The Lost Girl

Aug 28, 2012 Wendy Darling rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-publication, harpercollins, sci-fi-or-futuristic, young-adult, august, made-my-heart-hurt, 2012-favorites, poc, crush-worthy-boys, read-2012, mature-ya, asian, uk, favorite-ya, 2012-5-star-books

Author Sangu Mandanna's guest post for The Midnight Garden talks about her unlikely inspiration for her new novel, which releases in the U.S. today!

"Can we be certain of anyone's soul, human or otherwise?"

Fiction is often most meaningful when it explores questions we find too disturbing to ask in the everyday world. Through one girl's struggle to claim her own identity, The Lost Girl addresses some fascinating ethical questions, all the while presenting a measured, powerful essay on the value o...more

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Sep 05, 2012 Mitch rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: most-memorable

Holy crap!! I need a moment to wipe the stupid grin off my face and take a deep breath so I can give this amazing book the proper review it truly deserves. *breathes into brown paper bag while heart rate settles* Ok, with that (hopefully) out of the way, I have to hand it to Sangu Mandanna, she played all her cards right, The Lost Girl is an evocative dystopian that deftly tackles so many complicated themes - identity, loss, grief - through so many rich and complex characters that I’m still lost...more Holy crap!! I need a moment to wipe the stupid grin off my face and take a deep breath so I can give this amazing book the proper review it truly deserves. *breathes into brown paper bag while heart rate settles* Ok, with that (hopefully) out of the way, I have to hand it to Sangu Mandanna, she played all her cards right, The Lost Girl is an evocative dystopian that deftly tackles so many complicated themes - identity, loss, grief - through so many rich and complex characters that I’m still lost in a jumble of emotions. Be prepared for effusive praise.

The premise alone opens the door to so many questions. Eva’s an echo, a creation of the Weavers, a copy of another girl, Amarra, intended to replace her if she ever dies because her parents can’t imagine ever letting go. But who is Eva, really? An individual in her own right or just a copy of Amarra? Can she really replace Amarra when that girl dies? Is creating an (imperfect) copy the best way to cope with the death of a loved one? Is it morally right to make a copy of someone and expect the copy to step in, assume a borrowed life, when the original dies? So many questions, and Mandanna brilliantly answers all of them. And her answers, they’re not presented in some obvious manner like through preachy narration or lecturing dialogue, rather they’re subtly, skillfully, and powerfully woven into the story. Whether it’s Eva’s struggle to become Amarra or the reactions of Amarra’s family and friends to Eva’s presence, it all makes The Lost Girl a multilayered yet unforgettably emotional story that had me rooting for Eva from beginning to end.

And why wouldn’t I, Eva is such a complex character. For once, I’m glad Mandanna didn’t take the easy way out, like writing Eva as Amarra’s clone, because, as an echo, Eva’s much more than just a physical copy of Amarra – she’s connected to Amarra in other ways too, like in dreams. There’s no real sense of where one person ends and the other begins, so Eva’s struggle to develop an identity for herself, distinct from Amarra’s, like questioning whether she loves Amarra’s boyfriend Ray or if those emotions are really Amarra’s, it’s all a wonderful soul searching journey of self discovery. At times, Eva herself isn’t sure if she’s really a different person from Amarra - the Weavers’ goal for echoes after all is for the echo to eventually be like a replacement body for the original’s soul, and watching her as she first figures out her own identity, then convinces others to accept her as a different person, and finally challenges the system that treats echoes as mere replacements is the highlight of the book.

Along the way, Eva’s supported by an impressive cast of memorable supporting characters. At the top of the list is Sean, the Guardian who watches and protects her before she steps into Amarra’s life after that girl’s death. He may seem like the standard protective love interest common in dystopians, but he’s the character that really helps Eva find her own identity and as a result his relationship with Eva, even if she’s too dense to notice at first, stands out beyond just the typical forbidden romance in a way that makes the ending, an amazing fountain scene, truly bittersweet and satisfying. But others, like Erik and Mina Ma, also stand out just by how much they clearly love Eva, even when they can’t say the words, despite her being an echo. And once Eva slips into her role of Amarra, her new friend, Lekha, wow what a cool, understanding, and very funny friend, accepting of Eva’s echo status even when many others aren’t. This deep support system of all these characters who care about Eva as her own person just adds another layer to Eva’s story as she tries to distinguish herself from Amarra.

