MIRROR TO MIRROR

When anxiety creates a wedge between sisters, how far will they drift apart?

Twelve-year-old identical twins Maya and Chaya face life side by side and have boundless love for each other. Maya is superstitious, a perfectionist, and struggles with anxiety. Chaya, the younger twin, is freer and more easygoing and looks up to her sister. Their Indian American family’s life includes drama, with the girls’ constantly arguing parents feeling strain in their marriage, the stark contrast of a carefree 6-year-old brother, and family friends who know too much about everything. Written in verse in the girls’ alternating voices, the novel immediately shows readers the differences in mindset between the two sisters. LaRocca deftly uses music as an emotional soundtrack for mental illness: Both girls excel at classical piano, yet Maya’s perfectionism pushes her to harm herself. Protective Chaya switches to musical theater to reduce the competitive burden on Maya, but this backfires, increasing the anxiety levels for both. The verse form crystalizes the action, growing with the pressures these girls put on themselves. Seeing the same events through the eyes of each twin provides a glimpse into the insidious nature of unchecked anxiety. The ending is realistically untidy, yet clearly, hope has overpowered shame and guilt in this imperfect family.

A lyrical story that delves into the emotional truths of mental illness.