The Town with No Mirrors - by Christina Collins (Hardcover)

About the Book

Twelve-year-old artist Zailey lives in a utopian community where residents are forbidden from anything that might reveal their image, but when her grandmother discovers her secret collection of portraits, it triggers a chain of events that enables Zailey to view everything in a new way.

Book Synopsis

"The Giver meets Uglies in this intricately crafted world.... Destined to be the next beloved dystopian novel." --Brigit Young, author of The Prettiest

In the town of Gladder Hill, there's no such word as ugly. Or beautiful.

Zailey has never seen her own face. She's never seen her reflection, or a photo of herself, or even a drawing. In the special community of Gladder Hill, cameras and mirrors are forbidden: it's why everyone's happier here. Nobody talks about anyone else's appearance. You're not supposed to even think about what other people look like, or what you look like.

But Zailey does.

She knows her superficial thoughts are wrong, and her sketchbook, filled with secret portraits of her classmates and neighbors, could get her in trouble. Yet she can't help but think those thoughts, and be curious about the outside world where she once lived, years ago. Most of all, she wonders what it's like to see herself--her own face.

When Zailey suddenly finds herself beyond the gates of her town, she has a chance to see if what she's been taught about the outside world is true and search for the mother she barely remembers. Only then will she find out the real story about Gladder Hill. But is she prepared for the truth?

Review Quotes

"The Giver meets Uglies in this intricately crafted world where any mention of looks is considered 'superficial' and children are kept from seeing their own faces. Christina Collins delivers a fast-paced, imaginative, and thoughtful tale that is destined to be the next beloved dystopian novel. Readers will race through it, eager to discover the fate of the endearing Zailey, and they will end it brimming with new questions to ponder about the drawbacks and power of appearance in our society." -- Brigit Young, author of The Prettiest

"A captivating reflection of how we see ourselves and others. Readers simply won't be able to look away." -- Abby Cooper, author of Sticks & Stones

"Collins (After Zero) engages in a thoughtful psychological examination of how people view themselves and their bodies, touching briefly on body dysmorphia and disordered eating, and succeeds in creating a chilling vibe." -- Publishers Weekly

"Immensely intriguing... sure to spark consideration of body image, beauty concepts, and what truly defines an individual" -- Booklist