From School Library Journal Gr 9 Up—At the heart of this work of realistic fiction is a close but complicated relationship between two sisters as they come of age. For as long as 15-year-old Nell can remember, her best friend has been her older sister, Layla. The two girls are confidantes, and Nell aspires to be as accomplished, and well respected as Layla. But when Nell begins her freshman year at the high school where Layla is a junior, she begins to suspect that something isn't right in Layla's world. She worries about her sister throughout the school year and finally discovers that Layla is concealing a romantic involvement with a teacher. Reinhardt approaches this complex and heavy issue from Nell's perspective as she struggles with whether to alert an adult to her sibling's inappropriate relationship. Although there are a handful of poignant moments and Reinhardt sets up a realistic plotline, the story isn't as substantial as one might hope, and the writing is occasionally uneven. This is a novel that could rank among Wintergirls (Viking, 2009) and Thirteen Reasons Why (Penguin, 2007) in that it addresses a tough but relevant issue for teens; however, it falls slightly short in its lack of complexity and consistency.—Allie Bronston, Colorado Academy, Denver, CO Read more From Booklist Nell has always been close to her older sister, Layla. As a child, she could barely distinguish their differences and referred to herself as Nellayla. But when Nell enters high school, her sister’s cool withdrawal leaves her puzzled until she surmises it has something to do with a charismatic art teacher. Is Layla a little too close to him? Written in an intense, though sometimes hard-to-follow second-person narrative addressed directly from Nell to Layla, the novel deals with Nell’s struggle to lend support to her sister even as she has misgivings. Nell’s own problems with relationships—she is the target of a handsome upperclassman’s charms before she acknowledges feelings for her male best friend—complicate and illuminate her actions. Perhaps her adored sister is just as blind to being manipulated as she is? The action stops just short of Nell’s decision to tell her divorced parents Layla’s secret, a decision that keeps the spotlight on Nell and not the fallout. A well-done look at a serious family dilemma. Grades 8-11. --Karen Cruze Read more See all Editorial Reviews
A**E
We Are the Goldens
I’m quite conflicted about my feelings for We Are the Goldens. On one hand, I did love it. I found the story interesting, and I loved the narrative. On the other hand, I was also a bit annoyed with Nell, who is our narrator. Nell and her older sister, Layla, are super close. So close that Nell use to think they were the same person. Now she’s starting high school, and couldn’t be more excited to be at the same place as her sister. However, it’s not as great as Nell anticipated. Layla becomes distant, but it’s not a matter of finding out why. She does tell Nell, but now Nell has to decide whether she’s going to keep her promise to keep it to herself, or do the right thing.We Are the Goldens is told as a letter from Nell to Layla which I immediately loved. We see exactly how close these sisters are, and how conflicted Nell is about the situation. But, we also see just how open Nell is with her sister and this leads to some weird stuff. Nell admits to talking to two dead boys that they use to know, and seeks advice from them. They “appear” a few times, and each time was weirder than the last. They’re not ghosts; there is no paranormal twist. They’re kind of like imaginary friends, only creepier. When Nell summons them, she treats them as if they’re real and even refuses to change her clothes when they’re around. This was all super weird and added nothing to the story.What prompted me to pick up We Are the Goldens was the student-teacher relationship. Layla is having an affair with their art teacher, Mr. Barr. Every year there’s a rumor about him and a female student, since he’s young, hot, and hip. Supposedly, these rumors are just rumors, until it moved onto Layla. She believes she’s in love and found her “forever” and she shares this with Nell. Well, Nell knows this is wrong, but she doesn’t want to break her sister’s trust. But after learning something quite shocking at the end, the truth needs to come out.We Are the Goldens has one of those endings where it’s all building up to this one moment, only to fade to black. While I wanted to know about the aftermath, I do think this ending worked. We know what Nell is going to say, and we can probably guess at everyone’s reactions. I just would have liked a little bit more, maybe a brief epilogue. Or, flip the tables, and end it with a letter from Layla to Nell (or to Mr. Barr). I really would have liked to see the consequences of this relationship.In the end, I did really like We Are the Goldens. Just a few things kept me from rating it higher, but I do think it’s worth a read. I thought getting an outside perspective on the student-teacher relationship was an interesting twist. Instead of getting all of the rationalizations from the student, we get to see how the relationship is changing them without them even being aware. I also loved how the author included a boy-girl best friend relationship that didn’t immediately flip to romance once they’re forced into an emotional situation.*Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley for review. No compensation was offered or accepted.
P**Y
Gripping
Grade: A-Nell lives in the shadow of her older, perfect sister Layla, at least in her own mind. But Layla's life isn't so perfect. She's hiding a secret and she makes Nell complacent in that secret, even though Nell knows how wrong it is.Nell's narration, with the unique second person POV to Layla, is a unique, intelligent and breathtakingly insightful look at high school, peer pressure, rumors, sisters, and love. She's a complex character, a good kid who sometimes breaks the rules. Her vision is that of a young girl biased by insecurity and hero-worship of her big sister. At times the dialogue is a bit mature for high school students, the witty banter too intellectual for even bright teenagers.WE ARE THE GOLDENS is a fast paced, short read, but one that gripped me from page one and didn't let up even when I finished the book. This YA novel is interesting for both teens and adults. I will certainly look for more novels by Dana Reinhardt, who has become one of my favorite YA writers.
W**F
Sisters and secrets
Love this book about teen sisters and secrets they keep from each other.
S**S
Beautiful, Harrowing Tale of Two Sisters and The Secrets They Keep....
* I received this novel in exchange for an honest review *We Are The Goldens by Dana Reinhardt was a harrowing tale of two sisters, the secrets they keep, and the pain of carrying the weight around.Having three sisters myself, We Are The Goldens spoke to me. Nell and Layla are two very different characters, individual personalities, but their mutual love for one another is something I hope wins out as the end left the gates swinging wide open. So, please be warned, there is NO closure in the end, but I get the ending, I get the attempt to make the reader think long after the last page was turned.Ms. Reinhardt tackles some serious issues for YA in this book and I tip my hat to her for that. Topics such as a student/teacher relationship is quite risky, but the author managed to address it.I felt most for Nell, the younger sister, who at the expense of betraying her sisters trust, carries a burden on her behalf that is too heavy to bear and I think the way the author wrote Layla's understanding or lack thereof, is a typical response for the age group.Felix's character was wonderful. I agree with Nell...he is a beautiful boy inside and out.I loved the way the story is written, as a letter to Layla. We Are The Goldens is a gripping story filled with love, lies, heartache, the pains of making a decision based out of love but one that could ultimately lead to the loss of love. This was an emotional rollercoaster ride!The writing is seamless, beautiful and haunting. I will be on the lookout for future works from this author.
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