The Empty Mirror

by James Lincoln Collier

Nick is an orphan who has grown up in his uncle Jack's care on the wild, wooded coast of New England. His parents died when he was a baby during a terrible influenza epidemic that swept the region not long after World War I.

Nick first realizes something is wrong when he notices he no longer has a reflection. Then a neighbor he has known all his life accuses him of ignoring her. Soon Nick is blamed for all kinds of trouble around town. Is some other boy who looks like Nick creating all the problems?

Nick suspects that something even stranger is going on. Ultimately he proves that someone else is trying to get him in trouble. Refusing to let this shadow of a boy take over his life, Nick develops a plan with his friend Gypsy to get rid of his mirror image for good.

Award-winning author James Lincoln Collier has written a haunting story of two boys-one alive, one a ghost-who confront each other and their small town in a battle to determine who is the more deserving of the one life they seem to share.

Genres: Mystery, Young Adult, Fiction, Fantasy, Historical, Middle Grade, Ghosts

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

James Lincoln Collier (born June 27, 1928) is a journalist, author, and professional musician.

Collier's notable literary works include My Brother Sam Is Dead (1974), a Newbery Honor book that was also named a Notable Children's Book by the American Library Association and nominated for a National Book Award in 1975. He also wrote a children's book titled The Empty Mirror (2004), The Teddy Bear Habit (1967), about an insecure boy whose beatnik guitar teacher turns out to be a crook, and Rich and Famous (1975), sequel to The Teddy Bear Habit. His list of children's books also includes Chipper (2001), about a young boy in a gang. His writings for adults include numerous books on jazz, including biographies of Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman and Duke Ellington. He has also contributed entries on jazz-related subjects to the Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians.

In addition to his writing, Collier is an accomplished jazz musician who plays the trombone professionally.

Reviews

[Veronica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember my 3rd grade teacher reading this book aloud to the class (so glad I found it again). It made a great difference in the way I approached literacy, being an ESL learner at the time. After having this book read aloud to me, I tried to follow stories more instead of just deciphering the words because I was like "wow, some stories are actually worth the trouble of having to spend an unfair amount of time reading one page." The book left a lasting impression on me at that age, but would probably work for kids throughout elementary and middle school. Great for summer readings and read-alouds!

[Storm The Tiny Hooman ~hiatus~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought it was an amazing book. I do give it a 4/5 stars. This book got me back into reading after so long. Its sorta a short read but its like a horror thriller for kids which I found really cute

[Priya · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*

Interesting story about a teenage boy, Nick, who is considered troublesome in the small town he lives in with his uncle. So much so that a neighbour claims he ignored her deliberately when he was nowhere close to the place and other acts of petty damage are also attributed to him.

Nick sees something strange in the graveyard just around the time he realises that he no longer has a reflection and there is a figure who looks like his mirror image running around.

How he finds the truth is quite well done.

[Reem Al Qattan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thriller book and interesting

[Kylee VanWinkle · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 it wasn’t a bad book. I definitely would cry if I was in his shoes though.

[Justine Laismith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook. Our protagonist wakes up one morning feeling something was not right. He later discovers what was wrong but find it hard to confide in anyone about it, He was convinced no one would believe him. Then he is accused of crimes he did not commit.

I found in incredibly frustrating that he chose not to tell anyone what was wrong. To me it was the most obvious thing and would have saved a lot of trouble. All he had to do was show them he did not have a reflection and everyone would not something wasn't right. Instead, he goes about just denying things without any proof, when it was so easy to provide evidence.

The pacing was too slow for me. If it were meant to be building up the tension, it did not work for me. I got impatient instead. If I were reading the physical book, I would have skimmed many of the pages. But with it being an audio, the best I could do was speed up the slow reading.

I persevered to the end because I wanted to know how it was all resolved. I have to say I liked the resolution. This story had a good concept, but the execution could have been better.

[Athena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book when I was a kid, but never actually read it because I realized it was historical fiction and hated that at the time. What a shame. I enjoyed this book immensely as an adult and I think I would have loved it even more as a kid. In fact, I think it would have actually freaked 8-year-old me out - no easy task. I’m kind of drunk right now so I’m going to end this by simply saying I really enjoyed this book.

