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The Girl in the Broken Mirror
Jay's creative writing exercise is to write a fairy tale, to end with 'they lived happily ever after'. But the way her life is panning out she's not sure it will ever reach that stage. A powerful moving gripping story which explores themes of family, loyalty and culture clash but is ultimately about hope and understanding.
332 pages, Paperback
First published March 29, 2018
6 people are currently reading
216 people want to read
About the author
Savita Kalhan
6 books74 followersSavita Kalhan was born in India, but now lives in the UK and studied at the University of Wales. She has travelled extensively, and lived in the Middle East for several years, where she taught English.
She is keen on tennis, boxing and running. She is an avid allotmenteer and somehow manages to fit in some writing, reading and blogging too! She now lives in North London with her husband, her son, and her lion of a cat, Marley.
Her new YA book is - That Asian Kid - it's out now!
Her previous YA book, The Girl in the Broken Mirror, was published in 2018 by Troika Books.
Both books were nominated for the Carnegie Medal.
The Long Weekend will be republished in 2021
Watch her book trailer for The Long Weekend here - prepare to be afraid!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14TfYy...
Savita blogs for the SAS on The Awfully Big Blog Adventure, a group of children's and teen/YA authors scattered across the UK. Follow the link to see recent posts. http://www.awfullybigblogadventure.bl...
She is keen on tennis, boxing and running. She is an avid allotmenteer and somehow manages to fit in some writing, reading and blogging too! She now lives in North London with her husband, her son, and her lion of a cat, Marley.
Her new YA book is - That Asian Kid - it's out now!
Her previous YA book, The Girl in the Broken Mirror, was published in 2018 by Troika Books.
Both books were nominated for the Carnegie Medal.
The Long Weekend will be republished in 2021
Watch her book trailer for The Long Weekend here - prepare to be afraid!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14TfYy...
Savita blogs for the SAS on The Awfully Big Blog Adventure, a group of children's and teen/YA authors scattered across the UK. Follow the link to see recent posts. http://www.awfullybigblogadventure.bl...
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
May 5, 2018
When I was sent this one for review by the author, I did not expect this story to be one where rape was the main event and topic in the book. I wanted to start my review with this because it needs to be said: there is a trigger warning for rape, suicidal thoughts and sexual assault in this novel. When I started reading I couldn’t believe that there wasn’t any indication of this subject matter in the synopsis or as a warning! So, I was already cautious when reading. But I have to say, this was amazing well written and such a powerful story.
I want to start talking about how the story was presented. The first chapter of the book is a prologue, and we see the events that happen immediately the morning after Jay has been raped. After that first chapter it rewinds to the beginning of the story, and I couldn’t help but be suspicious of every single male character we were introduced to. This was very clever on the author’s point of view – she gives the reader the paranoia that the main character doesn’t have, that women shouldn’t have to live with. Although the beginning of the book was a bit slow as we are only getting to know the characters and their situation, my curiosity of wanting to know who would do this to Jay.
The beginning of the novel is where the cultural clash is most discussed as well. Jay’s parents moved from India to England, and she was born in the UK. Even though her parents weren’t too strict about keeping up with traditional Indian values from their home country, when Jay moves in with her aunt’s family they start to bring it up again. I cannot speak for how accurate the Indian culture representation is, but the book managed to communicate how suffocating it can be when you don’t agree with the values and ways of living that those around you have – especially if they are your parents. It was interesting to read what Jay did considering her situation, and the ways she tried to skirt around the rules.
By the end of the novel, I was reeling from all the emotions, and the implications of everything that happened to Jay. I even had to pause and shut the book for a moment to process my thoughts and feelings. Unlike me, who can close the book and pause, the nightmare Jay lives is one that some people are experiencing right now or have experienced in the past. They can’t close a book and think about it with some distance because it’s their reality. Which breaks my heart in two and really hit me hard. I think the author handled the topic really well and clearly shows how horrific it is. But also, how you can survive, and how it isn’t the end of everything. Because that is an equally important message too.
The relationships in this book get complicated, especially the mother and daughter relationship. I liked that there was this complication, and the discussion of assigning blame to certain people, and revenge. You can’t be nice to everyone all the time, and her mother and her have a lot of disagreements that they must work through. The focus being on the mother daughter relationship is one that I really appreciated seeing in this YA novel.
Bless the characters Ash and Matt in this book! Matt is Jay’s best friend, and they sort of start to get into a relationship throughout the novel. He’s shamelessly playful all the time – and it made me worry what he would do when he found out what happened to Jay. I wanted him to understand and be there for her, but I worried his playful and young nature would make him unable to understand. I won’t tell you how it panned out for them, but I also really liked them in the beginning part of the novel. Matt doesn’t really get why Jay has all these rules about their relationship and why they can’t be seen in public – but he tries to understand for Jay’s sake. Which I really, really appreciated! I wanted more from his character because I loved it so much!
