Sisterly Love - It's not always sugar and spice and everything nice

Reading the first pages of Dana Reinhardt's book, We Are The Goldens, I could tell this was a book I would enjoy.  It resonated with me because of the relationship I have with one of my older sisters.  The story is narrated by younger sister, Nell Golden, and the story of older sister Layla, who has always been the perfect role model for Nell.  Layla has made a name for herself at the private school she attends because of her superior academics and equally admirable soccer skills.  Nell has followed in her footsteps hoping to achieve the same admiration but allowing herself a bit of individualism with her venture into the school play.  This situation is so similar to the one I had with my sister, who was a senior in high school - gifted athlete, cheerleader and pretty darn smart - when I entered that same school as a freshman.  I would never be considered an athlete (I'm a much better FAN of sports) and I opted for the dance team, a sort of nemesis to the cheerleaders at our school for whatever reason.  Like Nell and Layla, my sister and I shared a bedroom until she left for college and so the bond that situation created was just as strong as the bond that Reinhardt creates for her characters.
Having lived in a very similar situation, the writing touched me as completely accurate. Based on my experience with both of my sisters and what I see with my own two daughters, there is an unspoken language between sisters (possibly among siblings in general but certainly with sisters).  One can tell when the other is upset, one knows what to say or do to smooth things over, one knows which buttons to push to drive the other one crazy and one can definitely tell when the other is lying.   There is also this unwavering loyalty among sisters and no matter how angry one is with the other, it seems like the goal is always to bring peace  back to the relationship.  So is the case with the Goldens.

Nell can tell very soon into the school year that something is amiss with Layla.  She notices the subtle clues that their divorced parents miss. When she uncovers the secret, Nell is horrified and against her better judgement she tells no one.  Nell calls herself "The Keeper of Secrets and The Keeper of Peace in the family". The relationship between the two slowly unravels to the point where they argue regularly and avoid each other, but the one constant remains - their love for each other.  Throughout Nell's internal debate about how to help her sister, she relies on the ghosts of two brothers her family once new, Duncan and Parker Creed.  The brief background on these characters suggest a close bond that was as close as the one shared by Nell and Layla.  The official story is that older brother Parker died at the age of 16 from an accidental fall down a staircase, and nine months later 14 year old Duncan died from an undetected heart condition, however cocaine and suicide have been the constant whispers.  When Nell uncovers Layla's secret she can't help but "confide" in the other two "perfect" siblings - what will happen to Layla if she stays quiet? As an adult reading the story the answer is obvious, but the writing so cleverly portrays the anguish Nell feels (as any sister may feel) of "betraying" her sister. Her subtle attempts at exposing her sister fail and as things spiral out of control the time comes for a more direct approach.  The ghost brothers push her over the edge with this thought, "That's what it means to be the younger sister You know. You know everything."

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this slim novel.  It felt true - an honest portrayal of a sibling recognizing the call for help but unsure how to answer that call.  I would be happy to share with this with my 8th grade daughter and when the time comes, with her younger sister.  It's a story of sisterly love, and the many different shapes/forms that love is expressed. But be aware, it's not a sweet, sugar-coated version (hooray!). It's the messy, frustrating, selfish, but with love-always-at-the-core version. In other words, the real kind of sisterly love.

My very unprofessional pic of this beautiful book, taken in my favorite thinking spot - my backyard :-)