This Golden State
This Golden State by Marit Weisenberg, published by Flatiron Books on June 6, 2023, is a young adult fiction novel that explores themes of family, identity, and the quest for truth. The story centers on the Winslow family, who live by strict principles to maintain their anonymity while constantly on the move. Poppy, the teenage daughter, grapples with her family’s secretive lifestyle and her longing for connection and stability, which is challenged when a DNA test threatens to unravel their carefully constructed existence.
As Poppy navigates her new life in California, she becomes increasingly curious about her family’s past and the reasons behind their perpetual flight. The narrative delves into her internal conflict as she seeks to uncover the truth while balancing her desire for independence with her loyalty to her family. This edition, comprising 400 pages, presents a contemporary tale that intertwines elements of mystery and social themes, including grief and the complexities of familial relationships. Readers will find a thoughtful exploration of Poppy’s journey as she confronts the implications of her choices and the impact on her family’s future.
Official synopsis Publisher
Marit Weisenberg’s This Golden State follows a family on the run, a restless teenage daughter hungry for the truth, and the simple DNA test that threatens their carefully crafted world
The Winslow family lives by five principles:
1. No one can know your real name.
2. Don’t stay in one place too long.
3. If you sense anything is wrong, go immediately to the meeting spot.
4. Keeping our family together is everything.
5. We wish we could tell you who we are, but we can’t. Please—do not ask.
Poppy doesn’t know why her family has been running her whole life, but she does know that there are dire consequences if they’re ever caught. Still, her curiosity grows each year, as does her desire for real friends and the chance to build on something, instead of leaving behind school projects, teams, and crushes at a moment’s notice.
When a move to California exposes a crack in her parents’ airtight planning, Poppy realizes how fragile her world is. Determined to find out the truth, she mails in a home DNA test. Just as she starts to settle into her new life and even begins opening up to a boy in her math class, the forgotten test results bring her crashing back to reality.
Unraveling the shocking truth of her parents’ real identities, Poppy realizes that the DNA test has undone decades of careful work to keep her family anonymous—and the past is dangerously close to catching up to them. Determined to protect her family but desperate for more, Poppy must ask: How much of herself does she owe her family? And is it a betrayal to find her own place in the world?
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