Welcome to my tour stop! I love Gothic novels and this one has
an interesting twist. Find out more and enter the giveaway below...
Mirror Girls
By Kelly McWilliams
YA Historical Gothic Horror
Hardcover, Audiobook & ebook, 320 Pages
February 8, 2022 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Summary
A thrilling gothic horror novel about biracial twin sisters separated at birth, perfect for fans of Lovecraft Country and The Vanishing Half
As infants, twin sisters Charlie Yates and Magnolia Heathwood were secretly separated after the brutal lynching of their parents, who died for loving across the color line. Now, at the dawn of the Civil Rights Movement, Charlie is a young Black organizer in Harlem, while white-passing Magnolia is the heiress to a cotton plantation in rural Georgia.
Magnolia knows nothing of her racial heritage, but secrets are hard to keep in a town haunted by the ghosts of its slave-holding past. When Magnolia finally learns the truth, her reflection mysteriously disappears from mirrors—the sign of a terrible curse. Meanwhile, in Harlem, Charlie's beloved grandmother falls ill. Her final wish is to be buried back home in Georgia—and, unbeknownst to Charlie, to see her long-lost granddaughter, Magnolia Heathwood, one last time. So Charlie travels into the Deep South, confronting the land of her worst nightmares—and Jim Crow segregation.
The sisters reunite as teenagers in the deeply haunted town of Eureka, Georgia, where ghosts linger centuries after their time and dangers lurk behind every mirror. They couldn’t be more different, but they will need each other to put the hauntings of the past to rest, to break the mirrors’ deadly curse—and to discover the meaning of sisterhood in a racially divided land.
Praise for the Book
"Steeped in atmosphere, equal parts ghost and sororal love story, McWilliams has written a pitch-perfect southern gothic thriller about race, family, and what it means to call a place home."―Christina Hammonds Reed, award-winning author of The Black Kids
"A moving story about sisterhood and perseverance in the face of a society that tells Black girls they are worthless."―Booklist
“MIRROR GIRLS is a spine-tingling, empowering look at justice and civil action that urges readers to be aware, to be true to themselves and to take action. As Magnolia observes, ‘As twin sisters, white and Black, we are a symbol of coming victory. A promise of change.’”―BookPage, starred review
"A spooky Southern gothic ghost story. "―BCCB
My Review
MIRROR GIRLS is one of those books that leaves an impression during reading and long after. It's written in such a way that the story is relatable and feels deeply connecting at a time when social injustice ran unchecked, especially in the South. Genuine characters, plenty of gothic mystery and a heartbreaking story will endure readers. Highly recommended!
This book was an unexpected gem. I loved the rawness and depth of both the characters and the story. The way the author's writing invited me right into these characters' lives of heartbreak and love and curses. The setting and characters were fully fleshed out. I never felt like anyone was one dimensional. The story itself is one of wrongness and heartbreak, mixed with hope and family and love. It was also engrossing and eye opening for those who may be unaware of exactly how terrible whites treated blacks. There were several parts that deeply resonated with me. There were a few moments of frustration with the characters towards the end, but it was minor and resolved quickly. The ending was heartfelt and perfect for this story.
A few favorite lines:
"All my life, I have always believed that what matters is what others see when they look at me. But that's not right at all, What matters is what I see."
"It's a precious thing to see yourself for who you are, and not who others want you to be."
In the end, was it what I wished for? A story that will keep readers turning the pages and cheering on these characters as they try to fix the past and change the future. A must read!
Content: A lot of slurs, violence and abuse, grave desecration.
Source: I received a complimentary copy through Rockstar Book Tours, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.
About the Author
Tour Schedule
Week One:
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2/7/2022 |
Excerpt |
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2/7/2022 |
Excerpt |
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2/8/2022 |
Excerpt |
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2/8/2022 |
Review |
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2/9/2022 |
Review |
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2/9/2022 |
Review |
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2/10/2022 |
Review |
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2/10/2022 |
Review |
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2/11/2022 |
Review |
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2/11/2022 |
Review |
Week Two:
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2/14/2022 |
Review |
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2/14/2022 |
Review |
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2/15/2022 |
Review |
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2/15/2022 |
Review |
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2/16/2022 |
Review |
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2/16/2022 |
Review |
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2/17/2022 |
Review |
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2/17/2022 |
Review |
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2/18/2022 |
Review |
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2/18/2022 |
Review |
Tour-Wide Giveaway
3 winners will receive a finished copy of MIRROR GIRLS, US Only.
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