A Curse Dark As Gold by Elizabeth C. Bunce

“Great courage breaks ill luck”. Charlotte Miller is the eldest daughter of the Shearing Millers. She has inherited her family’s woolen mill, following the death of her father. It has long been rumored that a curse surrounds the mill and while the mill has been passed from family to family through the generations no sons have been born or lived to take up the trade. From the minute she takes over, Charlotte and her sister Rosie endure their share of hardships. From freak accidents, to unknown debts, to fierce and bitter competition, Charlotte and the mill seem to be plagued with bad luck. Fortunately Charlotte has a strong head on her shoulders and will not go down without a fight. When bad turns to worse, a strange gentleman, Mr. Jack Spinner, appears to have the solution to each and every dilemma. But will the price of his help be more than Charlotte is willing to pay?

It is clear to see why this novel is the winner of the inaugural offering of the Morris Award, which is given to authors making their YA debut. A Curse Dark As Gold is a smart and inspiring yarn spun from the “Rumplestilskin” motif.