Gold (Little Island Books, 9781910411551) received a STARRED review in the April
15, 2017 issue of Kirkus Reviews (circ. 10,000). The
review was posted on Kirkus Online on
March 29, 2017. The reviewer says “The twins’ quick-paced, action-packed
journey will sweep readers right along with them.” The complete review follows:
Twin boys, Starn and Esper, live in Orchard Territory, a grim place
where most animals, insects, and plants have died, suffocated under ash from a
catastrophic series of volcanic eruptions. The white boys’ mother and sister
have died of a new illness, and their father has become one of the workers that
painstakingly pollinate trees by hand. The new world is run by the crude,
small-minded Sagittars, everything strictly controlled and enforced with harsh
punishment. On a dare, Starn opens their sister’s sealed room and finds a book
handwritten by their great-aunt telling of gold on one of the islands all
citizens are forbidden to visit. Starn’s obsession with flying spurs him to
design and build a glider in secret so that he and his brother can capture the
treasure and return to liberate their father from his relentless work. After
some close calls of discovery, the boys set off on their adventure. Mills
perfectly contrasts the two halves of the story, using a vocabulary unique to
Orchard to describe that world and completely new ways for the boys to describe
the islands’ vivid, unfamiliar flora. Heavy concerns—bad government,
environmental challenges—are compassionately woven into a story with Mills’
poetic lyricism showing through. Also of note is Lauren O’Neill’s gorgeous
cover illustration. The twins’ quick-paced, action-packed journey will sweep
readers right along with them.
AND
Gold was also recommended in the May 15, 2017 Summer Reading Issue of Kirkus
Reviews (circ. 10,000). A portion of the book cover was also
included on the cover of the issue. See attached.
PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED:
BOOKTRADE:
5/1/17, School Library Journal (circ. 26,747)
PRINT:
May/June 2017 BEA + ALA issue, Foreword Reviews (circ.
10,000)
ONLINE:
6/8/17, Foreword Reviews Online (34,413 uvpm)
Book of the Day
COMPLETE BOOKTRADE REVIEWS:
School Library Journal
Twin brothers Esper and Starn long for a world
devoid of darkness and ash after massive volcanic explosions leave their world
in ruins. The government, policed by the authoritarian Sagittars, is harsh and
cruel. The boys’ father works at the Orchard, where he helps pollinate fruit
trees. One day, Esper dares Starn to break into the “forbidden room” in their
apartment, an area that has been off-limits since their mother and sister died.
They discover a hidden map left by their great-aunt, which describes a path to
islands with gold that can help save their dying world. With courage and
bravado, the brothers construct a hand glider and set out across the ashen
horizon toward the forbidden islands. Strong world-building and
thought-provoking themes make this ideal for tweens looking for dystopian
tales. VERDICT Though not as
dark and disturbing as more YA dystopian offerings, this postapocalyptic tale
nevertheless keeps the adventure thrilling and will enchant fans of both
fantasy and fantastic sci-fi.–H. Islam, Brooklyn Public Library
