt pressure to hide part of who you are?"
"The book explores how acting on stage is different from 'acting' in real life. When do you feel most like yourself?"
"August's theater friends seem more accepting than his family. How important are chosen communities vs. biological family?"
"The story talks about representation in theater. Why does it matter who gets to tell which stories?"
