The Gold Dark Summer

A Boarding School Story

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Pub Date 15 Jun 2022 | Archive Date 4 Aug 2022

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Description

In her 14th summer,Sadie risks everything to go in search of the love she dreams of.

“…vividly captures the magic and excitement of youth…” The Self-Publishing Review

14-year-old Sadie rebels against the rules and regulations of her strict English boarding school, risking disgrace, the loss of friendship, exclusion from the coveted Music Festival, even expulsion from school, to ride an emotional roller-coaster that will take her to the heights of happiness and the depths of despair. As summer term draws towards its close and her world is collapsing around her, she must somehow find the strength and maturity to ride out the storm and emerge not only older and wiser, but victorious.

“A superbly plotted coming-of-age novel with a strong cast of characters and a vibrant setting. Highly recommended!” The Wishing Shelf

It is 1959, and the shadow of World War II still lingers over England. Sadie dreams that the father she has never known will return, even though he was killed in the war. She dreams that Danny, a senior at the nearby boys' school, whom she glimpses only from afar, in church, will one day notice her, but he has eyes only for her best friend, Lucy. And she dreams that she and Lucy will be selected to sing in the prestigious Music Festival, and bring glory to the school.

"An elegy for adolescence and a simpler age, sensitive, insightful, bittersweet, and poignant". Debbie Young, author.

This beautifully-written, heart-wrenching novel of first love, friendship and betrayal, is a must-read for teenagers and all those seeking “a realistic reminder of what it’s like to be young…"

In her 14th summer,Sadie risks everything to go in search of the love she dreams of.

“…vividly captures the magic and excitement of youth…” The Self-Publishing Review

14-year-old Sadie rebels...


Advance Praise

"“An eloquent novel detailing the ins and outs of an English boarding school in the late 1950s, The Gold Dark Summer is a lushly descriptive work about the delights and dangers of forbidden first love. Sadie, a young scholarship student at Bracken Hill who lost her father in WWII, falls for a boy and must cope with the consequences, including the betrayal of friends. Papas’ poignant book vividly captures the magic and excitement of youth, where every change and new experience is a dramatic opportunity for personal growth and exploration, offering a look at adolescence from a historical perspective that is wholly recognizable in the present day.” The Self-Publishing Review 4½ stars

 “Like the Malory Tower books, this is set in a girls’ boarding school – although there is a boys’ school too. And, like Enid Blyton’s books, it’s set in sort of the same time; a time when the children would say stuff like, “Cheer up, old thing.” And there was a matron, and she would say things like, “Scrub those fingers, young lady, as soon as we get back from church."" Yes, there’s a lot of Malory Towers in this novel. Yet... There’s also a lot more!

Firstly, this is a coming-of-age story and, in many ways, the problems the protagonist (Sadie) must face seem so much bigger than Darrell’s. Enid Blyton was a victim of her time and couldn’t (and possibly didn’t want to) allow her characters to get involved in anything too deep – particularly boys! Secondly, the characters in this novel feel better developed, not just in terms of who they are, but also what they want. Thirdly, the author’s writing style is in many ways much stronger than Blyton ́s; lyrical almost and, thankfully, not too flowery.  The story’s cleverly plotted, the setting is well-described, and the characters jump off the page. ...a captivating read. Highly recommended.” The Wishing Shelf 5 stars 

“Papas’s honest exploration of her protagonist’s inner world and outer life takes place over the course of a season at a British boarding school in the late 1950s. This slice of Sadie’s life is a particularly life-changing one, and Papas doesn’t miss a moment of it. …she is a capable storyteller with both an eye for beauty and a keen sense of empathy. That empathy gets applied equally to everyone in the story, from the adults in Sadie’s life, to the friends who both help and hurt her, and even to the young man who sets her heart alight for the first time.  The young women see the double standards that exist around them, and know they want to be able to live more freely. They try to find that freedom however they can – a striking and beautiful journey that hits upon what all young people share in their adolescence. …a worthwhile read for those seeking a realistic reminder of what it’s like to be young, and of how, as one character aptly puts it, “Growing up is like walking blindfold through a minefield.” That is: terrifying but exhilarating, with everything raw and brand-new. Papas conjures this feeling well with her detailed, poetic prose, and does so in a way that lingers long after Sadie’s story has concluded.”  Indie Reader 4 star review

“An elegy for adolescence and a simpler age, sensitive, insightful, bittersweet, and poignant. The characters are strong and engaging, the boarding school setting highly evocative, the descriptions both lyrical and filmic in their clarity."" Debbie Young, author of the St Bride's School series, and the Sophie Sayers Village Mystery series

"“An eloquent novel detailing the ins and outs of an English boarding school in the late 1950s, The Gold Dark Summer is a lushly descriptive work about the delights and dangers of forbidden first...


Available Editions

ISBN 9789925787807
PRICE US$4.75 (USD)

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Featured Reviews

I am writing this review for Net Galley.

In this story we follow a young girl Named Sadie who is attending an all woman's boarding school. There we watch her grow as she is learning new things every day. Boys are not allowed in this school however that doesn't stop some of the young woman from the risk of getting into trouble by going out in the middle of the night to meet them.

Sadie found herself falling head over heels for a boy named Danny. She didn't think she would be able to get his attention but once she did they would find ways to meet up until one night Danny didn't show.

This is a cute young adult story. I really enjoyed it. I rated it a 4 because there is one part in the story I did not care for and could probably be left out. I understand why the author put that part in there, I just didn't care for it. Otherwise it is a good read and highly recommend.

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