Mirror Girls by Kelly McWilliams tells the story of Charlie, a Black girl from New York who travels with her dying grandmother to the town of Eureka so that the older woman can die in her hometown. Upon arriving, Charlie discovers that she has a light skinned twin sister, Magnolia, who has spent her life passing as white. Soon afterwards, Magnolia is unable to eat and will die if she does not pick between identifying as Black or white in order to appease the spirits of the ancestors that haunt her. Will Charlie lose the sister she didn't even know she had before she gets the chance to know her?

I found this book incredibly compelling. McWilliams has crafted a story that is both shocking and fantastical in equal parts. The horror of the racism that is rampant in Eureka is displayed alongside the gothic intrigue of the ghosts of centuries long past and how both of this issues can affect the characters of today is explored throughout the novel.

I really liked McWilliam's writing style. It has the feel of a historical novel while also having a haunting atmosphere to it that stays with you long after you have read the last word.

Finally, I loved the characters. Charlie and Magnolia are both such resilient and strong willed young women. I loved seeing the strength of their sisterly bond despite them not knowing each other for very long. I also thought that Darius was a very kind hearted and sweet boy who was the perfect love interest for Charlie.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a compelling historical fantasy novel about the ghosts that can haunt you, which does not shy away from exploring the horrors of racism and the impact this can have on the people it is directed towards.

Mirror Girls by Kelly McWilliams will be released by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers on February 8th 2022.

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