Of course, Eva becomes Amarra because Amarra’s family isn’t willing to deal with losing her, and it’s interesting, and realistic, that Eva gets a range of reactions upon her arrival. I liked seeing the different coping mechanisms coming from Amarra’s family, her father Neil’s instant recognition that Eva isn’t Amarra, her mother Alisha’s adamant belief that Eva is Amarra returned to life, and her siblings Nik and Sasha’s slow acceptance of Eva’s presence. The entire situation, Amarra’s death and Eva’s identity slowly filtering through the family, it’s quite moving really. And of course, Ray, Amarra’s boyfriend. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many conflicting emotions from one character, guilt for causing Amarra’s death, hope that Eva is somehow Amarra, fear that he may be falling for Amarra’s replacement. It all profoundly shows how death affects the loved ones left behind.

Eva’s struggle for individuality comes to a head as she’s forced to confront her status as Amarra’s echo, with rejection meaning death. Her fate lies in the hands of the Weavers, and I’m grateful that even Adrian Borden, Matthew Mercer, and Elsa Connelly, the three who hold Eva’s future in their hands, are interesting, complex, and even tragic characters who aren’t truly villains even if they are not on Eva’s side. Elsa’s capable of showing compassion, Matthew surprised me with the games he played, and even Adrian, the coldest of the three, isn’t some stereotypical fiend but has motivations behind his character. The choices they present Eva makes her battle for survival against all odds all the more moving.

I’m gonna borrow a cheesy line and say I felt powerful emotions throughout this book, but I swear it’s true. So many things are going on, with Eva, with Amarra’s friends and family, with the Weavers, I have to say The Lost Girl is a book with massive depth. When a dystopian offers not just an interesting premise and a multitude of emotions but also boldly confronts the moral dilemmas it presents, it deserves every single word of glowing praise in this review and more. Simply amazing.(less)

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Jan 02, 2013 Maja rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own-a-dtb, 2012-favorites, made-me-cry, all-the-right-choices, arc-2012, favorites, just-another-book-crush, sci-fi, ya, random-house, reviewed-in-2012

Eva is an echo, a person weaved into existence to serve as some parents’ backup plan, in case something happens to their beloved daughter. Although reserved for the rich, the practice is not uncommon and Weavers make new echoes all the time. Eva has no life of her own; she must experience everything her Other, Amarra, does, so when Amarra gets a tattoo, Eva has to get one exactly like it even though she hates it, and when Amarra goes swimming in the middle of the winter, Eva has no choice but to...more Eva is an echo, a person weaved into existence to serve as some parents’ backup plan, in case something happens to their beloved daughter. Although reserved for the rich, the practice is not uncommon and Weavers make new echoes all the time. Eva has no life of her own; she must experience everything her Other, Amarra, does, so when Amarra gets a tattoo, Eva has to get one exactly like it even though she hates it, and when Amarra goes swimming in the middle of the winter, Eva has no choice but to do the same.

But the city is the place that shelters Amarra’s ghost. And yet being in it alone is one of the few places I can let the mask slip away and instead of walking in her shoes, it’s like we’re two girls, ghost and echo, walking side by side.

Even though it’s been two hundred years since the first echo was made, the public still considers them soulless. They are illegal in some countries, but even where they’re legal, they have to hide from the hunters. This makes Eva’s life even harder as she’s not allowed to leave the cottage she shares with her guardians or spend time with people her own age. Luckily, there is Sean, employed by the Weavers to teach her about normal everyday things, everything she can never experience herself, at least not unless her Other dies.

The romance between Eva and Sean was not some flashy, unbelievable, overnight thing. Developed over time and built on a substantial foundation, what Eva and Sean had wasn’t something I’m likely to forget. The times when Eva’s lack of social skill showed, especially in the way she handled things with Sean, were my favorite parts of the book because they made her seem realistic and very endearing. For the most part, Sean was a perfect hero, unwaveringly loyal no matter how hard the situation, but he wasn’t without flaws, and it was those tiny things, his weaknesses and quirks that made him stand out for me. Those are, after all, the things I’ll remember months from now when the color of his hair or the way in which he smiles completely disappear from my memory.

Mandanna’s writing is also flawless, not overly decorative and not too bare. She demonstrated the kid of surety one expects from a seasoned author, not someone as young and inexperienced as her.

So if I liked the writing, the story and the characters, why four starts instead of five? I think anyone who’s ever lost a loved one, not a distant cousin but someone extremely close, will struggle with the premise behind this book. As a parent, I can’t even imagine wanting a spare child if something happens to this one, and as a person who’s lost someone irreplaceable, I can’t even wrap my head around the whole thing. I struggled with the concept, but most of all, I struggled with the contradicting decisions and actions Eva’s familiars (Amarra’s parents) made. None of it made much sense to me.

‘You are important,’ he says. ‘Even if I can’t quite believe my daughter survived, like my wife does, you’ve still given us reason to hope for something more. For life beyond death. It’s why we wanted you in the first place. For that hope. And the absence of loss.’

