The Lost Girl by Sangu Mandanna
Synopsis:
Eva’s life is not her own. She is a creation, an abomination – an echo. Made by the Weavers as a copy of someone else, she is expected to replace a girl named Amarra, her ‘other’, if she ever died. Eva studies what Amarra does, what she eats, what it’s like to kiss her boyfriend, Ray. So when Amarra is killed in a car crash, Eva should be ready.
But fifteen years of studying never prepared her for this. Now she must abandon everything she’s ever known – the guardians who raised her, the boy she’s forbidden to love – to move to India and convince the world that Amarra is still alive.
Review:
It’s easy to get wrapped up in Eva’s tragic tale. Her whole existence is to replicate the real Amarra in case she dies. Eva’s only a replacement. But she doesn’t think of herself that way. She’s jealous of Amarra’s life experiences and freedom. Then, when she does replace Amarra, she has to lie to everyone and impersonate someone she never actually met.
The Lost Girl is a unique and spellbinding tale of emotional drama and suspense. Eva’s origin is a bit unclear. She’s like a clone, but is never described that way. This strangely beautiful tale unfolds at a determined pace until the end which felt a bit rushed and awkward. In fact, the conclusion left a bad taste in my mouth, as it made no sense why any of the involved parties would agree. I don’t want to go into any details to avoid spoilers. But the overall story is full of drama, suspense, mystery, lies, and romance. Young adult readers looking for something fascinating and dramatic, look no further.