Golden by Jessi KirbyRelease Date: May 14, 2013
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Pages: 288
Series: n/a
Review Source: Edelweiss
Synopsis: (from Goodreads)My Thoughts:
Seventeen-year-old Parker Frost has never taken the road less traveled. Valedictorian and quintessential good girl, she’s about to graduate high school without ever having kissed her crush or broken the rules. So when fate drops a clue in her lap—one that might be the key to unraveling a town mystery—she decides to take a chance.
Julianna Farnetti and Shane Cruz are remembered as the golden couple of Summit Lakes High—perfect in every way, meant to be together forever. But Julianna’s journal tells a different story—one of doubts about Shane and a forbidden romance with an older, artistic guy. These are the secrets that were swept away with her the night that Shane’s jeep plunged into an icy river, leaving behind a grieving town and no bodies to bury.
Reading Julianna’s journal gives Parker the courage to start to really live—and it also gives her reasons to question what really happened the night of the accident. Armed with clues from the past, Parker enlists the help of her best friend, Kat, and Trevor, her longtime crush, to track down some leads. The mystery ends up taking Parker places that she never could have imagined. And she soon finds that taking the road less traveled makes all the difference.
I think I say this a lot, but I REALLY wanted to like this one more. It’s one of those books that based on premise, and even on the writing style and the content, I normally WOULD like it a lot more. Unfortunately I just never really connected with Parker, and I couldn't understand her decisions, one in particular. I also didn't like how she let her mom and her fear dictate her decisions for so long. I mean, I am the queen of being afraid of change and making tough decisions, but there’s only so much you can let people walk all over you, and Parker went way beyond my limit.
The plot of this book is pretty interesting. There’s almost a town legend of this golden couple who has died too soon, and Parker begins reading this lost journal of the girl, learning about life and herself as she reads it. There’s also an adorable love interest, Trevor, who was super patient with Parker, almost more than she deserved at times, actually.
This is definitely a thinking book, themed around how we can choose to make our own future. There’s this great quote from Mary Oliver that the book centres around --- “What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” -- and I really loved that. I liked this book, but I personally connected more with Gayle Forman’s ‘Just One Day’ in its discourse on making our own future and moving beyond fear. Still, this is a decent read, and I think most fans of YA contemps will enjoy it.
The Cover:
Gorgeousss!
Rating:
[3/5]Find Golden by Jessi Kirby on Goodreads, Book Depository, & Amazon.
This one sounds interesting but I'm not sure it's one for me, especially if you didn't connect with the MC. It's hard to get into a book when that connection isn't there.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like a lot of people are LOVING this one, so it's hard to say.
DeleteOh, I'm curious now which decision you weren't a big fan of, Asheley. I really liked this one, but I understand some of your frustration with Parker as a character.
ReplyDeleteWendy @ The Midnight Garden
It's a concept that really resonates with me but it's too bad you didn't get the character connection. I'd like to give this one a try sometime. :)
ReplyDeletethis is the second non-glowing review i have read. (although the other only gave it one star...)
ReplyDeletei definitely want to try this one out, so i hope my library gets it in!
Oh, very curious about 1 star!
DeleteIt's definitely worth check out, I think, especially since so many people have adored it.
I am super curious about this book. I am not thrilled about the controlling mom aspect of the novel though. If my library gets this one I'll probably read it, but I don't think I'll rush out and buy it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the review Ashley
Sara @ Just Another Story
Yah there are a lot of books that fall into that category for me... if I don't end up reading the book I'll always check it out from the library first unless it's an author or series I know I adore.
Delete