EDIT: Now that I’m sober I would like to add that the one issue I had with the book was the ending. I found the angry mob’s reaction to realizing that Nick really wasn’t the one doing all the terrible things to be kind of lackluster. I also found it unrealistic that after Jared jumped into the lake and didn’t resurface they were all just kind of like “huh” and dispersed. Like if a thirteen year old kid jumped into a lake and didn’t come back up, I don’t care what terrible things he did, I’m pretty sure at least one person would jump in to try to save him. Other than that though, I did really enjoy the book.

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story itself was not terrible in general. But there was certainly a lot of goofy to it.
One thing is it didn't really know what time. It took place in. It acted contemporary, but then placed in maybe some western farm town. The reflection idea is an interesting one, but it never makes any sense as to why it actually happened or existed. I don't think I would ever recommend this story to anyone, and I certainly wouldn't read it again. But I appreciate being given the opportunity to try it out

[Bookreader467 · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a terrible book. It was written poorly in my opinion, and was super predictable. It was lacking any suspense and felt like the same thing happening over and over again. The ending was bland and lackluster. He gets his reflection back, which I could've told you from the beginning. It needed a better, not happy ending. I doubt that it would be able to pull that off though because the book was so terrible. Don't waste your time reading this excuse for a novel. just don't.

[Nora Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this book because I didn’t have any other books to read at the moment and it was a pretty good book. I really love ghost stories so this was a good book for me and my interest. I give it three star because I feel like the ending was very rushed, they could’ve wrapped the ending up better Overall three stars.

[Soren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a seriously cool concept with a friendly and likable protagonist and the background of a deep tragedy people today like to forget about.
If I'd read this book as a kid (I am now an adult and read it as a gift) it would have stayed with me a long time.

[Cecily Black · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting concept for a book and I didn't hate it but overall, it was just okay to me. Nothing to really write home about.
Meh Read!

[book_livre~shū-libro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wasn’t bad. But also wasn’t very thrilling.

[Brandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story, I read this one really quick so it kept my attention for sure.

[Jude · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really interesting audio book, read it with my 12 year old.

[Anna F · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was really exciting and I was really interested in it. I was eager to hear what happened next in the book. I recommend this book to anyone that likes a good suspenseful mystery book.

[Kamryn]

I think it was a really good book. Very interesting.

[Favour]

Lol I read this in grade 7 it was weird but I definitely want to read it later in life…….i think it was amazing :)

[Abigaelle Robertson · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was short and interesting.

[Rei Poon · Rating 4 out of 5]

really old book but it was a fun experience. didn’t really like the ending and found some parts of the story + characters irrelevant

[Tucker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this i a very mysterious book so far, with the boy who has no reflection really gets me into it and gets me thinking if i had no reflection. I also wonder if the reflection is good or evil. I've read the book but its still confusing cause it listens to him but tries to get him in trouble. The ending was pretty cheesy but great and fascinating. Also it was mysterious and how his parents dies in a flu and his uncle was in WWI and is taking care of him interests me and that's all i have to say

[Ari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book.At first it was kid of boring but i kept on going and i got to the end of chapter 1 and I couldn't stop reading it.I was surprised what happend to him and what happend to him as a baby.I was also surprised that right away his friend had a hypothesis on what could happend to his reflection.If i were to be the author I wold of made the first chapter a little more interesting because as I said the first chapter was boring.I dont really want to tell more about the the book because i don't want to give anything away because it is really hard not to.

"Because of the angel the sun,it was hard to see through the water to the bottom.I lifted my eyes a little and looked towards the back of the pond.The wall of pine trees and the blue sky were reflected on the water there.I looked closely.There was more blue sky,and Gypsy's reflection.
Then my backbone went cold,and a chill rose up and shivered across my head .Gypsy's reflection was there,all right.But no reflection of me."
I was really exited when i read this part it made me want to read even more because i wanted to know why he lost his reflection

[*FreakedOut]

im finally done this book.This book teached me how to speak up for myself because if i wouldve got accused for something i wouldnt want to get whatever consequence i got blaimed for.Nick in this book went and was going through alot because it was something goin around on stonybeach and it was effecting people making them sick and die. Like his mother and father and the others that was there.He was only a baby.He was kept safe in the basement of a church until somebody who could treat him well and can provide for him could take him in.Nick uncle kept him but his uncle wasnt to nice of a foster parent to him.Sometimes he woudnt listen to Nick or anything like that.Nick got accused of being somewhere when he was somewhere near that place but it wasnt him.He was wanted and didnt really have anywhere to go but dont wanna tell the book because some peoplle might still be reading it. This is a good book.

[Shayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Empty Mirror was a fun ghost/adventure type story I picked up at the school book fair for $2.00. It took me a while to get into the authors style of writing and the main character's voice and telling of the story. It didn't really let the reader think for themselves about Nick and his predicament. I still can't say I really liked it, but its one way to tell a story. What I didn't like about the book was that it never really resolves how the mirror became empty, but just jumps into the action of Nick getting blamed for things he doesn't do and the problems that causes. What I liked about the book was that it was fast to read and pretty engaging. I think reluctant readers late elementary/middle school would enjoy it. There is a constant theme where Nick's friend's dad is always getting drunk and he becomes abusive which is why I don't think it would be good for really young kids, but other than that there is no swear words and it would be an ok book for a school library.

[Aaron Jun29094 · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Empty Mirror , by James Lincoln Collier, is a book about suspense, action, and the fight between oneself. To me, unlike some other people, this book was actually very well written, besides the fact of its low grade level which I had found out only a little while ago. Collier reveals a story about Nick Hodges, an orphan raised by his uncle, a mindful person that usually keeps to himself. Nick is a boy that never really causes mischief, but for some reason, there has been word that he has been seen doing crimes. On top of that, he notices that his reflection is gone. The Empty Mirror tells the story of a boy who fights, well, himself. As Nick puts piece by piece together in this book, he is put in events of suspense, action, and fighting his own sanity. I recommend this book to grade level students if they want a somewhat challenging book to read, or middle schoolers who want a fun and easy book.

[Kelsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked this book. Nick Hodges lost both of his parents in the flu epidemic of the early 1900's. He was always a boy that caused trouble. He was raised by his uncle in New England, who still was growing up for himself. Nick's life became difficult when his community starts seeing a boy that could be his twin. Breaking windows and setting fires around his town. This all started when Nick was walking in the woods, and the neighbor thinks she seen him miles from where he really was. Nick had to find a way to prove it wasn't really him. His uncle didn't believe him so he HAD to find a way to prove it was someone else. Nick had to learn more about his family's past and figure out the spirit who wants to take over and finish his life for him. Gypsy and him had walked down to the pond to find clues but they saw nothing. Everything was the same.

[Roxana · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I read a book it always changes the way I view and see things. The Empty Mirror was scary and thrilling at the same time.I'm so happy I have a reflection, so every minute (after I read the book) I would go rushing to the mirror and was glad I could see myself. This story is about Nick Hodges who is known for bringing trouble. He sometimes skipped class (with Gypsy) and one day Nick and his friend Tommy Barnes took Wido Wadman’s goat to see if he could eat tin cans. One day Gypsy and Nick go out for a walk and pass by a pond. There Gypsy stands and looks at her reflection, but she realizes Nick doesn’t have one! After that day Nick is accused of many problems that have been passing through their neighborhood. But is it Nick or his reflection?
Tun Tun Tun
=)

[Jason Alvord · Rating 4 out of 5]

I decided to give this book a 4 star rating because for the most part I was able to read it without getting too bored (I am not a big reader). I found that the main character, Nick, kind of led the way for me because he was a trouble maker which brought lots of mystery and suspension all throughout the book. Another reason for my rating was the detail. The author did a great job of describing everything, especially the family.

I liked also that the utter mystery of the book. Without giving away the whole book. The impostor of Nick kind of interested me and made me want to keep reading. If I could think of dislikes there wouldn't be many but it was slow at some points. Other that I cant really think about any other bad things. Overall the book was pretty good and kept me reading.

[Fiona · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Empty mirror is about named Nick. He was walking down the street one day and saw a boy that looked just like him. When he went back home he looked in a mirror and saw that his reflection was gone. What happened to it? Who did it? When Nick was young his uncle adopted him, but not this other boy named Jared. Is Jared the one who stole his reflection? Why?
This book is really traumatizing and tells a story about a boy who struggled all through his life after he survived a flu when he was homeless, and another boy who was lucky enough to be adopted and taken care of. This book shows a lot about people's feelings and how they can affect a person's actions towards another.

[George · Rating 3 out of 5]

Orphaned by the 1918 flu epidemic, 13-year-old Nick has been living with his uncle, creating a bit of a reputation for himself. So, when people start seeing Nick around town in places that he doesn't remember being, and doing things that he doesn't remember doing, it makes it that much harder to convince people that he's actually innocent. This quick read is primarily about consequences. Some readers might feel let down a bit by the ending, although I personally didn't mind it -- at least answers are provided. The elements of the story would probably have supported a longer book, but I like that Collier kept this one short.