Seventeen years ago, the small town of Bourn welcomed a new chemical factory that promised a better economy for residents and delivered poisoned water, death, and birth defects before closing down.
Norah Mitchell has headed up a class action suit that never goes anywhere, but she continues looking for the smoking gun, undeterred by setbacks.
Her daughters, triplets, are the voices in the story. Mab (One), Monday (Two), and Mirabel (Three) have grown up in the damaged town and provide the narration. Mab is "normal" in appearance and behavior; Monday is on the high end of the spectrum--bright, but obsessive about being touched and extremely literal; and Mirabel is a genius, but wheelchair bound and unable to speak without the aid a vocalizer.
Sounds depressing, doesn't it? And yet as we meet each girl, we are immediately and irrevocably drawn into their relationships with each other and with other members of the town. The writing is neither sentimental nor maudlin, and the girls, each in her own right, are forces to be reckoned with. I was immediately captivated with One, Two, and Three and engaged with each one in their struggles to prevent a repeat of the previous disaster...because the chemical plant wants to re-open--promising that all the problems have been rectified and offering much needed well-paying jobs. Who will trust them this time?
Poignant and funny and suspenseful.
Highly Recommended. Loved it.
NetGalley/Henry Holt
Coming of Age/Topical. June 8, 2021. Print length: 416 pages.
You make this one sound really good! And One, Two and Three sound like such memorable and engaging characters. I'm going to have to read this one. :)
ReplyDeleteI won't be forgetting this book any time soon. I hope you give it a try!
ReplyDeleteThanks for putting this book on my radar!
ReplyDelete:) I loved the writing!
DeleteStories about corporate crimes like these really get to me because even though this is a novel, how often have we read about these types of things happening across the country/world. This book is definitely one I want to read!
ReplyDeleteYes. We know too many examples of how this happens. It is frightening to realize how many communities are pressured into welcoming a company that will damage the environment and the people who live in the community. I hope you read it, Iliana!
DeleteThis sounds like a great read. The characters sound so intriguing and like I want to get to know them. Plus, the subject matter of the chemical company and all the issues that they caused is near to my heart because of all the problems my mom and I have with chemicals. Thanks such a great review! I'll be adding this book to my wishlist. :)
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting from the point of view of chemicals and the damage they can cause and for the characters--who are wonderful!
Deleteoh my my my, what an interesting way to present these sisters, all wrapped up in an unexpected story premise too.
ReplyDeleteThe sisters are great! The writing just pulled me in and the characters kept me there. :)
DeleteThe premise sounds very interesting. And not to mention the characters seem intriguing, too. Your review has really piqued my curiosity of this book. :)
ReplyDeleteIt certainly made an impression on me in a number of ways!
DeleteI really enjoyed this one too. I did struggle a little with the ending because I found it a little difficult to believe that the girls could have pulled off what they managed to do...but that's very minor quibble because I enjoyed the rest of the books so much.
ReplyDeleteI just got an ARC of this one in the mail yesterday and I couldn't be more excited about a book! I loved Frankel's previous novel (This Is How It Always Is), which I reviewed here. It's one I'd love to read again someday. I'm glad to know that her new book is also a winner!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds great. I know I've hear of this author before but now you have really put her on my radar! :D
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