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Parents' Guide to

The Lost Girl

By Julie A. Carlson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Engrossing story of an "echo" designed to replace dead girl.

Book Sangu Mandanna Science Fiction 2012
The Lost Girl Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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age 13+

Based on 1 parent review

Ihateclowns14
Ihateclowns14 Adult
September 4, 2012
age 13+

Phenomenal...

This was fantastic. It's a spectacular elegy to loss, and love - all kinds of love. The writing is beautiful, the characters are beyond amazing, and the concept is fascinating. It's impossible to truly judge anyone's actions in this book because it's all so believable, so realistic, so emotional. There's no true evil, no fiendish cartoon villain. And the good guys are flawed, real. I loved this. There is a little swearing that parents of younger children might want to be aware of (including one instance of the f--- word) and some moderate violence. There are some incredible role models and positive messages of equality, loyalty, love and courage.
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

Eva, a teen living in England, has human-like qualities and feelings but isn't quite human. She's an \"echo\" of Amarra, who lives in India. If Amarra were to die, Eva, by design, would take her place. When Amarra does die suddenly, Eva must travel to Bangalore and replace her -- even though, in India, echoes are outlawed. Eva has been preparing, studying, and training to be Amarra, but she doesn't want to leave her life behind -- or her personality. She wants to be Eva. Amarra's family members welcome Eva into their lives with mixed feelings. And Eva has to pretend to be Amarra around everyone else, including Amarra's sexy boyfriend, Ray. Can she pretend to be someone she's not and keep a secret, all while holding on to who she is without endangering everyone she knows?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (1 ):

Sangu Mandanna's debut novel is inspired by Frankenstein and does a fantastic job re-creating a classic novel with a unique, modern spin and entertaining characters. Mandanna, who grew up in Bangalore, brings the city vividly to life and creates an exciting, imaginative, fast-paced read that's very emotional and leaves room for a sequel. Despite seeming a bit rushed toward the end, THE LOST GIRL would make Mary Shelley proud.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about losing a child, sibling, or friend. What do you think about how Amarra's family and friends dealt with her death? What steps can people take to cope with loss in real life?

  • Have you read Frankenstein? How does The Lost Girl compare to that classic novel?

  • Why do you think Frankenstein was outlawed in Eva/Amarra's world?

Book Details

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