Collins, Christina. The Town with No Mirrors. Fiction. Sourcebooks, 02/2023. 305pp. $16.99. 978-1- 4926-5535-0. HIGH ADDITIONAL. GRADES 4-7.
To avoid body shaming, the town of Gladder Hill forbids the use of mirrors, cameras, and other items that allow people to see their own faces. When twelveyear-old Zailey begins to surreptitiously sketch people, she risks not only public censure but banishment from everything she knows and loves. The story puts an interesting spin on society’s obsession with appearance, exploring what happens when cracks form in an authoritarian utopian society. Zailey’s curiosity and drive will resonate with kids, but a few unbelievable plot twists and a sugar-coated ending diminish the impact of an otherwise compelling story. Recommend to readers who enjoyed The Giver series by Lois Lowry.
Jenny Andrus, Independent