Mirror

Gr 3—5—This dynamically illustrated, wordless book from the author of Wave (Chronicle, 2008) creates a very different mood. A small girl sits in the corner of a spread, her isolation and loneliness underscored by her head-down, hunkered-over posture as well as the austere palette (soft black and gray lines with a touch yellow for her dress) and stark white backdrop. Her mood, conveyed through her facial expression and body language, changes to surprise when she catches sight of her likeness in a mirror (represented by the book's gutter), and eventually transforms into playful exuberance as she makes faces at and dances with her reflected double. The colors warm with splashes of pumpkin orange and pale yellow as the girl and her symmetrical image gradually move closer together and ultimately blend into one. A blank spread provides a narrative beat, and when the action resumes, the child's reflection no longer parallels her movements, taking on a life of its own. Enraged, the protagonist seems to push at the mirror, which shatters to pieces, leaving her alone again and echoing the book's beginning. Lee's illustrations cut to the core to express deep-seated feelings, whether joyful or angry, and will evoke a strong response from readers. Kids will impatiently shuffle back and forth through the pages, trying to understand the happenings and fathom the mysteries of emotion and imagination, making this disquieting book a compelling discussion-starter.—Joy Fleishhacker, School Library Journal