I also really loved Ash. He was nerdy and quite and so kind without any particular reason for needing to be so. I kind of wish we got to delve more into his character and his history with his family. He seemed to be in a similar situation to Jay in some ways, and if it was explored more we could compare and contrast their situations more.
The writing style was quite straightforward and simplistic. At the start of the novel it did frustrate me that we were told everything so plainly. But when it came to the rape and everything that happened afterwards, I was grateful for it. I didn’t want any moments of misunderstanding or confusion about what she was feeling or what was happening. It worked.
If you read this one and appreciate it, I recommend trying It Happens All the Time by Amy Hatvany, which was very intriguing because you get the points of view of both the victim and the rapist.
This review can originally be found on Olivia's Catastrophe: http://oliviascatastrophe.com/2018/05...
I want to start talking about how the story was presented. The first chapter of the book is a prologue, and we see the events that happen immediately the morning after Jay has been raped. After that first chapter it rewinds to the beginning of the story, and I couldn’t help but be suspicious of every single male character we were introduced to. This was very clever on the author’s point of view – she gives the reader the paranoia that the main character doesn’t have, that women shouldn’t have to live with. Although the beginning of the book was a bit slow as we are only getting to know the characters and their situation, my curiosity of wanting to know who would do this to Jay.
The beginning of the novel is where the cultural clash is most discussed as well. Jay’s parents moved from India to England, and she was born in the UK. Even though her parents weren’t too strict about keeping up with traditional Indian values from their home country, when Jay moves in with her aunt’s family they start to bring it up again. I cannot speak for how accurate the Indian culture representation is, but the book managed to communicate how suffocating it can be when you don’t agree with the values and ways of living that those around you have – especially if they are your parents. It was interesting to read what Jay did considering her situation, and the ways she tried to skirt around the rules.
By the end of the novel, I was reeling from all the emotions, and the implications of everything that happened to Jay. I even had to pause and shut the book for a moment to process my thoughts and feelings. Unlike me, who can close the book and pause, the nightmare Jay lives is one that some people are experiencing right now or have experienced in the past. They can’t close a book and think about it with some distance because it’s their reality. Which breaks my heart in two and really hit me hard. I think the author handled the topic really well and clearly shows how horrific it is. But also, how you can survive, and how it isn’t the end of everything. Because that is an equally important message too.
The relationships in this book get complicated, especially the mother and daughter relationship. I liked that there was this complication, and the discussion of assigning blame to certain people, and revenge. You can’t be nice to everyone all the time, and her mother and her have a lot of disagreements that they must work through. The focus being on the mother daughter relationship is one that I really appreciated seeing in this YA novel.
Bless the characters Ash and Matt in this book! Matt is Jay’s best friend, and they sort of start to get into a relationship throughout the novel. He’s shamelessly playful all the time – and it made me worry what he would do when he found out what happened to Jay. I wanted him to understand and be there for her, but I worried his playful and young nature would make him unable to understand. I won’t tell you how it panned out for them, but I also really liked them in the beginning part of the novel. Matt doesn’t really get why Jay has all these rules about their relationship and why they can’t be seen in public – but he tries to understand for Jay’s sake. Which I really, really appreciated! I wanted more from his character because I loved it so much!
I also really loved Ash. He was nerdy and quite and so kind without any particular reason for needing to be so. I kind of wish we got to delve more into his character and his history with his family. He seemed to be in a similar situation to Jay in some ways, and if it was explored more we could compare and contrast their situations more.
The writing style was quite straightforward and simplistic. At the start of the novel it did frustrate me that we were told everything so plainly. But when it came to the rape and everything that happened afterwards, I was grateful for it. I didn’t want any moments of misunderstanding or confusion about what she was feeling or what was happening. It worked.
If you read this one and appreciate it, I recommend trying It Happens All the Time by Amy Hatvany, which was very intriguing because you get the points of view of both the victim and the rapist.
This review can originally be found on Olivia's Catastrophe: http://oliviascatastrophe.com/2018/05...
May 3, 2018
5 Words: Family, secrets, power, betrayal, recovery.
Content Warnings: Sexual Assault, suicide
I'm just ugly-crying. This book was heartbreaking and amazing all at once.
Content Warnings: Sexual Assault, suicide
I'm just ugly-crying. This book was heartbreaking and amazing all at once.
November 1, 2018
You can also find my review on my blog here.
Many thanks to the author who send me a review copy of this book, this hadn't influenced my review in any way!
Trigger warnings: sexual abuse, PTSD, trauma, suicide attempt.