However, I think I’ve made it clear that I really enjoyed this book. I had a difficult time accepting parts of it, and some of it just hit too close to home, but all things considered, The Lost Girl is a truly astonishing debut. I expected no less after reading my friend Keertana’s wonderful review. She was also kind enough to take us on a virtual tour of all the places Eva visited in Bangalore. It’s so interesting, make sure to check it out.

(less)

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Feb 21, 2013 Ariana rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: dystopia, favorites

If only tears could talk, they would tell you how much I loved this story..

They would tell you that pages can radiate emotions, that words can create feelings, that beauty can hurt.
If tears could talk.. they would tell you how they dropped on this book drowning smiles in emotions, drowning sadness and turning it into in happiness, making me heart melt slowly and leaving me with a sweet taste of hope.

"You're an angel among mortals. Echos are asked to sacrifice everything to make another family,

...more

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Sep 04, 2012 Katy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Beautifully written. Captivatingly fascinating. Breathtakingly mind-blowing. Mandanna has created a masterpiece that's indescribable.

CONCEPT

The premise of this book is just a bit similar to Beta by Rachel Cohn. But whereas Beta dragged, The Lost Girl was filled with thought-provoking anecdotes and experiences that Mandanna meticulously planned to relate to the overall story. And whereas Beta had a stoic ambience, The Lost Girl overwhelmed readers with powerful emotions of all kind.

First of al...more

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Sep 18, 2012 Keertana rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-that-linger, debut-author-2012, favorites, kick-ass-heroines, swoooon, rainy-day-re-reads, teary-eyed-reads, life-changing, beautiful-prose

If I were ever to write a book, this is the book I would want to see my name on. The Lost Girl was not a novel I originally went into expecting to love, but surely enough, it has made its place in my heart and even now, days after putting it down, it hasn't left. Yet, more than that, I don't want it to. With her debut, Sangu Mandanna has created a piece of fiction that transcends all boundaries and explores, not only an unique futuristic society, but also the bonds of friendship, the ties of fam...more

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Sep 05, 2012 Melissa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: absolute-favourites, most-remarkable-unforgettable

Wow!
Just wow!
5 stars really doesn't feel enough for this one

FULL REVIEW

Death is beautiful when seen to be a law, and not an accident. It is as common as life.
- Henry David Thoreau

Spoilers and me have a hate relationship so
*** spoiler alert***

It's really difficult for me to write a review for this book. Since English is not my first language and I really want to do this book justice, I feel very limited to put my thoughts into words. So although I will try to explain how absolutely amazing this...more

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Jan 01, 2013 Rachel rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Jetzt da ich das Buch gelesen habe, muss ich sagen das ich das Buchcover nicht ganz verstehe. Man hätte da auf jeden Fall mehr machen können, als nur ein lilia Farbfleck in der Mitte der zwei Mädchen. Also im Ernst - wer hat sich da keine Mühe gegeben? Bestimmt würden viel mehr dieses Buch kaufen, wenn es ein ansprechendes Cover hätte. Also gut, mag ja Geschmackssache sein, aber den Titel hat man auch schon oft gehört.

Um mal von dem Cover zum Inhalt zu gehen. Es geht um Amarra, sie ist ein Echo...more

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Oct 14, 2012 Alyson rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy-sci-fi, young-adult, romance

Really interesting concept, but I'm not sure this story uses it effectively. Plotholes galore really hurt this book, so I'm on the edge between two and three stars. This kept my attention, but in the end, there's too much that's just plain ridiculous for me to really like it.

I couldn't figure out who, exactly, is in charge in this world. Echoes are... legal? Illegal? The horror people seem to feel toward them makes me think that they'd be illegal, but then wouldn't the Loom be shut down? So, we'...more

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Nov 21, 2012 Atmika rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorite, 2012, deals-with-death, dystopia, forbidden, i-own, make-this-into-a-movie, romance-love, sequel-please, wish-he-was-real, young-adult, yes-i-cried, ya-fantasy

I have read many books but only some have managed to find a place in my heart. This is one such book.
I had a hard time writing a review for this book. I kept writing then deleting it because nothing seems right. Nothing seems good enough.
I am going to try. Sorry if it sucks!

"He told me how ordinary people, who can't bear the idea of losing somebody they love, ask the weavers to make a living, breathing copy, an 'echo'. And one day, if the peson dies, the echo will replace them....."

Eva is an e...more

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May 17, 2012 Lauren DeStefano rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: knife-factor

There comes a moment in each of our lives when we must accept death as a foregone conclusion. Grief is a shadowy road that nobody wants to tread; it's a journey we'd all rather not take, and for that reason, I say that there are really no villains in this story. There are nightmarish measures, and there's cruelty, and things that would disturb Mary Shelley's ghost, sure. But beyond that, it's all about the measures parents would take to hang on to their child, what it means to die, what it means...more There comes a moment in each of our lives when we must accept death as a foregone conclusion. Grief is a shadowy road that nobody wants to tread; it's a journey we'd all rather not take, and for that reason, I say that there are really no villains in this story. There are nightmarish measures, and there's cruelty, and things that would disturb Mary Shelley's ghost, sure. But beyond that, it's all about the measures parents would take to hang on to their child, what it means to die, what it means to be alive, and that terrible moment when you realize your loved one is not coming back.

