Book Review: Golden by Jessi Kirby

Golden
Author: Jessi Kirby
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary | Realistic Fiction
Release Date: May 14th 2014
Review Source: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

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.

Jessi Kirby's novels have yet to get anything less than a 5 rating from me. Her novels connect with me in such a way, that its hard to explain. I read Golden mid march and had yet written a review for the book. I felt that no matter what I would say in this review, it would not explain the greatness behind the book. Golden is such a breathing-taking novel,  that can be described with so my words from the dictionary. Just alone the cover is gorgeous and the words inside compliment each other hand in hand. This coming of age prose rocks your core and leaves you satisfied when you read the last word. The great thing about Jessi's novels are that they are all stand-alones, so no waiting to find out what next. Jessi balances everything so well within the 300+/- pages that her books contain like its no body's business. All her books including Golden take you on a fantastic ride. 

As soon as I read Golden I had to pass it on to my friend that teaches High School level English, she loved it and plans to share with her students. Golden will appeal to anyone. You can be a paranormal lover and read Golden and LOVE it. I promised that it will leave it's mark on you. Jessi Kirby's style of writing coming of age books have no flaws in them. Her stories are original and unforgettable. You will want to share how much you adored the book with friends and family.

Golden is the story of Parker Frost. Parker is 17 years old and in her senior year of High School. During her senior year, she assists the English teacher. He has given Parker an important project to help him with. Every year the English teacher has his senior class in the last semester write a journal. Then the teacher collects these journals that the senior class did and seals them up so that in 10 years he mails them out to his past students. Parker is given the task to mail all the journals from the senior class 10 years prior. When she comes across one journal in particular, she freezes up. This journal belongs to Julianna, a senior that passed away in a horrible accident and her body along with her boyfriends were never recovered. They assumed the river took the bodies. In the town there is a billboard with Julianna and the boyfriend's senior pictures still up as a reminder everyday to what happen to that Golden couple. Parker decides she will keep her journal and immediately gets pulled into reading Julianna's thoughts and secrets. The journal will lead Parker on a new course and eventually alter her own life events. 

Parker becomes addicted to knowing the whole story behind Julianna and her death. She uncovers secrets in her journal that lead Parker on a chase with her friend Kat and long time crush Trevor. The mystery of Golden will be as intriguing as Parker reading Julianna's journal. You won't expect what is coming until it hits you in the face. Golden will captivate you with a soft paced that will allow you to understand  and follow along. Golden's characters will be a treat to read, they are people that you can believe exist with such amazing voices. If you want to read top-grade YA material then Jessi Kirby's novels are the way to go. 

Its doesn't get better than Jessi's books. I can't wait to read what's next for Jessi Kirby. I strongly recommend to everyone.