The Golden Day | TheBookSeekers

The Golden Day


No. of pages 160

Published: 2014

Great for age 12-18 years

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When their teacher goes missing during an outing, eleven girls grapple with the aftermath in this haunting, exquisitely told psychological thriller.The Vietnam War rages overseas but back home, in a year that begins with the hanging of one man and ends with the drowning of another, eleven schoolgirls embrace their own chilling history when their teacher abruptly goes missing during a school outing. Who was the mysterious poet they had met in the garden? What actually happened in the seaside cave that day? And most important who can they tell about it? In beautifully crafted prose that shimmers and fades, Ursula Dubosarsky reveals how a single shared experience can alter the course of young lives for ever. Part gripping thriller, part ethereal tale of innocence lost, The Golden Day is a poignant study of fear and friendship, and of what it takes to come of age with courage.

 

 

This book is the winner of numerous awards

This book has been graded for interest at 12 years.

There are 160 pages in this book.

It is aimed at Young Adult readers. The term Young Adult (YA) is used for books which have the following characteristics: (1) aimed at ages 12-18 years, US grades 7-12, UK school years 8-15, (2) around 50-75k words long, (3) main character is aged 12-18 years, (4) topics include self-reflection, internal conflict vs external, analyzing life and its meaning, (5) point of view is often in the first person, and (6) swearing, violence, romance and sexuality are allowed.

This book was published in 2014 by Walker Books Ltd .

Ursula Dubosarsky 's books include The White Guinea Pig , The First Book of Samuel , Abyssinia , and many more.

 

This book has been nominated for the following award:

Keystone to Reading Award - High School
This book was recognised in the High School category by the Keystone to Reading Book Award.

In a stunning feat of perspective, Dubosarsky inhabits all 11 girls at once, snaking through a thousand small joys and triumphs and fears and petty grudges as they absorb life's bleakest truths as well as their own complicity in them... This is a masterful look at children's numb surprise to the most unsavoury of adult developments. * Booklist (starred review) *

 

Laced with humor amid a steady feeling of dread, the atmospheric narrative chillingly evokes lurking forces capable of tarnishing even the most golden and innocent of days. * Publishers Weekly (starred review) *

 

Chilling, elegant, atmospheric... Ms Dubosarsky deftly conveys the confusion of childhood, the strangeness of things half-glimpsed and only partly understood. With quiet brilliance she evokes the distinct personalities of the classmates..."The Golden Day" is the sort of book that churns comething up deep inside the reader; it will be as hard for an adult to forget as the young people ages 12 and older for whom it is intended. * The Wall Street Journal *

 

Through precise, vivid descriptions, the third-person narrative evokes the contrast between the girls' cloistered school lives and the hard realities of the outside world... Read this slender mystery for the meticulous prose and characterization... * Kirkus Reviews *

 

Part atmospheric thriller, part poignant coming-of-age novel, this was one that kept me up late. -- Fiona Noble * Bookseller Children's Guide *

 

Rich in imagery, . . . bridging the gap between children's and YA fiction . . . would be enjoyed by anyone who likes to read quirky books with more than a hint of psychological thriller about them. * Books for Keeps *

 

This succinct novel combines a love of poetry, an intriguing mystery, an exquisite study of group mentality and the dynamics of friendship. * The Scotsman *

 

Atmospheric, chilling and haunting. * The Irish Times *

 

An atmospheric tale about eleven school girls and their teacher Miss Renshaw. With echoes of the classic Picnic t Hanging Rock, the group's excursion to the botanical gardens throws up shock and scandal... Beautifully written by one of Australia's most talented authors, this is a story to be savoured and one to discuss. * WRD magazine *

 

A gripping, beautifully written psychological tale * The School Librarian *

 

This succinct novel combines a love of poetry, an intriguing mystery and an exquisite study of group mentality and the dynamics of friendship * The Scotsman *

 

A beautifully crafted book with enigmatic imagery, deft characterisation and a writing style evocative of another era, the mystery at its heart making for compelling reading. The ambiguous ending does not disappoint in this quaint story. * Children's Books Ireland Recommended Read *