Doubles (coming May 1, 2026)
Doubles takes place in 1968 in an institution for troubled youth, and is told from the perspective of a brilliant, spunky, 12-year-old girl who is obsessed with math. Engagingly written and often funny, this novella explores how a sensitive young teenager changes over a six-month period from a polite, quiet “good girl” into a delinquent. Although set in the past, Doubles has direct relevance to today, with our recently heightened awareness of the harsh reality in some of our residential institutions during that era (including for Indigenous children, but not only).
Advance Praise for Doubles
Doubles, Nora Gold’s elegant novella about a girl’s descent into sheer loneliness, has something of Mordecai Richler’s merciless wit, and also of Cynthia Ozick’s playfully somber storytelling. But most of all, Doubles reads like the work of an original literary voice—a voice endowed with tenderness, compassion, political memory, and clarity of moral vision. Nora Gold’s fiction keeps breaking one’s heart as it lives on in the reader’s memory.
— Maxim D. Shrayer, author of A Russian Immigrant and Zion Square
Nora Gold’s Doubles is a stunning novella about a twelve-year-old girl placed in an institution in 1968 after the death of her mother. Written with beautiful prose and assured deftness, Doubles is a powerful meditation on loss, as well as a breathtaking elegy for all children who are dependent for their well-being on a profoundly flawed child welfare system. Heartbreaking, gorgeous, and quietly devastating, Doubles is a tour de force.
— Zeeva Bukai, author of The Anatomy of Exile and The World Between
Nora Gold has achieved in this novella what most novelists fail to achieve in ten times the number of pages. In the compact and stunning Doubles, the narrative concept is inspired and the voice of the narrator never once wavers. Some books can be written only by the most seasoned, wise and rigorous of writers. This is such a book.
– Michael Carin, author of Edisson and Jeremiah
Doubles is a stirring historical novella.
– FOREWORD REVIEWS (Michelle Anne Schingler)
This novella is fantastic: well-written, great pacing and tension, with a sharp and unwittingly witty narrator. The ending is perfect and, in a way, redemptive and hopeful. An amazing book.
— Malcolm van Delst, author of Do The Wrong Thing
Nora Gold rises to new heights with her sixth book, Doubles. The novella is superficially simple, but really quite complex. The writing is beautiful. Serious ideas are expressed in this short but complicated book. Only an author of Nora Gold’s skill and experience could have pulled off this tour de force. Brava.
— Marion Hoffmann, author of Eva’s Daughters
Nora Gold’s Doubles is a very deep, philosophically-tinged narrative of a life gone awry, of what can happen to a vibrant, vital child when neglected and uncared for… A gifted writer, Gold’s story is both poignant and troubling and will leave an indelible impression on the reader. A highly recommended read.
— Jerry Levy, author of The Philosopher Stories
Doubles is such a moving book. A first-person narration that touches both one’s heart and one’s social conscience. I just loved it.
— Leora Skolkin-Smith, author of Hystera
Nora Gold is a masterfully poetic writer, deep diving into uncomfortable themes with literary precision, showcasing depth and humor alike… Though Doubles is set in 1969, its message is timeless, relevant, and poignant. Expect to read this in one engaging and captivating sitting. 5 stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
— Bibliopeeks
Doubles is exquisitely written, clever, intellectual, and funny, all at the same time. I couldn’t put it down.
— Hindy Abelson
This stirring novella… is a compassionate portrait of a girl clever beyond her years who will stay with you long after you’ve read the last page.
— Shelly Sanders, Author of The Night Sparrow and Daughters of the Occupation
Written with deft subtlety and brilliant prose… Gold’s writing is pitch-perfect.
— Lisa de Nikolits