The Girl in the Broken Mirror is a very raw and powerful book that presents trauma very realistically. I’ve read this book two weeks ago, yet while I’m writing this review, it’s still very hard to put my thoughts together, to let go of my emotions that are clouding everything. This book impacted me very strongly and I’d advise you to be careful when reading it especially if any of the subjects are triggers for you.
The story follows Jay, a teenage girl whose life had drastically changed after her father committed suicide. Besides the obvious grief coming from losing a parent, her father also left Jay and her mother with huge debts, which complicated their lives a lot. Because of that they end up living with some distant relatives to save money. This is a huge turning point especially for the relationship between Jay and her mother, Neela. These two have always been close, but after they move, they experience lots of misunderstandings, Neela has to work in the kitchen a lot and feels too tired to take in consideration Jay’s complaints about the strict/traditional lifestyle their relatives have.
After Jay is abused, her mother constantly blames herself for not listening enough to her daughter. Their connection was especially complex and very emotional – they were both hurting so badly, it literary broke my heart.
The way Savita Kalhan handled this subject with so much care and the emphasis that was put on getting help and support from loved ones, but also from authorities was amazing. The writing was extraordinary, I especially loved the prologue that was set after the sexual abuse and then the narrative happened a few months before it, it was even more painful this way because we get to see Jay in her happy home life with her mother and her friends from school, but we know that her life will change forever.
The characters were very carefully crafted and I felt connected to many of them, even the secondary ones – Ash, Sita, these two were especially kind and thoughtful.
I think this book is absolutely important because of the subjects it covers, because it has an Indian protagonist and because it manages to send a hopeful message.
I would absolutely recommend it to everyone that won’t be triggered by the subjects in this book. It will always stay with me, the story and the characters made this book very important to me and I hope more of you will read it as well since it’s so important.
Many thanks to the author who send me a review copy of this book, this hadn't influenced my review in any way!
Trigger warnings: sexual abuse, PTSD, trauma, suicide attempt.
The Girl in the Broken Mirror is a very raw and powerful book that presents trauma very realistically. I’ve read this book two weeks ago, yet while I’m writing this review, it’s still very hard to put my thoughts together, to let go of my emotions that are clouding everything. This book impacted me very strongly and I’d advise you to be careful when reading it especially if any of the subjects are triggers for you.
The story follows Jay, a teenage girl whose life had drastically changed after her father committed suicide. Besides the obvious grief coming from losing a parent, her father also left Jay and her mother with huge debts, which complicated their lives a lot. Because of that they end up living with some distant relatives to save money. This is a huge turning point especially for the relationship between Jay and her mother, Neela. These two have always been close, but after they move, they experience lots of misunderstandings, Neela has to work in the kitchen a lot and feels too tired to take in consideration Jay’s complaints about the strict/traditional lifestyle their relatives have.
After Jay is abused, her mother constantly blames herself for not listening enough to her daughter. Their connection was especially complex and very emotional – they were both hurting so badly, it literary broke my heart.
The way Savita Kalhan handled this subject with so much care and the emphasis that was put on getting help and support from loved ones, but also from authorities was amazing. The writing was extraordinary, I especially loved the prologue that was set after the sexual abuse and then the narrative happened a few months before it, it was even more painful this way because we get to see Jay in her happy home life with her mother and her friends from school, but we know that her life will change forever.
The characters were very carefully crafted and I felt connected to many of them, even the secondary ones – Ash, Sita, these two were especially kind and thoughtful.
I think this book is absolutely important because of the subjects it covers, because it has an Indian protagonist and because it manages to send a hopeful message.
I would absolutely recommend it to everyone that won’t be triggered by the subjects in this book. It will always stay with me, the story and the characters made this book very important to me and I hope more of you will read it as well since it’s so important.
April 11, 2019
*I read this as my Muggle Studies book (Contemporary) for the OWLs readathon*
TRIGGER WARNING: Rape; Suicide
This book is one I am glad I managed to squeeze in to the OWLs readathon as typically I do not really pick up or gravitate towards contemporary books, but I got this one at an event last year and I remember the author talking about it and it really sounded a little bit different. This is the story of Jay, a young Indian-UK girl who was raised in the UK but she has family who are traditionally Indian and she doesn't really fit their idea of a 'good Indian girl'. She has lost her father and she and her mother live together, but they are struggling to make ends meet, so when her uncle offers them a room in their house they move to live there. However, as Jay's aunt is incredibly traditional and strict the rule and dynamic of the house are very different to what Jay has come to know, and she struggles to keep up the friendships and relationships that she had before.
What I liked about this book was the fact that although the story of Jay adjusting to her new liefstyle is interesting, the real story is about the clash of culture and the different ways that people from the same culture can act and behave in tricky situations. There is also a very horrible rape scene in this book, and that made me quite uncomfortable as reading about rape is never good, but I think the aftermath of the rape was the most interesting to read about.
