In a city built on glittering promises, a girl must find the courage to expose the darkness hidden beneath the gold.
Jade Timms’ debut novel, Golden, is a contemporary young adult story perfect for readers aged 14 and up. The book introduces seventeen-year-old Eddie, who is quietly struggling with PTSD three years after witnessing her brother-in-law’s drowning. She has pushed away her friends and twin brother, navigating her trauma in isolation. Life in her small Australian coastal town begins to change when a new boy named Howl arrives, and Eddie decides to start training for the town’s annual Mud Run. This journey pushes her to slowly reconnect with her friends and family, confront her grief, and find a path toward healing. The story sensitively explores serious themes of mental health, trauma, and the importance of a support system.
What makes this novel a standout choice for your collection is the brilliant way it handles mature content with incredibly accessible prose. Golden was shortlisted for the prestigious 2023 Text Prize, a testament to its quality. The narrative is told in Eddie’s authentic teenage voice, using mostly simple and compound sentences that are easy for struggling readers to follow. This straightforward style ensures students aren’t bogged down by complex syntax and can instead focus on Eddie’s emotional journey. While the book tackles complex topics like PTSD, it avoids clinical jargon. Instead, students learn emotional vocabulary through Eddie’s relatable inner monologue, making abstract concepts feel concrete. The moderate use of Australian slang also presents a fantastic opportunity for English language teachers to discuss regional dialects. For students who are visual learners, Eddie’s artistic perspective provides rich, descriptive imagery that helps them connect with the story, even without illustrations. It’s an ideal book for engaging reluctant readers with high-interest themes of friendship and first love while gently introducing them to important conversations about mental well-being.
