I have always been drawn to coming-of-age stories told by teenage characters from a first-person point of view. In One Two Three by Laurie Frankel, the tale of Borne, a small town with a tragic past, is told by triplet teenage girls. Mab, Monday, and Mirabel, or One, Two, Three, are funny captivating narrators of this tale about water pollution affecting one small town.
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A Quirky and Smart Novel Worth Reading
Before the girls were born, Borne suffered a tragic environmental disaster causing the townspeople to deal with various illnesses, disabilities, and even death for years. In the beginning, the girls take turns painting a picture of the town and the people who live in Borne, like their mom Nora, who has spent their whole life fighting the company responsible for the environmental disaster.
One day, there’s news that the powerplant believed to have caused the disaster is reopening, and the girls’ world turns upside down. While their mom is staging her fight against the power plant, the girls join forces with the owner’s grandson and try to find incriminating evidence.
No matter how minor, One, Two, and Three characters are exceptionally well-developed and likable. Don’t let the topic of corporate environmental disasters turn you off from this book; it is surprisingly heartwarming, additive, and relatable in the search for justice for the underdog.
The audiobook One, Two, Three is a beautiful production with a cast of three narrators. The voice actors depict Each of the triplets as uniquely and easily recognizable. There is plenty of laugh-out-loud and tear-jerking moments, and the audio narration helps intensify those moments.
If you are looking for something to read with a book club, One Two Three will surely bring the conversation to your group.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Buy yourself a copy of One Two Three on Amazon, and try it on Audible with a 30-day trial. Or support your local bookstore by ordering from Bookshop.
If you need more reading recommendations, check out my Goodreads or my many blog posts about the books I have read.