Charlotte Kersten

So What’s It About?

Seven students are avoiding going to school, hiding in their darkened bedrooms, unable to face their family and friends, until the moment they discover a portal into another world that offers temporary escape from their stressful lives. Passing through a glowing mirror, they gather in a magnificent castle which becomes their playground and refuge during school hours. The students are tasked with locating a key, hidden somewhere in the castle, that will allow whoever finds it to be granted one wish. At this moment, the castle will vanish, along with all memories they may have of their adventure. If they fail to leave the castle by 5 pm every afternoon, they will be eaten by the keeper of the castle, an easily provoked and shrill creature named the Wolf Queen.

Delving into their emotional lives with sympathy and a generous warmth, Lonely Castle in the Mirror shows the unexpected rewards of reaching out to others. Exploring vivid human stories with a twisty and puzzle-like plot, this heart-warming novel is full of joy and hope for anyone touched by sadness and vulnerability.

What I Thought

This is a beautiful book, and certainly one of the best I’ve read this year. It absolutely delivers on everything that is promised – the kindness and empathy and hope for those who are suffering, the twisty plot, and the underlying message of how powerful it is to reach out to others. It does an amazing job of showing friendships develop gradually and realistically between a group of very different kids. There are lots of little squabbles, awkwardness and anxiety over the minutiae of social interactions. Gradually though, the kids realize that they can support each other once Masamune breaks the ice and asks them for help. There are so many lovely moments as they begin to bond, and the story shows that while we’re busy criticizing ourselves and thinking everyone hates us, our gestures can have a wonderful impact on others.

Towards the end of the book, we are able to see a quick snapshot of each kid’s life and what kind of suffering brought them to the castle. Their struggles are all timely and relevant, from bullying and abuse to being put under impossible pressure to perform and family trouble. Each is explored with a delicate touch. In particular, the exploration of Kokoro’s bullying feels really well done – including how wonderful and supportive her mother is!

As promised, the book features a number of twists that are quite satisfying and enjoyable. While I have a few quibbles about plausibility for a few of them, the emotional resonance of each development is beautiful and bittersweet, and that is what is definitely the most important. In particular, I was struck by the revelation about the identity of Mrs. K, the kind guidance counselor. Her story shows how a girl going through terrible things can nevertheless survive to eventually thrive and help other children in the future. My only real critique of this particular plotline is that we never learn how Aki’s abuse by her stepfather is addressed/ended/resolved. The book talks about how her grandmother’s friend helps her get back into school, but the ongoing abuse is not mentioned as her story concludes.

Besides that, the story’s finale sees each of the kids going back to their own time, losing their memories of the castle but nevertheless deeply transformed by their experiences there. It is an incredibly special story, and one of the most deeply kind things I have read in a long time. Highly recommended as long as you are ready to cry!