Young novelist under scrutiny

The publisher of a 19-year-old Harvard University sophomore’s debut novel is investigating the work because it includes several passages that are similar to a book published in 2001.

Kaavya Viswanathan’s “How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild, and Got a Life” was published in March by Little, Brown and Co., which signed her to a hefty two-book deal when she was just 17.

On Sunday, the Harvard Crimson reported the similarities on its website, citing seven passages in Viswanathan’s book that parallel the style and language of “Sloppy Firsts,” a novel by Megan McCafferty that Random House published.

Viswanathan did not return a phone message seeking comment. On Saturday, she told the Crimson: “No comment. I have no idea what you are talking about.”

Michael Pietsch, the publisher of Little, Brown, said the company would investigate the similarities. “I can’t believe that these are anything but unintentional,” he said. “She is a wonderful young woman.”