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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
challenging
reflective
sad
fast-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
funny
hopeful
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
In One Two Three, Laurie Frankel does what she does so well in This Is How It Always Is - the interactions of family members that are going through major events that continue to affect their lives. One Two Three refers to a set of triplets, sisters who use the shorthand among themselves. The major event that is referred to occurred before they were born, but affected their health and happiness, as well as that of most of their town. The story is told from the viewpoint of each sister in turns, so at times the story slows down with aspects mostly important to the 16 year olds. Frankel handles important subject matter like a pro, while always having the parent converse with her children the way every parent aspires to. Thanks to #NetGalley #OneTwoThree #HenryHolt for the opportunity to read this book.
hopeful
mysterious
fast-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
I was nervous about how the author of this book would handle the topic of disability. I feel like she did an excellent job but I will be paying closer attention to the press around this book as we get closer to publication to see what the disability community has to say about this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Bullying
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
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:
Yes
ONE TWO THREE takes place in the small town of Bourne, and is narrated by the Mitchell triplets. One, Mab, who is the eldest and expected to leave the town and go away to college. Two, Monday, who is the town librarian (run out of her family's home after the library closes), and appears to be on the autistic spectrum. Three, Mirabel, the youngest is a keen observer of others but cannot speak (without her computer). The triplets are loved by all in the town. Their mother Nora is the town therapist and has been a crusade for many years to find justice for Bourne. You see, Bourne housed a chemical plant which left the town's water source polluted and caused many birth defects and cancer among the town residents. As with so many environmental disasters, the company does not have to take responsibility.
Things are changing in Bourne. The sleepy town is now seeing signs of new life- a moving truck, construction equipment, and contractors. What these changes bring about is a mystery for the triplets to solve in order to save their town. Seen through the eyes of teenage girls, ONE TWO THREE is at times funny, insightful, and relatable. It is easy to care deeply for Mab, Monday, and Mirabel. This book barrels forward in the last fourth or so as the mystery plot unfolds quickly. While many of the twists and turns were not very surprising, and the book dragged a bit in the middle, I enjoyed this and can imagine many others as well.
Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt and Co. for an advance reader copy in exchange for review.
Things are changing in Bourne. The sleepy town is now seeing signs of new life- a moving truck, construction equipment, and contractors. What these changes bring about is a mystery for the triplets to solve in order to save their town. Seen through the eyes of teenage girls, ONE TWO THREE is at times funny, insightful, and relatable. It is easy to care deeply for Mab, Monday, and Mirabel. This book barrels forward in the last fourth or so as the mystery plot unfolds quickly. While many of the twists and turns were not very surprising, and the book dragged a bit in the middle, I enjoyed this and can imagine many others as well.
Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt and Co. for an advance reader copy in exchange for review.
Pros: Each narrator (triplets who have their own gifts and challenges) has a unique voice. I rooted for all of them and wanted to hear from all of them. I liked the quest for justice.
Cons: I don’t like the official book description of “it’s our daughters who will save us all.” That description does not match this book. Another con—that really isn’t fair to this book—is that it isn’t This Is How It Always Is, so readers might be coming in with unmeetable expectations for One Two Three.
Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Co for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book!
As a fan of Laurie Frankel's "This is How it Always is," I couldn't wait to get my hands on "One Two Three." There were so many elements in this book I loved. Unfortunately, they were overshadowed by some significant problems in execution.
Mab, Mirabel, and Monday are three triplets in the town of Bourne, a small rural community still reeling from the presence of a chemical plant that leaked toxic chemicals into their water years ago. As a result, many individuals in the town experience developmental delays and various health problems. When the CEO's son moves to town to revive the chemical plant, the residents of Bourne are forced to choose between allying themselves with their enemy for the sake of economic regrowth, and holding them accountable for their crimes.
The story is told from the view point of the three sisters, alternating between chapters entitled 1, 2, and 3. While I loved these 3 girls, I found their voices homogenous and really struggled to keep them straight. The villains of the story seemed a bit caricatural - the heartless, evil corporate CEO poisoning residents while loading his pockets with cash seemed a little overdone. Additionally, the pace lagged throughout much of the book, accelerating dramatically at the end for a resolution that spanned...1 chapter.
The themes of this book are important: the pressure of small towns to cave to corporations for economic sustainability, rethinking the notion of disability, never underestimate the cleverness of teenage girls. The plot wavered too much though, in its direction and ultimately in its purpose.
Thank you NetGalley for an advanced reader's copy!
Mab, Mirabel, and Monday are three triplets in the town of Bourne, a small rural community still reeling from the presence of a chemical plant that leaked toxic chemicals into their water years ago. As a result, many individuals in the town experience developmental delays and various health problems. When the CEO's son moves to town to revive the chemical plant, the residents of Bourne are forced to choose between allying themselves with their enemy for the sake of economic regrowth, and holding them accountable for their crimes.
The story is told from the view point of the three sisters, alternating between chapters entitled 1, 2, and 3. While I loved these 3 girls, I found their voices homogenous and really struggled to keep them straight. The villains of the story seemed a bit caricatural - the heartless, evil corporate CEO poisoning residents while loading his pockets with cash seemed a little overdone. Additionally, the pace lagged throughout much of the book, accelerating dramatically at the end for a resolution that spanned...1 chapter.
The themes of this book are important: the pressure of small towns to cave to corporations for economic sustainability, rethinking the notion of disability, never underestimate the cleverness of teenage girls. The plot wavered too much though, in its direction and ultimately in its purpose.
Thank you NetGalley for an advanced reader's copy!
I absolutely devoured One Two Three by Laurie Frankel. The story of the Mitchell triplets and their mother and the town of Bourne is one that will suck you in and have you staying up all night to finish. The characters are written so that you feel like they are your neighbors and the story is so engrossing. I don’t want to give anything away - go into this one blind. I loved it!!
Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for the opportunity to read this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for the opportunity to read this book.