This book will live in my heart for a long time. Captivating from the very first page, Rajani LaRocca has beautifully captured a story of sisterhood, identity, and mental illness. Both sisters in this story struggle to know how to best take care of themselves and each other. The depictions of anxiety, sisterhood, and coming into your own all rang so true. This book will heal many, many hearts.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Childrens for the ARC.

LaRocca's new verse novel is captivating. Telling the story of Maya and Chaya, identical twin sisters who are just starting to figure out their identities both as a pair and as individuals, LaRocca also gives readers a picture of anxiety and family conflict. The incorporation of music, both in the structure of the writing and the content makes provides a lyrical quality that makes the book feel like songs between the two sisters. LaRocca's verse is both heartwarming and heartbreaking as she weaves between the two distinct voices of Maya and Chaya. This book would be great in the hands of any reader who enjoys music, is curious about how anxiety manifests, or need a reminder that trying new things is scary, but can be exactly what you need.

4.5 stars

LaRocca has another obvious hit with this most recent middle grade verse novel!

Chaya and Maya, identical twins, share perspectives and joint m.c. duties. Though they have many (of course) similarities, there are also some key differences between the sisters, and the recognition of these differences is a core piece of this work. While Chaya is a bit freer and creative, Maya is riddled with anxiety and guilt over what she perceives as her seven years of bad luck. Though the relationship between the sisters is a noteworthy and charming aspect, for me, the discussion of anxiety and the depiction of a young person both recognizing that in someone else and grappling with how and when to involve adults is the standout star of this one (and one of the reasons I can foresee frequently recommending this to students).

There is - as I am finding to be the trend with LaRocca’s work - so much to love about this novel. I enjoyed this, look forward to sharing it with students, and especially can’t wait to see what LaRocca has in store for readers next!

Powerful story about sisters torn apart by a secret. The verse format really serves this story and I loved getting to know both girls.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read a digital galley of this book.

Rajani LaRocca has delivered another beautiful, heartwarming, genuine, relevant, stunning novel in verse! Red, White, and Whole is one of my favorite middle grade novel in verse books, and the book that got me hooked on the novel in verse genre. I was sooooo excited to hear that LaRocca was coming out with another novel in verse middle grade book. And this one definitely lived up to my expectations.

My husband is a mirror twin. He and his brother are like Maya and Chaya, the mirror twins in this book. They are identical and mirror images of each other, one is left handed and the other right handed, one has a dimple in his left cheek and the other in his right cheek. So I understand the special relationship that mirror twins have with each other, and how much they look alike.

The story is told in alternating POVs between Maya and Chaya. While they are inseparable and have the same interests in the beginning of the story, we quickly learn through their POVs that Maya is dealing with anxiety. She is also under a tremendous amount of pressure, some of it self-driven, a lot of it expectations from the adults in her life. Maya's anxiety is the twins' secret, and although Maya is suffering from it, Chaya also carries the burden of her sister's pain. Chaya decides that it's best for Maya and her anxiety if they no longer do the same activities. So Chaya quits classical piano, joins theater, and makes new friends. And with that, the twins grow apart, and start to resent each other.

Because this is middle grade, the topics, while very serious, are dealt with in a way that is very relatable for any middle schooler. Maya's coping mechanisms (while heartbreaking for my mom heart), are noticed keenly by Chaya, and by their close childhood friend Jay. Maya has a loving and supportive family, and even though her parents fight and that adds to her anxiety levels, they want what's best for her. There is a lot of love and compassion in woven into the book.

My own middle schooler started feeling anxious last year, and we signed her up for counseling/therapy. It really helped, and her therapist shared some techniques for how to settle herself when the anxious feelings arose in her stomach. I love that books like this are part of children's literature, so that kids who are struggling with their mental health see themselves represented.

Talk to your kids about the trigger warnings, but this is a must read for any 10+ kid.

I was hooked from the "Dear Reader" letter at the very beginning. Getting the insight into Rajani LaRocca's creation of this story at the very start made it all the more special to spend some time with Chaya and Maya. I loved that this novel in verse beautifully expressed the emotions and thoughts of each twin sister, but also provided incredible insight to the each family member and their inner workings as a family unit as well. I felt like we really could understand a lot about the entire family (mom, dad and little brother). This book opens the door for conversations and understandings about the impacts our family members and friends have on us, as well as the way mental health and anxiety can affect every facet of life. Mirror to Mirror is engaging and beautifully written. Rajani LaRocca is a fantastic storyteller.

Great read about the relationship between two twins. I like the authenticity of how the author showed one of the twins' anxiety. The other twin struggles with keeping her sister's secret or telling their parents to get her the help she needs. I think a lot of kids will relate.

LaRocca's Mirror Mirror is a story about finding yourself, having empathy, and learning how to have grace as things change in life. These huge life lessons weave themselves through the poetry on the pages. Words swirl, filled with meaning that lends itself to rich discussions. Readers go on a journey with twins, Maya and Chaya, as they discover who they are, where they are going, and who they are meant to be to not only themselves but others who surround them. LaRocca once again paints a picture with her words that leave footprints on the reader's hearts.

This middle grade novel in verse tackles anxiety, family, and trying to find your identity as part of a set of twins and apart from a twin.

It’s another winner for Rajani Larocca, author of much awarded Red, White and Whole! In her newest novel-in-verse, Larocca gives readers a look into the hearts and minds of twins Maya and Chaya, talented, bright 7th grades living with their parents and younger brother and both battling personal demons and searching for balance between their twinship-love for each other as well as their efforts to be seen as individuals. While reading each girl’s perspective on their struggle, readers may find themselves wishing that they could interrupt and explain things to the two of them so that each will realize their unique value. The rhythm and flow of the text is lyrical and for those with some knowledge of musical terminology, some the chapter titles will give insight into the movement of the plot but not understanding the meaning of words such as “tutti” and “coda” will not interfere with the pleasure of reading the girls’ story. While almost all the chapters are written in free verse, the inclusion of one concrete poem conveys greater emotional impact to Maya’s anxiety and fear. Full of references to composers, musical instruments and styles make this a great book choice for those interested in fine arts but the realistic portrayal of sibling, friend, and family relationships as well as the inclusion of characters facing many of the same demons so many middle graders grapple with means that all readers in grades 5-8 will connect with something in Mirror to Mirror. Highly recommended.

LaRocca delivers yet another moving middle grade verse novel with realistic, relatable characters. Universal themes of family, identity, and fitting in are well developed. Recommend!

I could not get enough of this beautiful novel in verse! As a mirror twin myself, this story hit home; but all readers will be drawn in to Maya and Chaya’s push and pull for their own identity as well as togetherness.

I really enjoyed this book! I liked how it flowed and the way we got to see both sisters' thinking. It was a really great read!

I really enjoyed the way Rajani LaRocca wrote this book, it was what I was hoping for from the cover. I was invested in the characters and how they worked in their world. It was written so well and I wanted more in this world. I look forward to reading more from Rajani LaRocca, as I enjoyed this.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an e-ARC of this novel in verse.

Mirror to Mirror does a great job highlighting the stress of a close relationship that turns complicated, and the peril that comes with not sharing your feelings. It does a great job showing how anxiety can manifest in both children and adults, and how that anxiety can impact the people around you.