“It’s important for us to exercise our memories in Bourne, to stretch and strengthen them—like brain yoga or mind aerobics—because one of the sad things that happens when almost everyone dies is there aren’t enough people left who remember why.”

ONE TWO THREE is a novel about a family and a small town, their anger and desperation, and their search for justice. years earlier a chemical company moved to Bourne and destroyed the town and its people in so many different ways. now a new family has moved to town, and things will never be the same. the book is told from the perspectives of teenage triplets, and I absolutely loved each of their voices. sometimes in multiple-POV novels I favor one more than others, but @laurie.frankel developed interesting characters in each of these girls and I enjoyed their unique personalities and quirks. this novel was well-written and the story was unlike anything else I’ve read.

One Two Three is story told by three alternating narrators - triplets with very little in common, other than a massive tragedy that befell their town just before their lives began. The content and plot of this story felt really fresh and original, and would make a great recommendation as adult-fic-that-reads-like-YA.

One Two Three by Laurie Frankel is brilliant. Just brilliant. Three young sisters, who have grown up under the cloud of a chemical plant which spewed effluvium into their water before they were born, killing wildlife, making people sick, making them die and causing birth defects. Mab is smart and seemingly unaffected by the chemicals. Monday is a bit different, only eating and wearing yellow things, unless it's raining, then she'll only eat or wear green. She is the town librarian, as the library is closed and she is very organized so they gave her all the books no one else wanted. She's definitely on the autism spectrum. Then there is Mirabel, the most severely affected of the triplets...she can't speak, except through an electronic keypad that she can use her one mobile hand to type with. She can't walk, is in a wheelchair, but she is the smartest of the three.

When the Templeton family who owned the chemical plant return to the small town of Bourne to reopen the plant after so many years, the residents are desperate and believe the lies that it is now safe to reopen and the poisoning won't happen again...but the sisters are determined to stop them. But what can three 16 year olds do to stop them? You'd be surprised! I loved the uniqueness of this novel, the POV of the young girls is a fresh one. It's refreshing to read a contemporary novel that is not a love story at its heart.

Thank you to the author, Henry Holt & Company and NetGalley for an ARC of this unique novel in exchange for my honest review.

One Two Three is a powerful story which unfolds in the alternating voices of One, Mab, Two, Monday, and Three, Mirabel. Two of these female triplets are born with birth defects caused by a chemical plant before their birth. The poisoned water killed and sickened many residents in this small town including their father. Their mother Nora devotes her life to them and to trying to make the company take responsibility. The girls, now 16, take on these issues in their own way. This is a very compelling and important book as the author tackles difficult relationships and what is right and wrong.

Before knowing anything about this novel, the title grabbed my attention. Then I read the tagline: In a town where nothing ever changes, suddenly everything does... And I implore you now, before you even read the rest of this review, to run -- don't walk -- to your favorite book store (or your computer) and get this book!

Here's the spoiler-free premise: Triplets in a tiny town called Bourne, Mab, Monday, and Mirabel Mitchell have known about their mother Nora's participation in a class action lawsuit that's been going on literally their whole lives. Sadly, it often seems like Nora is the only one keeping the fight alive -- sadly because of the toll it's taking on Nora, and sadly because the whole town has been affected, including the kids born there. Mirabel, for example, is confined to a wheelchair and cannot speak. But, she's a genius. Monday has quite a few quirks herself, not the least of which is her devotion to yellow. Except when it rains and she is devoted to green. Mab is the "normal" one. (Though, what does "normal" mean anyway, and especially in Bourne?) Mab tutors at school, continues to visit her geriatric companion from community service, and is studying for the SAT with her best friend Petra. Everything goes exactly as it always does -- the sole bar, sole pizza shop, the town's sole doctor also being the sole minister -- and then someone new moves into town. Turns out, that someone is not exactly "new" and the townspeople (especially Nora) aren't too keen to have them back. But now, the triplets are involved and together, they will unravel a twenty-year-old mystery in the hopes of saving their town, and, most importantly, their future.

