Mirror in the Sky

The discovery of another planet that nearly mirrors Earth, right down to inhabitants who are close facsimiles of both well-known writers and average citizens, heralds a cosmic shift in Tara Krishnan’s life just as she begins junior year. After her best friend and fellow outcast Meg moves away for the year, Tara is accepted into the cool clique, amid other personal shake-ups including her mother’s sudden involvement with a cultlike group. Debut author Khorana keeps the science fiction elements of her story light, using Terra Nova more as a metaphor for the distortions of social image versus the true self, as well as “what if” questions that leave Tara pondering if another version of herself has made different choices with less disastrous results. Changes big and small get equal footing, with news developments that alter the history of mankind given similar attention to Tara’s musings on her crush giving her a ride to a party. For the most part, the focus is on Tara’s social struggles, which reveal that even the most outwardly perfect girls can be insecure, damaged, and flawed. Ages 12–up. Agent: Jenny Bent, Bent Agency. (June)