In D.K. Zier’s The Urban Legend of the Gold Key, Cate Smith Cruz moves from cemetery-filled Peaceville to Seaway, California, in summer 1985. Starting junior year at Merrick High puts her in school with the BayHips, the band she formed with summer friends. Before classes begin, Cate inherits a Victorian Steinway once owned by her great-aunt Lavinia, a teenage songwriter whose belongings contain cryptic messages about music. At Merrick, Cate discovers the Fall Music Competition, where a coveted gold key traces back to school founder Ellis Merrick. The influential Sloans dominate student life, placing Cate in a social order she barely understands as she tries to find her place. Meanwhile, unusual experiences begin following her music. Their connection to Lavinia’s piano raises the possibility that Seaway’s stories about the mysterious gold keys may contain some truth.

D.K. Zier’s The Urban Legend of the Gold Key is fantastic supernatural coming-of-age fiction, and the author has filled Merrick High with characters who are instantly distinct. Madi, one of Cate’s BayHips bandmates, is hilarious, answering Cate’s grandmother Tutu’s no-shoes rule by tossing Cate a sneaker as her “glass slipper.” I love Mark, a Sloan who dreams of becoming a fashion designer, and his theatrical flair suits him perfectly. That comes through when he redesigns Cate’s school fashion show outfit as the futuristic “Space Maiden,” complete with a towering beehive. Still, it’s the author’s near cinematic descriptions of settings that steal the scenes, from Seaway Skates glowing beneath changing lights inside a converted dockside warehouse, to North Ranch with steam rising from Ashley’s black mare in the morning chill. Beautifully written and immersive, readers who enjoy supernatural coming-of-age fiction will adore this.

The Urban Legend of the Gold Key by D.K. Zier is a warm, gentle coming-of-age novel full of teenage angst, discomfort, and a burning desire to fit in that will feel familiar to younger audiences and trigger a journey down memory lane for others. Set in the 1980s, before social media, young Cate has spent her youth moving around and continually adjusting to making new friends and establishing herself at a new school. Finally, now in high school, she is settled and has the opportunity to make her two great ambitions in life come true: finding a sense of belonging and being part of a breakout garage band that will make it big on the latest stage, MTV. What complicates her simple yet difficult-to-attain dreams is the discovery of a supernatural side to her life. When she is bequeathed an heirloom, an antique Grand Piano from a distant relative, she discovers it has the power to influence her dreams and offer visions of an apocalyptic future for humanity. Not only must she deal with the usual angst of being a teenage girl, but Cate must also navigate a strange world of ghosts, premonitions, and magical awards.

The Urban Legend of the Gold Key is a wonderfully nostalgic trip. D.K. Zier has not only created a totally identifiable and relatable character in Cate, but the inclusion of iconic pop culture from the 1980s will undoubtedly tug at many readers’ heartstrings and memories. I really appreciated the firm, unshakeable belief of all the characters that “their” music was the ultimate, defining music of the century. Of course, those of us who grew up in the sixties and seventies believed the same thing about our music. The characters around Cate are instantly recognizable to any high school student; from the archetypal “Queen Bee” through to the cliques that exist in any high school environment: the jocks, the nerds, the geeks, and the wealthy kids in designer gear. The supernatural element of the plot gives the novel a real edge and lifts it above others in its genre. For me, the plotting and the relationships within the core group were the highlight of the story, and in a period defined by fear, mistrust of authority, and a certain austerity, those close friendships sustained Cate and her group. Well written, gentle, thoughtful, and with hidden mystical depth, this is a novel well worth considering for all ages, not just its probable intended age-group audience. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and highly recommend it.

The Urban Legend of the Gold Key by D.K. Zier is a mystical coming-of-age YA novel set in the 1980s. Cate Cruz is sixteen years old and the new kid in high school in her junior year. A talented musician and lyricist, Cate wants to connect with community and save the world through music. With her friends, she dreams of making it big with their band, the BayHips, but school pressures and rivalries keep pulling them apart. Cate gets a chance to practice her musical skills when she inherits a grand piano once belonging to her great-aunt, but she quickly discovers that her musical talent is shadowed by envy and other demons. When she wins a coveted Gold Key Award, beating Ashley Sloan, the Queen Bee, she is marked as an outcast at school. Ashley offers her a trade-off, putting the things and people Cate cares for most on the line.

The Urban Legend of the Gold Key is a compelling story, with some very perceptive observations on the power of music. D.K. Zier has captured perfectly the way the petty cruelties and jealousies of high school cliques can loom so large in teenagers’ lives. I found it fascinating to watch as Cate, creative and vulnerable, learns to live by the message she receives from the past: “Face your demons to realize your destiny.” I also really liked the way her love for animals is fully reciprocated by pets as well as wild animals. Readers nostalgic for the 1980s and the early years of MTV will find it all here -- the music, the teased hair, blue eyeshadow, neon colored bubble dresses, and more. I hope there will be a sequel.

Set in California in the summer of 1985, The Urban Legend of the Gold Key by D.K. Zier follows Cate Smith Cruz, a young girl trying to find her place in the world while dealing with complicated family relationships, the challenges of high school, and the difficulties of fitting in. Cate’s life becomes increasingly intriguing as she encounters strange dreams, ghostly experiences, and mysterious energies. Secrets surrounding the gold key awarded to the winner of the Fall music competition make Cate curious. Cate has to navigate friendships, school drama, and her tense relationship with her mother, while also making sense of the unusual events unfolding around her. With colorful characters, setting, and the quintessential musical playlist, this is definitely the '80s version of High School Musical and reminiscent of The Breakfast Club.

D.K. Zier creates a nostalgic 1980s background that adds atmosphere to the story, while exploring themes of family, identity, belonging, self-confidence, and the desire to be accepted. Cate’s love of music and songwriting adds another dimension to her character, allowing readers to connect with her thoughts and emotions. The combination of coming-of-age drama with some paranormal elements adds to the existential crisis that every teen encounters when their romantic ideas of how they want their lives to be are wrecked by reality. The plot ensures great character development and emotional growth. The Urban Legend of the Gold Key is a pleasant read and will entertain those who grew up in that era and give younger generations a snapshot view of what it was like before social media and the internet. I can see this being taught at school, as there are many meaningful moments that can be discussed academically.