Eva was born as the echo of a girl she's never met, thousands of miles away, by the name of Amarra. Eva is a precautionary measure, the "just in case" designed to replace Amarra should she die. Eva has a soul; she has interests; she likes scones and elephants and the swing in her back yard; she's sorting through her complicated feelings for one of the guardians meant to take care of her. She's steely and intelligent and kind. But when Amarra is killed in a car accident, none of this matters. Eva must fill Amarra's role lest she be destroyed by the weavers that created her.

I say that there are no villains because this book deals with every angle of grief. It deals with denial most prominently, followed by pain, anger, sorrow, rebuilding, hope, and perhaps most painfully, acceptance. I felt all of these things as I read. Reading late into the night, I eventually drifted into a sleep filled with nightmares of a girl who was not me, living my life and sleeping in my bed. I felt the injustice of Amarra being replaced as though her death never happened, and at the same time I sympathized with the mother's reasons for trying, and the father's stoicism, and the brother's wisdom and the sister's cautious smiles. This story hit close to home, because I'm no stranger to loss. But Eva has something to say to all of us, I think. She's a voice for anyone who has experienced loss, but also a testament to the right we all have to live as we are.(less)

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Sep 10, 2012 Ferdy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Spoilers

Eva is an Echo, created by the Weavers to replace Amarra, a human girl, in the event she should die. Eva has never been able to make her own choices or decisions - she must eat what Amarra eats, dress how she does and learn what she does so she is ready to be her if needed. Eva dreams of being free, but her best friend, Sean, and guardians warn her that should she break any of the Weavers rules she will be sentenced to death. Eva struggles to fight for her own identity increase when the...more

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Sep 27, 2012 Nobonita rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Nobonita by: myself :)

Shelves: autographed-copy, hardback-review-copy, signed-by-author, harper-collins

I just won a copy of this along with bookmarks in a giveaway! XD The first giveaway I ever won!!! So excited!!!

*UPDATE*
For more reviews and to win a U.K edition copy of this check out my blog: http://perrytheplatypus1102-3daydream...

In The Lost Girl, Sangu Mandanna weaves together a story of love,loss and freedom,the kind that every living person has.Taking figments of ideas from Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and then using them to create concepts of her own,the author does a truly wonderful job i...more

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Sep 06, 2012 Kayla Beck rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-debut, 2012-release, dystopia, fantasy, paranormal, romance, young-adult, dac-arc-tour, dac-2012, 2012-read, favorites, science-fiction

Review originally posted on Bibliophila, Please.

The Lost Girl is the debut novel of Sangu Mandanna. It is a young adult, speculative fiction novel that explores grief and the lengths that families are willing to go to never have to say goodbye. The main character is an "echo" named Eva who has been created for the sole purpose of stepping into her "other's", Amarra's, life if anything should happen to her.

Before I start hitting the main points that I look at when writing a review, I feel it is...more

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Aug 17, 2012 Jennifer rated it 5 of 5 stars

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...more 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."(less)

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Sep 04, 2012 Isamlq rated it 4 of 5 stars

It's the easy flow of most everything in it that surprised me, given the idea of Echoes made by Weavers, raised by Guardians for their Familiars. The allusions to Frankenstein’s creature had me expecting dark and moody, but this wasn’t. Simply it's a girl with a very specific role to perform. Her life is hitched to what another does, her Other… Amarra. There’s a relationship between the two as well, but it’s what Eva discovers that allows Amarra to become more than just her Other. I loved this u...more

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May 06, 2013 Christina (A Reader of Fictions) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Christina (A Reader of Fictions) by: Lilian Cheng

Shelves: sadie-hawkins

The Lost Girl has been sweeping in praise, and I can see why. Sangu Mandanna's debut is a mature, beautiful story with philosophical resonances. She touches on what it means to be human and on the nature of creation. This is a book that makes you think about the world, and what it would be like if it were just a little bit different. Though The Lost Girl didn't quite cross the border into being a story that I absolutely love, I can confidently recommend it to anyone who appreciates a thoughtful,...more The Lost Girl has been sweeping in praise, and I can see why. Sangu Mandanna's debut is a mature, beautiful story with philosophical resonances. She touches on what it means to be human and on the nature of creation. This is a book that makes you think about the world, and what it would be like if it were just a little bit different. Though The Lost Girl didn't quite cross the border into being a story that I absolutely love, I can confidently recommend it to anyone who appreciates a thoughtful, introspective story with a bit of action.

