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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The small town of Bourne bears the scars of a chemical company that poisoned their water 17 years ago and left them with no recourse. The Mitchell family was devastated more than most. Nora Mitchell's husband died unexpectedly of cancer just weeks before she gave birth to triplets, two of whom were born severely disabled.
Now that the triplets are 16 years old, it could be happening all over again. The chemical company is back promising much-needed jobs and promising they have fixed what was wrong with their process.
I liked that the author attempted to show different points of view and how the tragedy affected different townspeople differently. I think she could have dug a little deeper, but it is written for teens so I think it is age-appropriate. However, some subjects did seem overly simplistic. The book does a good job of writing from the points of view of the three 16-year-olds. The adult characters seem just as immature or charicaturized, though.
I might recommend this to a young reader, but it isn't all that interesting for an adult, even if they enjoy YA and middle-grade lit.
Now that the triplets are 16 years old, it could be happening all over again. The chemical company is back promising much-needed jobs and promising they have fixed what was wrong with their process.
I liked that the author attempted to show different points of view and how the tragedy affected different townspeople differently. I think she could have dug a little deeper, but it is written for teens so I think it is age-appropriate. However, some subjects did seem overly simplistic. The book does a good job of writing from the points of view of the three 16-year-olds. The adult characters seem just as immature or charicaturized, though.
I might recommend this to a young reader, but it isn't all that interesting for an adult, even if they enjoy YA and middle-grade lit.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
I will read whatever Laurie Frankel cares to write about — she has a way of gorgeously illustrating characters to the point where you feel like you’re living inside their brains. We alternate between three triplets, each with very different perspectives, and yet it’s never jarring to switch POVs. Frankel deftly explores the bonds between siblings, disability, the trickle-down effects of capitalism, justice and even first love, and I loved the way she wrapped things up.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Nothing new ever happens in the town of Bourne. Everyone knows everyone. So when the moving trucks arrive, it causes a stir. Bourne is a town known for one thing: seventeen years ago, their water turned green. Many of their citizens of died, others have cancer and other illnesses, and others gave birth to children with birth defects. You'll never find a town more accommodating to wheelchairs. But it has one doctor (also the priest) and one therapist (Nora Mitchell). Bourne houses Nora's triplets, beloved by all: Mab, the "normal" one, who is expected to go to college and escape this place; Monday, who runs the town library from their home and prefers yellow everything (food, clothes, and more); and Mirabel, the smartest of them all, confined to her wheelchair, dependent on her sisters and mom for so much and on a computer to act as her Voice. Nora has been fighting for justice since the water turned green. When the newcomers come to town, the past roars up, involving the Mitchell triplets and bringing to light decades old secrets. How hard will Mab, Monday, and Mirabel fight for their town?
This is such an original book from the author of THIS IS HOW IT ALWAYS IS. It sneaks up on you with its quiet and touching story. Frankel weaves an emotional tale that makes you think. It's utterly fascinating, this devastated town and its broken people. So many of its citizens are sick or have lost someone they love. Yet there is a lot of hope in Bourne, especially as the story is told through young Mab, Monday, and Mirabel's eyes. They've only known their mom's sadness and bitterness, never having met their father, yet each has their own (often quirky) way of looking at life.
Frankel alternates viewpoints from each triplet, naming her chapters One (Mab), Two (Monday), and Three (Mirabel) and repeating from there. It takes a moment to get into the groove of each triplets' voice, but once you do, it's easy to get attached to them. Mab feels the weight of the world on her shoulders, sweet Monday takes everything literally, and Mirabel must remain cheerful, despite all her medical issues. Their mom holds a variety of jobs, including town therapist and working at the local bar, and maintains a decades long lawsuit and grievance. It's hard to know what the triplets' life might be like without Nora's anger and bitterness.
Still, ONE TWO THREE highlights the power of sisterhood and family. You'd think a book about a broken town would be depressing and a slugfest, but it's anything but. In many ways, I found this to be almost a mystery, as the sisters work together to figure out about the newcomers in their town and how they relate to the years of devastation wrecked upon Bourne. The result is utterly compelling, with years of intertwined secrets making for a fascinating read.
Still, at the core, this is a story about teenage girls and how they relate to the world. It's sweet, heartbreaking, and extremely well-written. There are a few points where I wish the plot sped up a bit, but overall, this is a touching and lovely story about a family and their small town.
I received a copy of this book from Henry Holt & Company and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
This is such an original book from the author of THIS IS HOW IT ALWAYS IS. It sneaks up on you with its quiet and touching story. Frankel weaves an emotional tale that makes you think. It's utterly fascinating, this devastated town and its broken people. So many of its citizens are sick or have lost someone they love. Yet there is a lot of hope in Bourne, especially as the story is told through young Mab, Monday, and Mirabel's eyes. They've only known their mom's sadness and bitterness, never having met their father, yet each has their own (often quirky) way of looking at life.
Frankel alternates viewpoints from each triplet, naming her chapters One (Mab), Two (Monday), and Three (Mirabel) and repeating from there. It takes a moment to get into the groove of each triplets' voice, but once you do, it's easy to get attached to them. Mab feels the weight of the world on her shoulders, sweet Monday takes everything literally, and Mirabel must remain cheerful, despite all her medical issues. Their mom holds a variety of jobs, including town therapist and working at the local bar, and maintains a decades long lawsuit and grievance. It's hard to know what the triplets' life might be like without Nora's anger and bitterness.
Still, ONE TWO THREE highlights the power of sisterhood and family. You'd think a book about a broken town would be depressing and a slugfest, but it's anything but. In many ways, I found this to be almost a mystery, as the sisters work together to figure out about the newcomers in their town and how they relate to the years of devastation wrecked upon Bourne. The result is utterly compelling, with years of intertwined secrets making for a fascinating read.
Still, at the core, this is a story about teenage girls and how they relate to the world. It's sweet, heartbreaking, and extremely well-written. There are a few points where I wish the plot sped up a bit, but overall, this is a touching and lovely story about a family and their small town.
I received a copy of this book from Henry Holt & Company and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I really enjoyed this story of triplets one (Mab), two (Monday) and three (Mirabel) who team up to help their mother save their town from a chemical company.
I especially enjoyed the performances, as each sister was voiced by a different narrator. Mirabelle has cerebral palsy and speaks through a voice synthesize. The audiobook producers electronically changed the narrator's voice for the times she speaks aloud, but when she was narrating the story the voice was as dynamic and beautiful as the character. I also loved Monday's narration, I thought her character was one of the best depictions of an ASD teen that I've read or heard.
I especially enjoyed the performances, as each sister was voiced by a different narrator. Mirabelle has cerebral palsy and speaks through a voice synthesize. The audiobook producers electronically changed the narrator's voice for the times she speaks aloud, but when she was narrating the story the voice was as dynamic and beautiful as the character. I also loved Monday's narration, I thought her character was one of the best depictions of an ASD teen that I've read or heard.