Mirror Girls

YA chiller 

     "Dean forgot how much this world hates love between Black and white.  Those young folks never should've met.  Should have kept an ocean between them."

     In 1935 a wealthy white man and a Black servant were in love.  The woman gave birth to twins--one baby Black and the other white in appearance.  Weeks later, running away to get married, the man and woman were gunned down.

     In 1953 the twins, now nineteen, are living worlds apart.   Charlie lives in Harlem with her grandmother.  She goes to high school and fights for equity and justice.  She goes by Charlie because she believes that Charlene, her birth name, is not tough enough for a community organizer.

     Magnolia has been raised in Georgia as a white southern lady.  She didn't finish high school because her grandmother has convinced her that she doesn't need to be educated.  It's only a matter of time before her best friend's brother proposes.

     But all that is about to change.

     Magnolia is summoned to her grandmother's bed chamber in the middle of the night, only to learn that everything she's been taught about her past is wrong.  Her mother was not a Spanish aristocrat, but a Black housekeeper.

     "Your mother convinced your fool father that he was in love. Can you imagine?...He planned to MARRY HER.  THE TRAITOR!"

     After her grandmother's deathbed revelation Magnolia can no longer see herself in mirrors.  All food smells and tastes too putrid to eat.  Surely a curse has been set in motion.

     The girls are about to meet.  Charlie's grandmother has insisted that they return to Georgia.  She is determined to die where she grew up.  After Grammie Jeanette passes Charlie is left in a place where the veil between the living and the dead is very thin and ghosts are accepted as household residents much the same way our cats and dogs are.  She and a newly met twin sister have to battle a curse that may have grave consequences for both of them.

     If gothic horror is your cup of tea you won't want to miss out on Kelly McWilliams' Mirror Girls.

On a purrrsonal note, my bus didn't show up this morning.  Thinking it had broken down, I set out to walk to school.  I didn't have to walk all the way though.  A fellow grad student driving in gave me a ride.  While I was getting coffee I heard someone mention a holiday only Massachusetts and Maine celebrate.  That was when I realized it was Patriots Day which is a bus holiday.  And my smartphone was indicating afternoon rain.  Well I'm keeping office hours and getting work done.  And I've found a ride home.  (Jules)

Good thing she doesn't have to walk down Route 2 in the rain.  (Tobago)

A great big shout out goes out to those generous and kind drivers.

Tobago and Jules Hathaway 

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