The world herein depicted differs very little from the modern world in which we live. The only real difference is the existence of the Weavers and their Loom. Modern-day Frankensteins, not of name but of occupation work there, building humans from dust and bones. These Weavers create Echoes, copies of real human beings, insurance policies of a sort. Purchase an Echo of your beloved child and you will not have to worry about her death, because you've got a spare raised in secrecy by Guardians to know the intimate details of her life.

The process is not explained in detail, and I do admit some skepticism about how the Weavers are able to create physically identical human with the ingredients Mandanna relates, but this really doesn't detract from the story. The idea of the Echoes is less of a scientific venture than a philosophical one. What does it mean to be an Echo, to be intended to be someone else? Are they human? Do they have souls? Are they individuals? Should they have rights?

The heroine, who names herself Eva, is the Echo of Amarra, the eldest daughter of a wealthy family in Bangalore. There's no doubt that Eva is her own person. She enjoys pursuits that Amarra does not, like art, and loves a boy that Amarra does not. Amarra and Eva both resent the intrusion of the other. Eva's presence cheapens Amarra's life because she feels expendable, and like she has to share everything with Eva; Eva exists only to be an imitation of Amarra, and has to squash her individuality, her desires, her ambitions. Their relationship and the way that only one of them can truly, openly exist at once has echoes of What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang.

I rooted for Eva to get a chance at life. She has so much spirit and such a strong will to live, but she has no right to life if she doesn't follow a strict set of rules, and, even if she does, she could be killed for any number of reasons. Somehow, though, I never really connected with her or the other characters, except perhaps for Amarra's charming little brother Nikhil. I'm not really sure what was missing for me there, but that disconnect I felt kept me from completely loving the book.

My only other concern is the very end. The very last chapter made things a bit more cut-and-dried than I would have liked. I thought Mandanna was going for an unclear ending, and she does in a way, but she tied up one arc with a neat little bow that did not fit with the mood of the rest of the book. For the kind of book that The Lost Girl is, the vaguely happy ending sounded a false note for me, though I imagine most readers will thrill to it, particularly if invested in the characters.

Sangu Mandanna is an author to watch. Her debut is powerful, beautifully-written, and full of moving philosophical questions on what it means to be human. The Lost Girl is a great read-a-like for Kat Zhang's What's Left of Me.(less)

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Jan 02, 2013 Elle! rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Teens. YA Lovers.

Recommended to Elle! by: Sister.

Shelves: ya, suspense, adventure, teens, high-school, end-of-the-world, sci-fi, paranormal, fantasy

If a family member passed and society was able to create a clone who looked like them would you take the chance?

Pacing: god it was so slow..............My brain was like:

Why? The first half dragged like a two year old's paint streaked hands across a wall.

Second Half:Sh*t went down!

description

But the second half she meets Ray cause every YA Fiction needs a ~~drool worthy~~ interesting intelligent realistic boy.In my opinion the story took to long to get started , most of the book.It was jumbled and I had to wai...more

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May 07, 2012 Stephen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

First off - loved this book! The writing is often beautiful, and this is wonderfully combined with gripping action and pace.

The story revolves around Eva, an echo stationed in Northern England. She is an exact replica of Amarra, created solely to replace her should she die. Her life consists of learning every facet of Amarra's life, from her feelings to her school lessons.

Of course, Amarra tragically perishes in a car crash, leaving Eva to make haste to India to fill in for her. The author guide...more

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Sep 20, 2012 Ash rated it 5 of 5 stars

A very special emotional tale... which will undoubtedly mean many things to many different people and possibly even cultures... India itself has huge issues. Except for one or two comments, Mandanna has got a rare story of courage and love and humanity across without getting mired in India's politics when Eva is in India. Despite the international school atmosphere (and there are hundreds of them now in India) I can see many commentators and possibly even newspapers 'seeing' more in this. This c...more

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Sep 10, 2012 Lyn (The Heartless) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, kindle, teen-lit, science-fiction

Actual rating: 4.5

Review also available at Kara's blog, Great Imaginations

"It's a funny sort of word to use at a time like this, lost. You lose your keys. Your phone. Your favorite pair of shoes. And often you find those things again, days or weeks later, under the sofa or buried at the back of a closet. But it isn't quite the same for a lost life. A lost girl. Can you find those things again?"

Eva lives in a world where human copies are produced to replace a person if they should die--an “echo”...more

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Jan 10, 2013 Emma rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, from-publisher, fantasy, for-review, read-a-long, paranormal, ya, debut-ya

From the moment I received this through the post, I knew this would be a books for me. Through the inspiration of Frankenstein, I was curious to see how the classic could influence or combine the nature of novel in to this YA. All I can say is... Forget Frankenstein, try The Lost Girl.

