Review: WE ARE THE GOLDENS by Dana Reinhardt

Dana Reinhardt is known for her hard-hitting contemporary YA. She pulls no emotional punches, and her prose is precise and intense. She brings all these elements to her latest, WE ARE THE GOLDENS — a book you must read this summer.

Wendy Lamb Books, May 2014.

WE ARE THE GOLDENS follows the stories of two sisters as they navigate their changing relationship. The book is narrated from the perspective of the younger sister Nell, in second person as she speaks, almost as if in a letter, to her older sister, Layla. Nell and Layla have always been close, and Nell has always considered her big sister her best friend. But something changed when the rumor about a favorite teacher and her sister turns out to be true. And Nell has to keep this secret.

Part of what makes this book so special is the style in which it’s told. It’s definitely as much about the art of storytelling as it is the story. And while this story is very much about sisters, it’s also about self-discovery and identity and navigating divorce. WE ARE THE GOLDENS also explores a beautiful friendship between Nell and her bestie Felix, who is, as they say, the Ducky to her Andie. This book is short, but it’s absolutely rich. Fans of David Levithan and Lauren Myracle will definitely dig this wonderfully real new novel.