Now, I loved everything about this book -- everything! First, I love the format: successive chapters are narrated by Mab, then Monday, then Mirabel. Sometimes, they are narrating the same event or discovery from their own perspective, but often, they narrate pieces of the event that fit together. For example, Mab's piece may take place at or after school, Monday's at the library (which is in their house), and Mirabel's at work with Nora.

This brings me to the second thing I love which is the characters. (Monday is my favorite!) The triplets have this amazing connection, all together and between pairs of them, but they're so different. I'd also like to point out that Laurie Frankel does a great job of showcasing each girl's strength -- both in spite of and because of their differences. Monday, for example, is extremely literal (though, as she would tell you, literal has no scale; she's quite right) but that leads her to asking and searching for answers to very specific questions. There can be no ambiguity for her. (Did I say she's my favorite? I meant we're very nearly the same person.) I have to say though, that I thought Mirabel was, in some ways, underrated. Though she's respected and admired and known for being extremely smart, I think there's also this idea that she's inherently a good person. She is a good person, but she's also a teenager, and I think it's easy for the townspeople to forget that. And poor Mab, who seems to feel like she must always be the strongest leg of the tripod. While she's a decent student, you can tell it's mostly because she feels the pressure to be -- because she can: Monday has to take a class on facial expressions and Mirabel can't even come to school sometimes. What's Mab's excuse to not do well? That's got to be hard on her, to the point where she, too, can forget that she's also only sixteen.

The whole town is full of interesting people, as small towns are. I love the hilarious Pooh (the senior citizen Mab was supposed to be reading to as community service) and Mab's relationship with her; thoughtful, wise Pastor Jeff; professional and caring Nora; sad but hopeful Omar. I didn't care much for the Templetons by default but I appreciate Frankel for at least showing them as regular people too. (You'll have decide for yourself if they're "good" people, though.)

Third, I think Frankel did a fantastic job with this story, in regard to both plot and pacing. I was honestly shocked more than once, but I also smiled and laughed, and if I were the crying type, I would probably have cried some as well. I love the ideas that Frankel challenges in this story: what's normal? What's justice? What's fair? Who's responsible for righting wrongs, especially when everyone or no one is to blame?

For me, the ending of a story always weighs heavily in my rating. Throughout the book, I was so enthralled with the pieces of the story and trying to put them together myself. But suddenly, I found myself on the edge of my proverbial seat as the book approached the end. I was desperate to see who would win this time. In a fight that's been going on nearly twenty years, is there even a win to be had? And win or lose, what will life look like for Bourners? I won't say that Frankel wrote a cliffhanger ending because that's not exactly true; it's just a bit open. But I think she did a great job of giving us a glimpse into the town's future. Or -- in my Monday voice -- to be more accurate, a possible future because the future, by definition is never known so many things are possible and you cannot know which possibility will happen until it does.

I loved this book. I cannot imagine that anyone would not. I highly recommend, and if you can, get the audiobook as well.

This might be a contender for Top 10 of the year. I highly, highly, highly recommend the audio (and I RARELY listen to audio). This one was so well done & I just loved having each of the triplets narrate this story. These characters & this story will stay with me for a long time!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½

One Two Three is a novel set in the small town of Bourne. The people of Bourne are still dealing with the tragic effects of a chemical company altering their lives 17 years ago. When the chemical runoff in the water coincided with people dying and birth defects for babies born at that time, the people of Bourne had no power or money to fight back. This story is told from The three points of view of a set of 17 year-old triplets: Mab, Monday, and Mirabel. Monday is a person with autism and Mirabel has physical disabilities and their mother believes the chemical company is to blame. A new development in their town provides an opportunity for the three girls to help their mother find the evidence they need to take down the chemical company.

This was a powerful and thought-provoking book about ethics, power, integrity, and family. This story illustrates the fact that the poor have significantly fewer choices and less power than the rich. Sometimes if you don’t have money you don’t have the luxury of operating based on your integrity. This story was inspiring because it was about the disenfranchised fighting to dismantle a system many may think is too big to take down.

I love that this book was about girl heroes. These brave and tenacious girls we’re willing to do what it takes to take down this company, instead of accepting their lot like many of the males in their community. I also loved that it highlighted accessibility and that each of us can find our niche based on our abilities and talents.