This book definitely had some flaws too, it felt like it was all a bit formal and dis-jointed at times and I felt as though Jay's character was the only one who felt really fleshed out until we meet Sita later. I do think even her friends and her family are a bit lack-lustre and I would have liked to see more development on them, even though Jay is the focus of the book.
Overall, this story was a good one and it deals with some big topics and discusses them well. I look forward to seeing more books which deal with different characters at the forefront of their stories, and bring more diversity to the publishing world like this. 3.5*s
TRIGGER WARNING: Rape; Suicide
This book is one I am glad I managed to squeeze in to the OWLs readathon as typically I do not really pick up or gravitate towards contemporary books, but I got this one at an event last year and I remember the author talking about it and it really sounded a little bit different. This is the story of Jay, a young Indian-UK girl who was raised in the UK but she has family who are traditionally Indian and she doesn't really fit their idea of a 'good Indian girl'. She has lost her father and she and her mother live together, but they are struggling to make ends meet, so when her uncle offers them a room in their house they move to live there. However, as Jay's aunt is incredibly traditional and strict the rule and dynamic of the house are very different to what Jay has come to know, and she struggles to keep up the friendships and relationships that she had before.
What I liked about this book was the fact that although the story of Jay adjusting to her new liefstyle is interesting, the real story is about the clash of culture and the different ways that people from the same culture can act and behave in tricky situations. There is also a very horrible rape scene in this book, and that made me quite uncomfortable as reading about rape is never good, but I think the aftermath of the rape was the most interesting to read about.
This book definitely had some flaws too, it felt like it was all a bit formal and dis-jointed at times and I felt as though Jay's character was the only one who felt really fleshed out until we meet Sita later. I do think even her friends and her family are a bit lack-lustre and I would have liked to see more development on them, even though Jay is the focus of the book.
Overall, this story was a good one and it deals with some big topics and discusses them well. I look forward to seeing more books which deal with different characters at the forefront of their stories, and bring more diversity to the publishing world like this. 3.5*s
May 4, 2018
Review coming 6/5 on the blog tour!
April 10, 2018
Jay's story is incredibly gripping - in fact, I sat down one afternoon with the intention of reading for "just a bit". The next thing I knew, I'd finished it. I got to a point where I felt like I just had to be there for Jay, which meant finishing her story.
It's not an easy one. Savita tackles some difficult subjects including negotiating beliefs and values. As a British Asian girl, Jay has to deal with two competing worldviews, ones that sometimes seem on utterly opposing ends of a scale. Jay is also raped, and while that violation is present throughout the novel, The Girl in the Broken Mirror isn't a "rape book". It's a story of love and loss and of coming out the other side. It'll make you think about relationships with family, friends, and yourself. It will ask you to question beliefs and values, and it may well give you hope.
It's not an easy one. Savita tackles some difficult subjects including negotiating beliefs and values. As a British Asian girl, Jay has to deal with two competing worldviews, ones that sometimes seem on utterly opposing ends of a scale. Jay is also raped, and while that violation is present throughout the novel, The Girl in the Broken Mirror isn't a "rape book". It's a story of love and loss and of coming out the other side. It'll make you think about relationships with family, friends, and yourself. It will ask you to question beliefs and values, and it may well give you hope.
November 4, 2018
TWs for Rape, sexual assault, attempted suicide, emotional manipulation, death of a parent (not on-page).
Read my full review for The Girl in the Broken Mirror blog tour here: https://readingthroughinfinity.com/20...
The Girl in the Broken Mirror is first and foremost a tale of survival. It’s a story about one girl’s trauma and healing, and is likely one of the most powerful, heart-wrenching books you’ll read this year. But it also comes with trigger warnings for rape and attempted suicide, so if you don’t feel comfortable reading about these topics then this book might not be one for you. As a heads up, these topics will also be mentioned in this review.
The plot follows Jay, a British-Asian teenager, as she and her mother move in with her relatives after struggling to pay rent on their London flat. While living there, Jay has to deal with culture clashes and her auntie’s strictly imposed rules. Living in the house is unenjoyable but bearable until one night, after a family party, Jay is physically abused and raped.
The first chapter deals with the immediate aftermath of the rape, setting readers up for a harrowing and compelling novel. Jay is underage, and the narrative pulls no punches in describing what a 15-year-old girl has to go through – emotionally and physically – after such an event. The book then moves back in time to several months before the night of the party, when Jay was happier and focused on school. The contrast is stark, and makes our knowledge of what is to come next all the more foreboding.
After Jay is raped, the tone of the book becomes increasingly dark as she struggles to deal with the ensuing guilt and feelings of worthlessness. The rape is described through a dream but is still graphic, so this is book isn’t suitable for younger teens; however, Kalhan does an incredibly sensitive job of narrating the emotions that Jay goes through as a survivor. The stages of grief, anger, and recovery are examined in intense detail, and the narrative is instilled with so much feeling that we can empathise with Jay on an intrinsic level, feeling the same emotions of horror, disgust, rage, emptiness and hope as she does.
