A Curse Dark As Gold by Elizabeth Bunce

Bunce, E. C. (2008). A curse dark as gold. New York, NY: Arthur A. Levine Books.

ISBN: 9780439895767 (Hardcover)

Price: $17.99: 395 pages

Other Formats: paperback, audio book, eBook

Recommended for ages 15 and older

  

Image Courtesy of Goodreads

Reviews & Honors:
*Winner of the William C. Morris Award for a Young Adult Debut
*An ALA Best Book for Young Adults
*A Smithsonian Notable Book
*A Kansas Notable Book
*An Amelia Bloomer Project selection
*Finalist for the Cybils Award
*An Oprah's Book Club Kids' Reading List Teen Selection
*Justine Magazine Spark selection(Retrieved from the Author's Website. )

Annotation: Teenage Charlotte inadvertently made a deal with the devil to save her family’s business. What will happen when she is unable to follow through with her part of the bargain?

What would you sacrifice to secure your family’s legacy? Charlotte Miller’s father just passed away, leaving her and her younger sister Rosie as orphans. Not only is Charlotte now responsible for her sister, but the majority of the town relies on the Miller family for their income as well, since the Millers are the owners of the wool mill- the town’s chief employer. The Millers have owned the mill for generations and is typically handed down from father to son, but since there is not a male heir, Charlotte in now the sole proprietor of the mill and its subsequent debts. When the bank decides it wants payment if full for a loan that Charlotte’s father took out before he died, Charlotte is dumbfounded. How can she possibly pay the loan when the mill is not even making a profit?  One day, a mysterious man arrives and tells Charlotte that he is the answer to all her problems, for he can spin straw into gold. However, what will he demand in return? 

What Teens are Saying: 

“I love steampunk and graphic novels. I like horror books, too. I’ve been reading The Color of Earth by Dong Hwa Kim, and I think it is one of the most beautiful graphic novels. I am also reading Zombies and Unicorns, which contains a bunch of short stories. It’s really fun to read.” (Colleen E., age 19).