Friday, August 17, 2012

Review: The Lost Girl by Sangu Mandanna

The Lost Girl 
by Sangu Mandanna

Release Date: August 28, 2012
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 432
Genre: YA
Source: ARC
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository
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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. What Eva finds is a grief-stricken family; parents unsure how to handle this echo they thought they wanted; and Ray, who knew every detail, every contour of Amarra. And when Eva is unexpectedly dealt a fatal blow that will change her existence forever, she is forced to choose: Stay and live out her years as a copy or leave and risk it all for the freedom to be an original. To be Eva. From debut novelist Sangu Mandanna comes the dazzling story of a girl who was always told what she had to be—until she found the strength to decide for herself.

Eva was created as a replacement for Amarra. Her whole life has not been her own. Everyday is based on Amarra's life, eating what she ate, learning how she talks, dresses, what she did that day, even studying maps of her house to know where her bedroom is located. Understandably, Amarra does not like Eva. Amarra has to make journals everyday sharing everything about her life with the girl that might one day take her place. The girl who one day might hug her mom, laugh with her friends, and kiss her boyfriend. Amarra hid her boyfriend for a year because she did not want to share him but Ammara never took the time to ask how Eva felt. Eva wants a choice and she wants to be with Sean, one of the people assigned to watch over her.

Eva loses the last of her free will when Amarra dies and she must take her place. Everyone deals with grief in a different way but this was just beyond what I could imagine doing. But to give credit to Amarra's parents the Weavier's overstated their powers. The Weaver's hope to one day be able to transfer the soul into the created body but they are just not there yet. Amarra's parents were hoping that Eva would come to them as Amarra in a new body and not just a clone. Eva had to try her best to pretend to be Amarra or they could order to destroy her. Eva does feel extreme guilt pretending. I felt extremely sad for Eva. She had to leave Sean and the family she knew to work so hard to pretend to be someone she is not. When Amarra's boyfriend Ray looks at her with love she feels so sad because she knows he doesn't love her but Amarra.

One mistake or misspoken word could alert her friends that she is not really Amarra and Echo's are illegal where she is. So much pressure! I couldn't live like that. My favorite character was of course the swoon worthy Sean who loved Eva as Eva, as an echo, as herself. He snuck her off to the zoo and did nice things for her. I was almost crying when she had to leave him. My other favorite characters, besides Eva and Sean, were actually Amarra's brother and sister. They took Eva in as herself. Accepted her as Eva and really took the entire echo process with such nice consideration. A very intriguing character. but not one I necessarily liked, was one of the actual Weavers, Matthew. Three Weavers work at the Loom creating the Echos. I found this extremely interesting and what connects Matthew to Eva is a bit shocking. Brings some real excitement to the ending of the book. It ends perfectly although there is room for more. I have been trying to figure out if this is a series or not but either way I am happy! It was a very emotional book that dealt with loss, grieving, choices, freedom, love, family, friendship, loyalty, and bravery, all in a unique and beautiful manner. 


"Because they cannot bear the thought of losing her."

"She was right. I am the thief. I've taken everything that belongs to her. She's had to give it all up.
What must that be like, to know that every single thing you wear, every last thing you know, is being copied,
mimicked, duplicated halfway across the world."

"But your sister hated me."
"I'm not my sister," say Nikhil, "and my echo's not you."
"But he might replace you some day. Don't you hate that that might happen? That he might be here with your family?"
"No," says Nik, so calmly I am exasperated. "I worry about what might happen to the people who love me if I die before them. I like knowing I have someone who will try to stop them from feeling so sad if that happens."

"Because like Frankenstein's monster, I could win."

"You said it, Eva. You said we could do it together."
"But you have a life-"
"Yeah," he says. "But I'd rather have one with you."

Rating: 5/5

25 comments:

  1. EEEP this sounds SO good! It's been my most anticipated for a while and I can't wait to dive into it. I've been hearing only good things so far, too! So happy you loved it!

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    1. It was amazing! A very unique idea and way of dealing with grief and the right to have choices and a life of your own. I hope you love it too!

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  2. The quotes are so teasing! Another addition to my TBR Pile!!

    DDS @ b00k r3vi3ws
    http://b00kr3vi3ws.blogspot.in/
    ~~ Old Follower

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    1. There were some great quotes in this one! Really emotional stuff and then some sweet stuff :) Hope you enjoy it!

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  3. This sounds sooo good and I am so excited for this one. Great review. :)

    Jenea @ Books Live Forever

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    1. I was really happy with it! I really hope you get it soon and enjoy it!

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  4. An "echo"..wow I agree with everyone! This sounds amazing, and I'm so intrigued! <3 Love the sound of this one, and I like how it had all those emotions in store for you. Great review, Jennifer! Will check this one out <3

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    1. I am rather emotional but this one especially showed so many different angles to grief and how people deal. Grief drives people to do so many things good and bad :-(

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  5. This is creepy and sad at the same time. I am sure it ellicits a whole range of emotions as well. I will be on the lookout for it!

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    1. Yeah extremely creepy to think you have to teach your echo everything about your life so they can step it and take over. Instead of everyone missing you they are just having fun with your replacement?! That would cause a lot of anger for me. People should be crying over me!!! lol

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  6. I really enjoyed this book too!! It was so interesting and I loved Eva's character. Fantastic review!!

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    1. It was an amazing book and Eva was stronger than I could have been! Glad you liked it!

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    2. It was a fantastic book. I usually like faster paced books, but this was great the way it was. I think Eve was awesome! I agree, I wouldn't have been that strong either.

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  7. I was not expecting this book to be an emotional read, but now I even more excited! This sounds like an amazing story and I can't wait to read it!!

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    1. It was really emotional! On both sides. Eva dealing with not having a choice and having to pretend and then her grieving family and friends. I felt really bad for Ray cause you could tell he really loved Amarra even though he made some really bad choices I could understand him and his grief.

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  8. I haven't read many reviews of Lost Girl but yours is by far the most positive, it's great to hear that you enjoyed it! It definitely sounds like a unique idea but I want to know why the even have echos, what's the point of replacing a person with a copy? I hope it gets answered in the book because now I want to read it :)

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    1. The idea is that they don't want to feel the loss. They want a replacement. Which is crazy! But then there is a little more to it like I mentioned they hope to eventually transfer the soul into the body so the person can live on. That makes a little more sense. I would be made if my parents were trying to train a replacement to act like me!

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  9. This sounds great!! I must read this.

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  10. Wow, this book sounds so amazing.. I had no idea what it was about before, I've seen it floating around but hadn't had time to read about it. I definitely want to read it now!!

    Thanks for the review!

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    1. I hope you get to read it soon! Such an interesting story idea and interesting way to deal with loss and grief!

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  11. I can't even count how many praising reviews I have read for this one, it sounds so good! I can't wait to get my hands on it. The premise is so intriguing, I could not imagine living like that, such a neat concept. Great review!

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    1. I know having a life completely based on becoming someone else. Someday taking their place and lying to their loved ones. Making them believe you are them. So weird to think about!

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  12. Sound creepy but still appealing... and considering you gave it a 5 star rating, it should also be pretty good. Reminds me a bit of Never Let Me Go [movie] thought that one was so sad :( I hope I like this one :)

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  13. I am DYING to read this. Thanks for reminding me to order -- and for linking to my post!

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