Savita Kalhan intersects themes of family, identity, and cultural norms throughout the book, which is own voices and has British-Asian and Indian rep. Jay was born in the UK, but her parents are Indian, and like her father, she prefers to dress in a western style and channel western cultural norms. She clashes with her auntie, who wants to impose a more traditionally Indian upbringing on her, forcing her to change her style of clothing, and refusing to let her see her friends who aren’t Indian. These divides in identity are explored in a nuanced and interesting way, as Jay struggles with the two facets of her identity. The strength with which her family try to impose their Indian heritage upon her makes her want to reject it because of the way it’s forced upon her. Only later in the book, when Jay is in a safe and comforting environment does she begin to enjoy elements of Indian culture more.
Characterisation is one of the main strengths of the book. The characters of Jay, her mother, auntie, and friend Matt are all brought to life with realistic detail. Sita was one of my favourite characters because of the maternal role she plays in helping Jay grieve and heal when she can’t face talking to her mum. Sita strikes a balance between compassion and gentle sternness, and she knows the kind of love and affection to offer Jay as she processes the event.
Although stark and harrowing at times, The Girl In The Broken Mirror is an incredibly important read in our current global political climate. It illustrates how male entitlement can tear apart women’s lives, and serves as a visceral reminder that we shouldn’t be teaching women how to avoid getting raped, but should be teaching men not to rape. Through themes of grief, healing, and love, the book shows the incredible reserves of inner strength that women use on a daily basis and promotes women’s solidarity in all walks of life.
Read my full review for The Girl in the Broken Mirror blog tour here: https://readingthroughinfinity.com/20...
The Girl in the Broken Mirror is first and foremost a tale of survival. It’s a story about one girl’s trauma and healing, and is likely one of the most powerful, heart-wrenching books you’ll read this year. But it also comes with trigger warnings for rape and attempted suicide, so if you don’t feel comfortable reading about these topics then this book might not be one for you. As a heads up, these topics will also be mentioned in this review.
The plot follows Jay, a British-Asian teenager, as she and her mother move in with her relatives after struggling to pay rent on their London flat. While living there, Jay has to deal with culture clashes and her auntie’s strictly imposed rules. Living in the house is unenjoyable but bearable until one night, after a family party, Jay is physically abused and raped.
The first chapter deals with the immediate aftermath of the rape, setting readers up for a harrowing and compelling novel. Jay is underage, and the narrative pulls no punches in describing what a 15-year-old girl has to go through – emotionally and physically – after such an event. The book then moves back in time to several months before the night of the party, when Jay was happier and focused on school. The contrast is stark, and makes our knowledge of what is to come next all the more foreboding.
After Jay is raped, the tone of the book becomes increasingly dark as she struggles to deal with the ensuing guilt and feelings of worthlessness. The rape is described through a dream but is still graphic, so this is book isn’t suitable for younger teens; however, Kalhan does an incredibly sensitive job of narrating the emotions that Jay goes through as a survivor. The stages of grief, anger, and recovery are examined in intense detail, and the narrative is instilled with so much feeling that we can empathise with Jay on an intrinsic level, feeling the same emotions of horror, disgust, rage, emptiness and hope as she does.
Savita Kalhan intersects themes of family, identity, and cultural norms throughout the book, which is own voices and has British-Asian and Indian rep. Jay was born in the UK, but her parents are Indian, and like her father, she prefers to dress in a western style and channel western cultural norms. She clashes with her auntie, who wants to impose a more traditionally Indian upbringing on her, forcing her to change her style of clothing, and refusing to let her see her friends who aren’t Indian. These divides in identity are explored in a nuanced and interesting way, as Jay struggles with the two facets of her identity. The strength with which her family try to impose their Indian heritage upon her makes her want to reject it because of the way it’s forced upon her. Only later in the book, when Jay is in a safe and comforting environment does she begin to enjoy elements of Indian culture more.
Characterisation is one of the main strengths of the book. The characters of Jay, her mother, auntie, and friend Matt are all brought to life with realistic detail. Sita was one of my favourite characters because of the maternal role she plays in helping Jay grieve and heal when she can’t face talking to her mum. Sita strikes a balance between compassion and gentle sternness, and she knows the kind of love and affection to offer Jay as she processes the event.
Although stark and harrowing at times, The Girl In The Broken Mirror is an incredibly important read in our current global political climate. It illustrates how male entitlement can tear apart women’s lives, and serves as a visceral reminder that we shouldn’t be teaching women how to avoid getting raped, but should be teaching men not to rape. Through themes of grief, healing, and love, the book shows the incredible reserves of inner strength that women use on a daily basis and promotes women’s solidarity in all walks of life.
