Lonely Castle in the Mirror

The Lonely Castle in the Mirror follows Kokoro, who, while sick at home, notices her mirror glowing. She approaches the mirror and is brought to an unfamiliar realm where she and six other students will call the refuge for the next eleven months. During this time, the seven children become friends and find a sense of security within one another. But are they willing to sacrifice this all for a key that will grant them their greatest wish?

I liked the author’s approach to the inclusion of darker subjects like depression, anxiety, and bullying. Many books are similar, but the way this is written, you can feel isolation, loneliness, and desperation, but also the happiness, relief, and appreciation; the characters feel for one another.

I liked the way ”OK” is used. Okay means you are neither good nor bad, you are fine, but in this, fine means something else. Every time “OK” is used, it’s because there’s something more. It means you’re trying to spare your loved ones your problems, or it’s used to express loneliness and sometimes just contentment. Additionally, it’s very easy to empathize with the character’s pain. It is so good, I loved reading it, and I loved everything about the story. I’d say that this book is more appropriate for older audiences, at least eighth grade and up.