But first I'd like to say Thank you to Jessica over at Booked Up for doing a Read-along with her. As she would say: "We *fangirled* together" . You can see her review here.

Warning some minor spoilers.

Mandanna has...more From the moment I received this through the post, I knew this would be a books for me. Through the inspiration of Frankenstein, I was curious to see how the classic could influence or combine the nature of novel in to this YA. All I can say is... Forget Frankenstein, try The Lost Girl.

But first I'd like to say Thank you to Jessica over at Booked Up for doing a Read-along with her. As she would say: "We *fangirled* together" . You can see her review here.

Warning some minor spoilers.

Mandanna has created a refreshing and a unique take on the classic. The plot intrigued from the very beginning; an Echo, a creation stitched by the Weavers as a replacement of human nature. Is she real?Does she have a choice in her own life? No Echo does and that's the pain of watching someone's life flash through your eyes, knowing that your going to be next. Eva was stitched at the Loom in London, its argued whether she was born at all or rather than made. But I felt quite strongly about this subject, she living, she breathing, she has a brain and she unlike Frankenstein's Monster, is the living embodiment of a normal human being. How Mandanna was able to make me feel and empathise with these character is a brilliant trait in writing that I admire her for. The pace Part 1 was slightly off and didn't have the constant for that the rest of the novel had. However what I loved about TLG was the transition between Amarra and Eva, London and Bangalore and a human and an Echo.

The main protagonist, Eva, is strong, opinionated, artistic, passionate and a brave soul for an Echo. She is especially unique echo, gutsy and fight for what she believes in. However, she has a vulnerable side, one that makes her realistic, makes her human. Its said in the history of Echos, they only have one chance, Eva has 3. Sean the green-eyed love interest and Guardian, lets just say everybody needs one. His charisma and characteristics broke your heart at Part 1, *sniffles* and then he's the beating heart of the novel. The moment when you just want them kiss is overwhelming and horrible- but that is one of the many rules that the Weavers set in place; no relationship between Guardian and Echo. But hey, she 's broke all the rules, what's one more?
"Eva", he says, and my eyes tear. "Do you still dream of cities?""Yes", I say. I hear the sound of him swallowing. "Do you still dream of me?""Yes". I thought things might have changed."No" he says. "I haven't either," and he hangs up.

Some of the secondary characters were equally brilliant; Matthew, Eva's creator is the arrogance of Frankenstein, he's the unfeeling consciousness of the Loom. He sees no reason only the craft of his creations. Matthew's character is infuriating at best, when he states the line between both sides of human nature. Eva is no more than a human than everyone else! (*Grrrrr*) I loved Sasha and Nikhil, the Familiar's family was more than accepting of Eva's status and Sasha was the bubbliest character of them all. Ray, Ammara's love interest, was cunning, deceiving and the cause of Eva's downfall. Finally, Lekha, Eva's best friend, she may have seen through her eyes, but she is the spark that Eva needs to continue this life.

Mandanna has created a spectacular achievement and expectation for her debut novel. For a Standalone its brilliant, yet the ending leaves you wondering. Wondering whether where it will take you next. I hope Mandanna has a sequel in the making, because I will be the first to buy it. This is one of my very first reads of 2013 and it has set me on a high for something different and fresh.
Rating: 4.5(less)

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Sep 27, 2012 Valeria Andrea rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: youngadult, english, favorites, wishlist-i-want-you-in-my-shelves

*Le Happy sigh* Gee, guys, I can't understand. Really, you have NO idea on how complicated is this for me. So, here, some words of guidance for this review, which will be a total mess, (just as my tenee-tiny frozen heart right now)... I FREAKING LOVED THIS BOOK!!! *composes*
Also, I'm mourning. I didn't want The Lost Girl to hit final page & when it did I kind of broke.

Emotions.
Those are some really complicated shit, & I think I'd never read a book with so many on it.
I mean, yeah, there...more

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Feb 23, 2013 Nikki (Fiction Freak) rated it 4 of 5 stars

he Lost Girl was, in all intents and purposes, a great read that definitely made an impression. But did I absolutely love it like I did others? No, not quite.But it was an amazing book that I did enjoy and, maybe did love the second half!

The Lost Girl was actually pretty slow for me in the first half and I honestly almost put it down.But I decided to push on and continue it and SO glad I did! After we meet Ray things really get to pick up. Because Ray, out of all people, was the closest one to A...more he Lost Girl was, in all intents and purposes, a great read that definitely made an impression. But did I absolutely love it like I did others? No, not quite.But it was an amazing book that I did enjoy and, maybe did love the second half!