January 12, 2019
This is such a hard book to read just because of the subject. But it's well-written and compelling. Not an enjoyable book but really, really good.
May 27, 2018
Review originally posted on The Bibliophile Chronicles.
This is an incredibly moving story that I found difficult to put down. I picked it up early in preparation for the blog tour and found myself still sitting in the same spot a few hours later, absolutely gripped by this emotional tale.
This book covers a lot of difficult topics such as suicide and rape, so this is by no means a light read, but it is a beautifully written tale that stays with you long after you’re finished reading. The book follows Jaya – starting with the morning after she is raped and then jumping back to the events leading up to that night. The story really hones in on different cultures and Jaya’s attempts to be both English and Indian and in particular keep to the traditional Indian beliefs.
This is a gripping story that really looks in depths at relationships, between friends as well as between mother and daughter and I found it such a fascinating insight. The characters were wonderfully written and I definitely became attached to Jaya. On more than once occasion this book brought me close to tears and I think that’s a mark of a very powerful story.
Previous to 2018 contemporary YA was not something that I read all that often but recently I’ve found myself picking up books in that genre more often. This is a really excellent piece of contemporary YA that I would definitely recommend. It might be a hard hitting read, but it is most definitely worth it.
This is an incredibly moving story that I found difficult to put down. I picked it up early in preparation for the blog tour and found myself still sitting in the same spot a few hours later, absolutely gripped by this emotional tale.
This book covers a lot of difficult topics such as suicide and rape, so this is by no means a light read, but it is a beautifully written tale that stays with you long after you’re finished reading. The book follows Jaya – starting with the morning after she is raped and then jumping back to the events leading up to that night. The story really hones in on different cultures and Jaya’s attempts to be both English and Indian and in particular keep to the traditional Indian beliefs.
This is a gripping story that really looks in depths at relationships, between friends as well as between mother and daughter and I found it such a fascinating insight. The characters were wonderfully written and I definitely became attached to Jaya. On more than once occasion this book brought me close to tears and I think that’s a mark of a very powerful story.
Previous to 2018 contemporary YA was not something that I read all that often but recently I’ve found myself picking up books in that genre more often. This is a really excellent piece of contemporary YA that I would definitely recommend. It might be a hard hitting read, but it is most definitely worth it.
June 23, 2018
WARNING: Due to the nature of the story, this review mentions the main character being a victim of rape. Please feel free to skip out on this review if you need to.
The Plot
It's impossible to go into this story expecting a light read. It deals with some seriously tough subjects, and it doesn't shy away from the details. We're shown from the very first chapter that this is going to be a difficult journey, but it's such an important one.
The Girl in the Broken Mirror deals with the rape of teenager Jay after she and her mother, Neela, are left with no choice but to move in with relatives who follow a much more strict Indian lifestyle than what Jay is used to. Left with no other choice, Jay has to change the way she acts when she's under her aunt's roof.
The Characters
Jay is a perfect example of how an ordinary girl with an ordinary life can be thrown into such extreme circumstances. Her life is so seemingly normal until suddenly, it isn't. There was nothing she and her mother could have done to change their circumstances, and I understand why her mother made the decision to live with family members. She thought she was doing what was best for her daughter and had no way of knowing what the outcome would be. Like a lot of horrible things in life, it progressed too quickly and silently to be stopped by those around it.
The relationship between Jay and her mother was a complex one that was tested many times over the course of the story. There was a chapter towards the end in which we got a bit more insight from Neela's point of view, and it was important that we got to see her thought process leading up to her finding out about the attack.
Although Sita was a character who only appeared in the final quarter of the book, she was one of my favourites. Her character was necessary for reminding us of the goodness we can find in the people around us. Something we needed after the harsh occurrences earlier in the story.
Things To Love
The thing that really stuck out to me about this book was how it covered so much of the story. We were shown the build up to the attack, as well as the aftermath. The YA books I've read in the past that contained the rape of a main character tend not to show as much of the aftermath as I'd like to see. I love it when a story shows that there is a life after horrible attacks like this one, that there is hope for those people to take control of their situation again. Whilst some of the scenes with Jay after the attack were heartbreaking and difficult to read, I love that this book showed us that she had a new chapter in her life beyond the final pages.
Overall Thoughts
This is such a powerful story and an example of some of the horrible situations young women can actually find themselves in. At the start of the book, Jay would never have been able to imagine the attack she was about to be faced with, and yet it happened regardless. It was also an important look into culture and a male orientated world. I'm so grateful to Savita for writing this story because it very much needed to be told.
The Plot
It's impossible to go into this story expecting a light read. It deals with some seriously tough subjects, and it doesn't shy away from the details. We're shown from the very first chapter that this is going to be a difficult journey, but it's such an important one.
