Release Date: March 29, 2018
Publisher: Troika
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Source: Paperback proved by author in exchange for an honest review
4 stars!
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Review:Jay’s creative writing exercise is to write a fairy tale, ending ‘and they lived happily ever after’.But the way her life is panning out she’s not sure it will ever reach that stage. Jay is an only child whose father died some years earlier. Her father believed that well educated girls could make successful independent lives. Now she has to move with her mother to her Aunt and Uncle’s house where her cousins live. Her aunt is a particular kind of Indian woman with super strict rules for girls and boys. Jay will be expected to have only Indian friends, if she has any at all. How can she see her school friends, Chloe and Matt?But being forced to conform to conservative Indian customs and traditions is only the beginning of a nightmare for Jay. When her life implodes, how can she hide the shame and how will she find a way to keep going?
I didn't quite know what to expect going into Savita Kalhan's The Girl in the Broken Mirror; however, I'm always in the mood for a promising contemporary and The Girl in the Broken Mirror seemed like the perfect fit.
The Girl in the Broken Mirror is a fast-paced and addictive read from start to finish. Once I started the book and become more and more emotionally invested in Jay's story, I couldn't put it down - not even for a second. I needed to know what had happened - the prologue had me 100% hooked.
That's not to say The Girl in the Broken Mirror is by any means an "easy" read. Savita tackles hard topics within Jay's story, and some parts were slightly hard to stomach at times - I was so angry with the people in Jay's world. I couldn't believe that she was put in the position she was, but I wanted her to find her place again. Savita delivers a raw and emotional read to say the least.
Additionally, Jay is a likable and relatable character. She's independent, determined, and strong. I gave her props for holding her life and her mother's together after such a tragic situation, and I gave her props for continually standing up for what she believed in. She's not one to be quiet when she doesn't believe something is right, and while the people in her world wouldn't always listen, she continually remained steadfast. In the book, Jay goes through an incredible hard situation. I won't say too much about it, as I don't want to spoil anything. However, I will say my heart broke for her. I was livid and distraught. I couldn't believe the position in which Jay had been put in, and it was hard to see someone so hopeful, so lively become so closed off, so reserved, so hopeless. I thought Savita did a wonderful job of presenting Jay's story, and I liked how she really honed in on the relationships in Jay's life. Her relationship with her mother was one of my favorite parts of the book, and even during their hardest moments, I still hoped they would find their way back to each other.
In all, The Girl in the Broken Mirror is a emotionally charged and compelling addition to YA contemporary. I can't wait to see what Savita has in store for us next.
Savita Kalhan was born in India but moved to the UK when she was very young. She graduated with a joint honours degree in politics and philosophy from the University of Wales. She was a Batik artist and teacher before she turned to writing. Her debut novel the Long Weekend is described as ‘an intensely compelling thriller’ which addresses the issue of stranger danger. Her recent books include Stories from the Edge and Even Birds are Chained in the Sky. Savita lives in London. You can follow her on Twitter @savitakalhan.