The Lost Girl was actually pretty slow for me in the first half and I honestly almost put it down.But I decided to push on and continue it and SO glad I did! After we meet Ray things really get to pick up. Because Ray, out of all people, was the closest one to Amarra, and he would be the first one who would be able to figure out that Eva isn't Amarra. That Eva is an echo. And *SPOILER!* he does. That's when things really picked up and I was almost desperate to find out how it ended. There were so many ways this book could go, and I loved the way it did!

Eva did annoy me for a single moment when she was leaving England and she ran to hug Sean. It was sweet! But I couldn't help a little trickle of irritation sneak in.That one thing could get her killed! WHAT WAS SHE THINKING?! But after that one anger moment, I loved her. She was trying to stay alive, but to survive as well. And despite what everyone said, she was human. Just because she wasn't born like a regular one doesn't mean she wasn't one. She had her flaws--she was stubborn and strong willed and she could be cruel if it meant surviving. But she wanted to live and I think that was the biggest tip off and I wanted to smack a lot of secondary characters for thinking of her like an empty machine or something.

The romance actually surprised me and that is one of possibly the hardest things to do in YA fiction nowadays without a solid love triangle. And no, this was not a solid love triangle. I was thinking "Oh, she'll end up with Sean." then "No no, she'll end up falling in love with Ray and then he'll find out she's not the real Amarra and break her heart, then he'll fall in love with the real Eva then..." and then "Nah, maybe it IS Sean..." And who she did end up with satisfied me because the other guy was a complete butthole to her.

The plot was, like I said, slow in the beginning but later picked up at a speed I enjoyed and had me flipping rapidly through the pages. I had no idea what would happen next because Eva was just completely unpredictable! And when we get a closer look at the Weavers, I also realized just how...different they each were. Matthew was actually my favorite character, secondary and otherwise. He was hilarious to read about and, have no doubts, was actually at least the smallest bit human to make us love him.

I was thinking, though, how many open strands there are for a stand alone book. I have so many questions unanswered but it doesn't seem like we'll be getting a sequel!

The Lost Girl was really a great read that will make you wonder yourself--What really makes us human and what makes us not? The Lost Girl is just the kind of book you need to read if you just need a fun story that really does make you wonder these things. Quick paced and wonderful, it will captivate you!(less)

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Sep 30, 2012 Gigi Olivia rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: let-go-move-on, inspiring-novels, favourites, dystopia, thriller, paranormal, ya-novels, sci-fi, teenage-romance

What does it mean to become a human? I've been asking myself this question all the while I've been reading this book. Is Eva not human, just a thing, just because she's an echo, just because she wasn't borned naturally? It's just too hard to answer this question. I feel the struggle of Eva trying to be someone she isn't, I feel the anxiety of being caught by pretending someone she isn't, I feel the love she felt towards Sean and Nikhil and Lekha and Sasha and all those people who return her love...more

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Jan 12, 2013 Louisa rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013-favourites

The Lost Girl raises many powerful questions: what constitutes feelings? What makes a person human? And what ethical lines should be drawn when you create (what is essentially) a clone, or an echo, to replace your lost loved one?

Sangu Mandanna writes with a sparse yet emotional hand. Eva's spirit leaps off the page; you can't help rooting for her, at the same time knowing at the back of your mind that her existence is blasphemy. It's a testament to Mandanna's characterisation that the reader cou...more

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Oct 02, 2012 Simcsa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012, read-in-english, sci-fi

I thought about this a lot. I so wanted to give The Lost Girl 5 stars, because I mostly enjoyed it immensely, however it doesn't deserve them. In the end I was left yearning to know more, I wasn't completely satisfied with what I got from the book. A couple of things could have been explained more, some characters remained a mystery to me, they should have been more fleshed out and then there were things that just didn't make sense. Also, I felt a little detached at the end, nor sad nor happy, k...more I thought about this a lot. I so wanted to give The Lost Girl 5 stars, because I mostly enjoyed it immensely, however it doesn't deserve them. In the end I was left yearning to know more, I wasn't completely satisfied with what I got from the book. A couple of things could have been explained more, some characters remained a mystery to me, they should have been more fleshed out and then there were things that just didn't make sense. Also, I felt a little detached at the end, nor sad nor happy, kind of like "that's it? that's all we will get?" and that's not what I should feel after finishing a 5-star book.

What needed to be explained: (a few examples)

-Lekha. Why did she help Eva and became her friend? I understand that she is nice, but she was fed the same nonsense about echoes (they aren't human, they don't have feelings..) as the others, she too should have prejudices, so why is she immediately willing to help her, believing she isn't a monster?