The Girl in the Broken Mirror deals with the rape of teenager Jay after she and her mother, Neela, are left with no choice but to move in with relatives who follow a much more strict Indian lifestyle than what Jay is used to. Left with no other choice, Jay has to change the way she acts when she's under her aunt's roof.
The Characters
Jay is a perfect example of how an ordinary girl with an ordinary life can be thrown into such extreme circumstances. Her life is so seemingly normal until suddenly, it isn't. There was nothing she and her mother could have done to change their circumstances, and I understand why her mother made the decision to live with family members. She thought she was doing what was best for her daughter and had no way of knowing what the outcome would be. Like a lot of horrible things in life, it progressed too quickly and silently to be stopped by those around it.
The relationship between Jay and her mother was a complex one that was tested many times over the course of the story. There was a chapter towards the end in which we got a bit more insight from Neela's point of view, and it was important that we got to see her thought process leading up to her finding out about the attack.
Although Sita was a character who only appeared in the final quarter of the book, she was one of my favourites. Her character was necessary for reminding us of the goodness we can find in the people around us. Something we needed after the harsh occurrences earlier in the story.
Things To Love
The thing that really stuck out to me about this book was how it covered so much of the story. We were shown the build up to the attack, as well as the aftermath. The YA books I've read in the past that contained the rape of a main character tend not to show as much of the aftermath as I'd like to see. I love it when a story shows that there is a life after horrible attacks like this one, that there is hope for those people to take control of their situation again. Whilst some of the scenes with Jay after the attack were heartbreaking and difficult to read, I love that this book showed us that she had a new chapter in her life beyond the final pages.
Overall Thoughts
This is such a powerful story and an example of some of the horrible situations young women can actually find themselves in. At the start of the book, Jay would never have been able to imagine the attack she was about to be faced with, and yet it happened regardless. It was also an important look into culture and a male orientated world. I'm so grateful to Savita for writing this story because it very much needed to be told.
August 24, 2019
Beautiful, heartbreaking but redemptive. A wonderful debut novel.
July 1, 2018
A full review can be found on my blog, Headscarves and Hardbacks!
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review!
Trigger warning for rape and suicide attempt.
This book opens with the aftermath of Jay’s rape by a member of her extended family, but it isn’t about rape; it’s about family, love, loss and recovery. Still, unless you know about the main subject matter of the book – rape – there is no indication from the synopsis of what you’re going in to.
I wasn’t really sure what to expect from this book, but there are plenty of things that I liked. I enjoyed reading about Jay’s struggle with her British-Asian identity, and the ‘backwardness’ of her Aunt’s family. The culture clash isn’t just about what clothes we wear in public or how well we can speak in our native tongues. Quite often, it can be the small things that cause the most drama, like whether we use cutlery or our hands to eat, the former leading relatives to question parenting skills because it means we’re just too westernised. I think the book captured this authentically – for example, when Jay moves in with Aunty V, she knows she can’t see her school friends anymore because they’re not Indian.
I also loved some of the characters in this story. Ash was quiet but caring, Sita demonstrated how far a little kindness from a stranger can really go and Jay’s mother, Neela, continued to try no matter how much Jay blamed her for everything that happened. I didn’t agree with some of the things Jay did, or at least I found it quite hard to believe some of the things she did. But, I did like how the author presented her recovery – from the breaking-down of her relationships with Matt and her mother to the days she felt strong and the days she didn’t.
Overall, this is the kind of book that has been long needed in UKYA. I don’t think it has much of a plot and the ending feels a bit abrupt, but it tackles themes that aren’t just ‘taboo’ topics in young adult fiction but also the culture that is represented.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review!
Trigger warning for rape and suicide attempt.
This book opens with the aftermath of Jay’s rape by a member of her extended family, but it isn’t about rape; it’s about family, love, loss and recovery. Still, unless you know about the main subject matter of the book – rape – there is no indication from the synopsis of what you’re going in to.
I wasn’t really sure what to expect from this book, but there are plenty of things that I liked. I enjoyed reading about Jay’s struggle with her British-Asian identity, and the ‘backwardness’ of her Aunt’s family. The culture clash isn’t just about what clothes we wear in public or how well we can speak in our native tongues. Quite often, it can be the small things that cause the most drama, like whether we use cutlery or our hands to eat, the former leading relatives to question parenting skills because it means we’re just too westernised. I think the book captured this authentically – for example, when Jay moves in with Aunty V, she knows she can’t see her school friends anymore because they’re not Indian.
I also loved some of the characters in this story. Ash was quiet but caring, Sita demonstrated how far a little kindness from a stranger can really go and Jay’s mother, Neela, continued to try no matter how much Jay blamed her for everything that happened. I didn’t agree with some of the things Jay did, or at least I found it quite hard to believe some of the things she did. But, I did like how the author presented her recovery – from the breaking-down of her relationships with Matt and her mother to the days she felt strong and the days she didn’t.
