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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Death of parent, Toxic friendship
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Set in 1953 Mirror Girls turns the terrors of the Jim Crow South into a horror story (as if it weren't one for those who lived through it). Two sisters have to make life altering decisions after the tragic loss of everything they held dear. Complete with ghosts and haunted houses Mirror Girls is a fast read that reminds us that blood may be thicker than water, but you can still drown in it.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
the descriptive writing is where mirror girls shines—the accounts of the rotting southern plantation house, bubbling swamplands and foreboding segregated streets. the sundown town setting mixed with ghosts and curses, the real and imagined horror of the haunted jim crow south—makes for an unique and bracing read.
some of the dialogue and wording felt a bit too modern to be natural for a 1950s setting, and while the premise requires dual perspectives between each sister, charlie’s characterization fell flat when compared to the storyline of her sister, and i wish she had been given more to do. the pacing is quick and makes this book an easy one day read, and it has just enough spooks and real historical impact to be worth the time.
some of the dialogue and wording felt a bit too modern to be natural for a 1950s setting, and while the premise requires dual perspectives between each sister, charlie’s characterization fell flat when compared to the storyline of her sister, and i wish she had been given more to do. the pacing is quick and makes this book an easy one day read, and it has just enough spooks and real historical impact to be worth the time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism
Moderate: Police brutality, Murder
Minor: Gore
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Mirror Girls is a YA Historical Fantasy with Gothic Horror elements that beautifully weaves an amazing tale the sisterhood between biracial teens who are separated at birth, race("Passing"), family secrets and ghosts. We first meet Charlie and her Grandmother Jeanette as they head down South and soon learn that Charlie has a twin sister named Magnolia, who has unbeknownst to her is passing for white since they were separated from birth. As we follow the sisters on their journey of self discovery and life in the Jim Crow South. Kelly McWilliams knows how to hook readers in from start to finish with her beautiful character driven, storytelling, the atmospheric scenes and subtle horror.
Content Warning: Racism, Segregation and Jim Crow, Blood, Gore, Death, Murder mentioned, Lynching mentioned, Violence
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A huge thank you to the NOVL for sending me an ARC of Mirror Girls in exchange for an honest review! I was excited to get my hands on this book since I really enjoyed Agnes at the End of the World by Kelly McWilliams. This is another cool genre mashup, so if you like YA authors who think outside the box, you'll probably be a McWilliams fan.
As I alluded to earlier, this book was a fascinating blend of historical fiction and paranormal elements. I also loved that the central relationship was between two estranged sisters. Although they feel an instant connection when they meet, they still clash at the beginning due to resentment around their different upbringings. It was interesting to see the pros and cons of how they were raised; is it worth it to benefit from white privilege if you were raised without love? Should you give up financial security if it means embracing who you really are?
I was kind of confused by some of Charlie's judgements of Magnolia, particularly when she judges her for planning on marrying rich instead of trying to get a good education and a job. Even in the Northeast region of the country, I'm sure many girls in 1953 were taught that their only goal in life should be marrying well and raising a family. The career paths available to women, especially women of color, would have been very limited. I also thought the sisters didn't get much in the way of character description besides their basic profiles (civil rights activist vs. plantation heiress) and I wish we learned more about their lives before they met each other.
Going back to the paranormal elements, the setting was really well done and the history of the town only served to enhance the sense of community or eeriness (depending on which side of town you were on). I don't want to spoil anything, but the curse and ghosts heavily influence the story; they're not an afterthought. If any of this intrigues you, I recommend picking up this book and exploring the mysteries of Eureka for yourself!
As I alluded to earlier, this book was a fascinating blend of historical fiction and paranormal elements. I also loved that the central relationship was between two estranged sisters. Although they feel an instant connection when they meet, they still clash at the beginning due to resentment around their different upbringings. It was interesting to see the pros and cons of how they were raised; is it worth it to benefit from white privilege if you were raised without love? Should you give up financial security if it means embracing who you really are?
I was kind of confused by some of Charlie's judgements of Magnolia, particularly when she judges her for planning on marrying rich instead of trying to get a good education and a job. Even in the Northeast region of the country, I'm sure many girls in 1953 were taught that their only goal in life should be marrying well and raising a family. The career paths available to women, especially women of color, would have been very limited. I also thought the sisters didn't get much in the way of character description besides their basic profiles (civil rights activist vs. plantation heiress) and I wish we learned more about their lives before they met each other.
Going back to the paranormal elements, the setting was really well done and the history of the town only served to enhance the sense of community or eeriness (depending on which side of town you were on). I don't want to spoil anything, but the curse and ghosts heavily influence the story; they're not an afterthought. If any of this intrigues you, I recommend picking up this book and exploring the mysteries of Eureka for yourself!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Racism
Moderate: Slavery
Minor: Death of parent, Murder
lynching