Mirror Mirror, Gregory Maguire

The Open Critic Book Review by Lucilla
Grade Eight English
Bigelow Middle School

In this witty retelling of Snow White, Maguire sets the story in Italy during the 1500s. Young Bianca lives with her father in a sleepy little village until the infamous Borgias, Lucrezia and Cesare send Bianca’s father off on an impossible mission and Bianca is left in the hands of the beautiful but jealous Lucrezia.

As the years go by Lucrezia is infuriated by both her brother’s infatuation to Bianca and her own frustration at the girl’s growing beauty. In her anger she plots to have Bianca killed. However, like in the fairy tale, a kindly hunter and the seven dwarves saves Bianca. Unfortunately, the evil Borgia finds out and is set on killing Bianca no matter what it takes …

Maguire adds his own twists and insights to the well-known fairy tale. Although it seems like a straightforward story, there is more than meets the eye here. Especially when mixing dwarves and historical figures like Lucrezia and Cesare together. In a way this is a historical fiction, but in a way it is not. There is certainly history in this tale, but Maguire takes many liberties with it, to a good result.

Mirror Mirror, An Excerpt from Gregory Maguire’s Novel

…She [Lucrezia] would face the child in finery. She had Primavera wring the juice from ten lemons and work it into her fair hair. If Bianca, stars glowing the in the highlights of her midnight hair, would preen as Hecate, Lucrezia would pounce as Aurora…Summer would be here before long; she would reign as the goddess of dawn. The peacocks screamed at the competition; she threw her head back and answered them.

The time came at last. She plucked the Apple from the silver stem – the second of the reported three …

Mirror Mirror, The Verdict

Pros:
Maguire writes with extreme wit, if you look for it. Also, Lucrezia comes alive in his hands so she isn’t just the antagonist, but perhaps the true main character.

Cons:
At first Maguire’s writing may be a little confusing as he switches narrative between chapters. And although Bianca is the supposed main character she is not as well developed nor does she appear as much in the book as the others.

Also, this book contains some graphic moments that are not entirely appropriate. This is definitely for an older, maturer audience.

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