Overall, this is the kind of book that has been long needed in UKYA. I don’t think it has much of a plot and the ending feels a bit abrupt, but it tackles themes that aren’t just ‘taboo’ topics in young adult fiction but also the culture that is represented.
October 27, 2018
Full review on my blog at Somewhat Reserved
3.5 stars
INTERMISSION: I got a signed review copy from the author and this have not influenced my review in any way. Thank you.
I really appreciated the representation. This is an #OwnVoices Indian novel and the protagonists come from a lower socio-economic background after previously being wealthy before.
This book does include the subject of rape and how Jay struggled to cope afterwards.
Healing is an important topic and a new character called Sita was introduced later on. I really liked her because she was so welcoming and simply a lovely person.
I did enjoy the story but wanted more from the side characters.
3.5 stars
INTERMISSION: I got a signed review copy from the author and this have not influenced my review in any way. Thank you.
I really appreciated the representation. This is an #OwnVoices Indian novel and the protagonists come from a lower socio-economic background after previously being wealthy before.
This book does include the subject of rape and how Jay struggled to cope afterwards.
Healing is an important topic and a new character called Sita was introduced later on. I really liked her because she was so welcoming and simply a lovely person.
I did enjoy the story but wanted more from the side characters.
November 11, 2018
I wouldn't buy this for a child! Its all doom & gloom. No humour or anything to make it attractive. If you want to use it as an educational book, it might be useful but a skilled writer would put the message across with more warmth and optimism.
August 26, 2021
I wish this book had been written in first person, sometimes Jay felt very faraway, and I also wish she wasn’t saved by a romantic relationship at the end. But on the whole I think it was a detailed look at the impact of rape, and the clash of a traditional Indian culture and contemporary England.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 23, 2018
Review to follow. It broke my heart but is, ultimately, hopeful.
August 3, 2018
Didn't finish. Writing didn't capture my heart so I'm going to let it go. Sorry Savita.
June 16, 2022
Wasn't bad, important plot however kinda boring..
March 7, 2024
3.5 stars
October 8, 2018
There are so many things I really enjoyed about this novel. Kalhan is obviously a very talented writer. Jay's voice was absolutely perfect - and really captured her youth. I also thought Jay was a really strong and vivid character in general.
This novel also did a fantastic job in portraying the difficulties of being British and Indian - trying to juggle those two things as a young teen - along with the difficulties of being poor. Jay and her mother have a lot of financial difficulties which is why they end up in the situations they end up in. All of this was really well written, super realistic, and very easy to relate to.
My major issue with this book is...marketing. An entire half of this book is about rape, sexual assault, and the consequent trauma and depression that results from that. Yet, the blurb never mentions any of this, which is really dangerous. I picked up the book expecting something and got something totally different that really unsettled me because I was very unprepared. It was why it took quite a while for me to actually finish the book.
I also found the rape and sexual assault to be far too graphic. I think the whole thing should have been handled with more care. Even the aftermath seemed to lack something and I felt like Jay's recovery didn't really feel like Jay's recovery so much as it was other people forcing their own ideas onto her. There was also a really graphic suicide attempt that was far too long and far too detailed, in my opinion. It simply wasn't necessary and I had to put the book down, once I got to it.
All that said, I would definitely pick up another book by Kalhan, but perhaps not something with such a heavy subject matter.
Read my full review on Cultured Vultures.
This novel also did a fantastic job in portraying the difficulties of being British and Indian - trying to juggle those two things as a young teen - along with the difficulties of being poor. Jay and her mother have a lot of financial difficulties which is why they end up in the situations they end up in. All of this was really well written, super realistic, and very easy to relate to.
My major issue with this book is...marketing. An entire half of this book is about rape, sexual assault, and the consequent trauma and depression that results from that. Yet, the blurb never mentions any of this, which is really dangerous. I picked up the book expecting something and got something totally different that really unsettled me because I was very unprepared. It was why it took quite a while for me to actually finish the book.
I also found the rape and sexual assault to be far too graphic. I think the whole thing should have been handled with more care. Even the aftermath seemed to lack something and I felt like Jay's recovery didn't really feel like Jay's recovery so much as it was other people forcing their own ideas onto her. There was also a really graphic suicide attempt that was far too long and far too detailed, in my opinion. It simply wasn't necessary and I had to put the book down, once I got to it.
All that said, I would definitely pick up another book by Kalhan, but perhaps not something with such a heavy subject matter.
Read my full review on Cultured Vultures.
February 16, 2023
This book was heartbreaking I almost cried and I never cry while reading
May 15, 2023
I absolutely loved this book, so touching. I would definitely recommend :)
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