Novelist's Unconscious Borrowed a Few Phrases

McCafferty's narrator describes a friendship this way: "Bridget is my age and lives across the street. For the first twelve years of my life, these qualifications were all I needed in a best friend."

Both authors also include a joke about the strain involved in purchasing a diet soda from a store that sells dessert. In "Second Helpings," published in 2003, McCafferty had written about how "in a truly sadomasochistic dieting gesture, they chose to buy their Diet Cokes at Cinnabon." In Viswanathan's novel, it was "a truly masochistic gesture, they had decided to buy Diet Cokes from Mrs. Fields" cookies.

Viswanathan's first book, finished during her freshman year at Harvard and released just a few weeks ago, has already gained some notice because of the author's young age and quick success.

Her book tells the story of a high schooler, like Viswanathan the daughter of Indian immigrants, who has to reevaluate her highly programmed existence after a Harvard admissions official chides her for not having any fun. After that, her family formulates a new plan, HOWGAL -- "How Opal Will Get a Life."

The book has sold 8,000 copies in just a few weeks, according to Nielsen BookScan. News reports say the author received a $500,000 advance.

Before Viswanathan's explanation was released, McCafferty issued a statement through her own publishing firm, Random House, saying she had first been alerted to the similarities by readers.

She said the echoes in Viswanathan's book went further than a few words and phrases, that there were "characters, and plot points in common."

"I am hoping this can be resolved in a timely and responsible manner," she said.