TRIGGER WARNING: sexual assault

Anna-Marie McLemore is an amazing storyteller. Truly, Anna-Marie McLemore never disappoints me. I'm left speechless, touched and hopeful at the end of the book. Oh wow, what a book!

The Mirror Season follows Ciela, a girl who lost her gift for making pan dulce after she is assaulted. Ciela forms a friendship with Lock, a boy who is assaulted at the same party and time as her--while at the same time, the neighborhood's trees turn into mirrored glass.

This book is so atmospheric and is deeply influenced by a fairytale. As always, Anna-Marie McLemore's writing is so lyrical. Beautiful prose and great imagery of the mirrored glass enhanced my experience reading this book.

The Mirror Season explores trauma and the stigma that follows sexual assault's victim. This book depicts the raw vulnerability of both Ciela and Lock's trauma, while also capturing their story to heal. I really appreciate that Anna-Marie McLemore brought up the issue within our society; where people call sexual assault victims a liar, how people would protect the criminals because the very people who assaulted them has "a good reputation" and "a lot of connections". It was all captured gently; in a careful manner and with a lot of respect.

I really, really enjoyed this book. It made me angry, it made me cry, and it left me feeling hopeful.