Little Gold
Shortlisted for the Polari Prize for LGBT+ fiction
by Allie Rogers
This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
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Pub Date 2 May 2017 | Archive Date 15 May 2017
Description
'Life affirming and triumphant' Mark A. Radcliffe
'Vivid and touching… this book left me haunted long after I put it down' Umi Sinha
The heat is oppressive and storms are brewing in Brighton in the summer of 1982. Little Gold, a boyish girl on the brink of adolescence, is struggling with the reality of her broken family and a home descending into chaos. Her only refuge is the tree at the end of her garden.
Into her fractured life steps elderly neighbour, Peggy Baxter. The connection between the two is instant, but just when it seems that Little Gold has found solace, outsiders appear who seek to take advantage of her frail family in the worst way possible. In an era when so much is hard to speak aloud, can Little Gold share enough of her life to avert disaster? And can Peggy Baxter, a woman running out of time and with her own secrets to bear, recognise the danger before it’s too late?
‘A tender, beautifully paced and deeply moving debut… Little Gold herself is a wonderful centrepiece… and in Peggy Baxter, Rogers has offered up one of the most engaging heroines I have read in a very long time. This is a book about individual struggle that manages to be both life affirming and triumphant.’ Mark A. Radcliffe, author of Gabriel's Angel
‘Such a wonderfully moving and atmospheric novel, full of very real and very touching relationships. A brilliant portrayal of the pain and wonder of leaving behind childhood, beautifully evocative of a Brighton summer in the 1980s.’ Catherine Hall, author of Days of Grace
‘Reminiscent of Scout Finch, Little Gold is a great addition to literature’s endearing child characters. Vivid, touching, sad and frightening, this book exposes the dark underbelly of 1980s Brighton and left me haunted long after I put it down.’Umi Sinha, author of Belonging
‘A gripping and yet tender novel, and the characters of Peggy Baxter and Little Gold are brilliantly handled. I was rooting for Little Gold from the start, and fascinated and moved by Peggy’s story. Brighton is so vividly depicted, too. It’s a great first novel.’ Bethan Roberts, author of My Policeman
‘Opening Allie Rogers’ Little Gold I found myself engrossed in a vibrant, moving tale of one family’s struggle to get by. This is a book about survival, about the pluck and power of a singular child and the fundamental importance of friendship.’ Alison Smith, author of Name All the Animals
'Little Gold is a step back in time, into a rich world with complex characters on meaningful inner journeys that are quietly intriguing.' Hannah Hohman, ForeWord Reviews
Available Editions
| EDITION | Ebook |
| ISBN | 9781787199941 |
| PRICE | £0.99 (GBP) |
| PAGES | 288 |
Featured Reviews
Erika R, Reviewer
--I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are purely my own and not influenced in any way.--
This book takes a little time to get going, but once it does, it REALLY gets going. This is a coming of age story about a charming little girl on the cusp of puberty who explores her sexuality and tries to survive her dysfunctional family. Little Gold is aided by Peggy, an elderly woman on her last legs coming to terms with her own life and regrets. Their friendship is very sweet, but I'm not entirely sure if we needed Peggy's perspective for the story. It didn't really add to the story (and I found Little Gold's perspective to be more interesting), but it was well written.
The whole book is very well written and our main characters are incredibly realistic and Malcy's story is pretty good and unfortunately realistically written, though I was annoyed that his story didn't end the way I was hoping (and that Ani's story wasn't really addressed). That said, our perspective is that of a 12 year old with a pretty dysfunctional family, so I'll let it slide.
Very good book, I would recommend it for anyone who likes slice of life, dysfunctional family books!
Beth M, Librarian
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! This coming-of-age debut novel didn't grab me right away, but it turned out to be one of the strongest novels I've read this year, and will undoubtedly be in my top 10. Little Gold is one of those books that burrows into your mind and soul and stays there for a good long time. It's the early 80's in Brighton, England and 12 year old Little Gold (LG) lives with her older sister Aly, her older brother Malcy, and a mother they can't rely on. LG is closet to Malcy, who is the only source of friendship she seems to have. One day LG meets an elderly neighbor, Peggy Baxter, and the two begin an unlikely friendship. They share stories, comfort one another, and ultimately rely on each other during a very difficult crisis. A coming-of-age story unlike any other, there are important issues addressed in this novel, which set it apart from many others in my mind. The author is not afraid to be real, and while often times very sad and depressing, the novel is also sweet and hopeful. I can't wait to see what else this debut author shows us in the future.
Beverley C, Educator
A coming of age novel full of depth and emotion and a really strong resonance of the 1980's The author held my attention throughout with her strong characters and superbly evocative language. Little Gold's story was beautifully told and will stay with me for a very long time.
Angela M, Reviewer
I'm frequently drawn to stories that feature the perspective of young children who many times are wiser and more in tune with what is happening around them than the adults. Most of these stories depict the coming of age of the young person as they face some stark realities, some times too soon in their young lives . Eleven year Little Gold is from a family in crisis. Her father leaves for another woman and her children and her mother can't cope seeking relief in pills and alcohol. This leaves LG and her older siblings Ali and Malcy to manage on their own and so they take care of each other as best they know how. It's endearing how Little Gold watches out for her older asthmatic brother, always trying to find his inhaler when he needs it . It will tighten your gut as LG discovers the danger that Malcy in as he gets closer to the parents of his friend. At times this is hard to read and it's quite disturbing towards the end and you'll be afraid that LG is being drawn into this dangerous situation too.
However, amid the sadness and some awful things befalling this family, there is love and caring and there are bright spots of hope. Among the bright spots is Peggy Baxter a character who makes this is more than a coming of age story. It's also what I'd call a coming to terms story manifested in Peggy, a neighbor who is terminally ill and befriends LG when she is in desperate need of a friend. Peggy connects with LG , sees that she is hungry and alone, as she is evaluating the the decisions she had made earlier in her life, and the relationship with her partner Vi that ended years before. Sad, haunting, scary yet hopeful as Peggy Baxter saves this broken family. I was taken by the writing from the first page and by Little Gold and Peggy, characters not soon forgotten . Definitely recommended.
I received an advanced copy of this book from Legend Press through NetGalley.
Carol S, Librarian
WOW! This was brutal but amazing. Didn't fall into the same problems other coming of age stories tend to share.
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