-The Mark. All the echoes have it on their necks so that they can be easily recognized, but they have to keep it hidden, because there are people called hunters whose only purpose is to kill echoes. According to hunters the echoes are against nature, therefore they shouldn't exist. Now tell me what's the reason of having the Mark on the neck? Nobody can see it anyway, so I don't see a point.. However, that's not what I was hinting at. I meant to address the problem of concealing the Mark. Because it's not so easy to hide something when it's being on your neck. You can wear scarfs, bandaids or whatever else to keep it from sight, but the question is how long will it take for anyone to notice? Because it's bound to happen. Eva has long hair, so it's kind of easier for her to conceal the Mark, but not all of the echoes have long hair..

-When the original person dies, echo goes and replaces him so that nobody notices. And now tell me how is it possible to arrange that nobody knows that the other died. Take for example Amarra, Eva's other. She dies in a car accident. When I imagine an accident I see policemen, an ambulance, doctors.. All of them would have to know Amarra died.

-Matthew. Well.. it's not exactly a need of explanation in this case, just.. Matthew is my favorite character and I would love to know more, as his motives were never truly uncovered. I can tell you it's a long ago since I met such an original, elusive and brilliant character. I'm completely Team Matthew.

When I think of Matthew.. I change my mind. It will get half a star more, only because of him. That makes it 4.5 stars. And please, even if it looks as if I'm making a lot of complaints, that doesn't mean The Lost Girl isn't a book worth reading, the problem is it could have been a tad more wonderful.(less)

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May 11, 2013 Jamie rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: bat-country, book-of-the-month-ya-ma, creepy-fathers-club, dystopian, female-mc, mad-scientist, nazi-buttholes, romeo-and-juliet-like-love, unfinished-bidnez, to-review, wtf-ending, young-adult

Somewhere between 2 and 3 stars.

To call this sci-fi would be completely misleading.

There are far too many questions unanswered for a supposed stand-alone.

Things I liked(most of the time):

Eva.
After a group of kids corner her and call her a monster:
He was twice my size. I got away with a black eye, a bloody lip, and a sense of savage satisfaction because I did what I wanted for once.

After her 'other' gets a tattoo and she has to get the same one to match:
"I don't know what it means to her," I...more

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Mar 08, 2013 Tammy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Tammy by: Wendy Darling

Shelves: young-adult, favourite-heroines, favorites, dystopian-fiction, brave-bold-gutsy-heroines, book-boys-i-love

Disclaimer: This book review also appears on Women24.com, a South African women's lifestyle website where I manage, amongst other things, an online books section. Review also appears on my book blog.

What would you do if you were created for the express purpose of living someone else’s life once they’ve ceased living?

“I promise to do my best to forget myself.”

What would you do if you weren’t allowed to be your own person? If you were stitched together from someone else’s memories so that you cou...more

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Sep 24, 2012 Jenna Does Books rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review is also found at Making the Grade.

THE LOST GIRL is simply one of THE BEST books I have read this year. Completely original and unforgiving in its portrayal of “self” and “identity” and “having a soul”, as well as seriously intense with regard to both emotion and story, few books can compare to this sensational debut. Home run, Sangu. Home. Run.

The story begins with the introduction of Amarra (whom I initially deemed Amarra 2.0) – she is a “stand in”/clone, created to replace the ori...more This review is also found at Making the Grade.

THE LOST GIRL is simply one of THE BEST books I have read this year. Completely original and unforgiving in its portrayal of “self” and “identity” and “having a soul”, as well as seriously intense with regard to both emotion and story, few books can compare to this sensational debut. Home run, Sangu. Home. Run.

The story begins with the introduction of Amarra (whom I initially deemed Amarra 2.0) – she is a “stand in”/clone, created to replace the original Amarra, should the girl ever meet an early demise. Nameless, not allowed to be her own person, Amarra 2.0 defies the rules of her creators and gives herself a name, Eva. But then, of course, the original Amarra is killed in a car accident, and Eva must immediately drop everything and take her place. A hard task for a clone with a life and a mind of her own.

I have not met a character recently who I respect more than Eva. Her situation and place in the world around her is unimaginable. The comparisons to Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein are appropriate, as Eva is just as despised by the world as that unfortunate creation. She must lie to everyone and act just like Amarra; attending school, encountering Amarra’s friends, dating… Hiding who she truly is inside. Lost. Yes, she marches on, unquestioningly carrying out the task for which she was created – BUT she displays her OWN character growth that peals away, layer by layer, right before your eyes. You can actually visualize her true self coming out as she speeds toward a climactic ending full of shocks and surprises.

I reached the end of this book, both amazed by the story that I just encountered and wishing on every star in the sky that someday I would be able to read more about Eva. It can’t end, it just can’t! While I was satisfied with where Eva’s story left her, I can’t help but want more. That is how wonderful THE LOST GIRL is.

Even if we don’t see more of Eva, you can guarantee that I am a Sangu Mandanna fan for life.(less)

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