Mirror Girls

A thrilling paranormal mystery about biracial twin sisters separated at birth, following the brutal murder of their parents, perfect for fans of The Vanishing Half

When Charlie and Magnolia's parents are brutally murdered, their black grandmother brings the twins home to raise as her own. However, Charlie is obviously black, while Magnolia is light-skinned and can "pass" as white. As a result, Magnolia is stolen away by her white grandmother, and raised as the heir to the Gatewood cotton plantation, knowing nothing of her twin sister or racial heritage.

Elsewhere, their black grandmother flees Jim Crow, raising Magnolia in a tiny apartment in Harlem. But when Nana falls ill, her final wish is to be buried back home in Georgia-and, unbeknownst to Charlie, to see her long-lost granddaughter, Magnolia Gatewood, one last time.

Set in 1959, in a deeply haunted, rural Georgia town, both girls are visited by the angry spirits of their parents and other specters of the town's tragic past. When the sisters finally reunite as teenagers, they are worlds apart. But they will need each other to put the ghosts of the past to rest-and to discover where they truly belong.

“Praise for Mirror Girls : A Cosmopolitan Magazine Best Book of 2022 -- --”

Praise for Mirror Girls:

A Cosmopolitan Magazine Best Book of 2022
A NYPL Best Book of the Year
A 2023 YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers----

*"An immersive, supernatural take on the nuanced construction of Black identity that delivers hope and catharsis." --Kirkus, starred review
"A rich, foreboding historical horror tale that refuses to flinch in the face of hate crimes, discrimination, and the violence of white supremacy."--School Library Journal, starred review
"...a tender display of sisterhood and bravery amid historical truths."--Publishers Weekly
"McWilliams uses American history and gothic elements to create a thrilling story filled with complex characters and significant social themes, including colorism and race relations. Readers who enjoy historical fantasy narratives, such as Corthron's Daughters of Jubilation (rev. 1/21), will appreciate this captivating story of resilience, hope, and love."--The Horn Book
" A historical and paranormal thriller about biracial twin sisters who were separated as infants in 1936, with one sister raised white in Georgia, the other raised Black in New York."--New York Times
"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
"a moving story about sisterhood and perseverance in the face of a society that tells Black girls they are worthless."--Booklist
"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

Kelly McWilliams is a mixed-race writer. She is the author of Doormat and Agnes at the End of the World. She lives in Seattle with her family.

A thrilling paranormal mystery about biracial twin sisters separated at birth, following the brutal murder of their parents, perfect for fans of The Vanishing Half When Charlie and Magnolia's parents are brutally murdered, their black grandmother brings the twins home to raise as her own. However, Charlie is obviously black, while Magnolia is light-skinned and can "pass" as white. As a result, Magnolia is stolen away by her white grandmother, and raised as the heir to the Gatewood cotton plantation, knowing nothing of her twin sister or racial heritage.Elsewhere, their black grandmother flees Jim Crow, raising Magnolia in a tiny apartment in Harlem. But when Nana falls ill, her final wish is to be buried back home in Georgia-and, unbeknownst to Charlie, to see her long-lost granddaughter, Magnolia Gatewood, one last time.Set in 1959, in a deeply haunted, rural Georgia town, both girls are visited by the angry spirits of their parents and other specters of the town's tragic past. When the sisters finally reunite as teenagers, they are worlds apart. But they will need each other to put the ghosts of the past to rest-and to discover where they truly belong.

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