Thanks to Netgalley and Henry Holt & Co. for the ARC of this in exchange for my honest review.

After loving This is How It Always Is, I was really excited when I saw this was coming out. This was very interesting as a premise, and the sisters’ all had such distinct voices and situations, and they were so strong in different ways and worked well together.

It was a pretty serious topic, but the sisters were so funny sometimes that I’d start laughing while I was reading. Definitely recommend if you want some neurodivergent, disability rep, though the rest of the cast didn’t feel particularly diverse, a couple characters were different races but it was only touched upon.

Overall, I felt kinda meh about this book. Not necessarily bad, but not particularly memorable either. Giving it 2.5/5 Stars.

On paper the new book from Laurie Frankel, called One Two Three, is a perfect fit for me. Triplet teenage Erin Brockoviches investigate and maybe even save their town from villainous chemical company. I love a good feminist, strong (young) women book! Trouble is that Frankel’s actual book only engaged me in the final chapters. If it hadn’t been a gift from the publisher, I might not have finished.

Frankel tells the triplets’ tale in alternating chapters, charmingly titled one, two, or three, depending on their narrator. One is Mab, born first of course. She studies vocabulary words with her bestie, so they can go to college together soon. And, like her Shakespearean namesake, she has some queenly attitude. Two is Monday, who strikes me as neuro diverse. She wears only yellow clothing, eats only yellow food. Unless it’s raining, when green is acceptable. She’s also the town librarian, despite also being in high school. Three is Mirabel, who operates from within the confines of her wheelchair. Her voice is computer generated, and most days she home schools while accompanying her mother to work.

Mom is Nora, who’s both bartender and therapist / counselor to the townspeople. Nora is also at the heart of a class action lawsuit against the aforementioned chemical company. So, the triplets have a mentor in their activism. And they definitely want to please Nora, who seems like a terrific mom in the face of triple challenges.

The town is full of colorful characters, including some more suspicious than others. Frankel adds plenty of quirks into the town structure. The town doctor is also a pastor and a yoga teacher. The donut shop has a typo in its sign, so it’s the Do Not Shop. While some of these serve a logical purpose, it also felt a bit forced sometimes.

My conclusions
If I was more of a YA reader, this book might have been a better fit. Frankel was enamored of teenage angst. Sure, it’s more meaningful because of environmental and chemical mishaps — but still—the angst overflows. I also think Frankel wrote the dialogue (verbal and internal) in the way adults think kids talk. It seemed inauthentic, which made it tiring to read page after page.

However, I liked the philosophical questions raised about life amid challenges. Frankel seems to ask whether you solve problems of the past by going backwards or going towards the future? Many teens think you can actually fix all the past wrongs, while most adults have the life experience to know isn’t that simple.

I did like the ending of One Two Three, so sticking it out included a narrative reward. Even so, I had to suspend my cynical disbelief a bit. Either way, perhaps your experience reading about the triplets and their town will be different.

Recommended for fiction readers who tend towards young adult books, and like plucky activist heroines. Pair with Frankel’s earlier book, This Is How It Always Is, which I loved.

Acknowledgements
Many thanks to NetGalley, Henry Holt & Company, and the author for a digital advanced reader’s copy in exchange for this honest review.

3 stars
A fascinating and fun book! Laurie Frankel writes in a very unique way. that does take some getting used too. I do feel as if this book verges on being YA. It felt very teenage-ish to me.

I truly just don't think Laurie Frankel's writing is for me. I really wanted to like this book but it just didn't do it for me. The plot, the plot development, or the writing. It just fell flat.

Frankel’s latest tells the story of a town that has been poisoned and abandoned by a chemical plant from the point of view of sixteen-year old triplets. The action begins when the company wants to reopen the chemical plant. I did not think I would like this book, based on the premise, but the plot really holds you as you slowly figure out what is going on. Though fictional, the town’s story bears much resemblance to others that have been abused by capitalism, as well as other fights for justice—very relevant for our time.

Told in the alternating voices of One (Mab), Two (Monday) and Three (Mirabel), the sixteen year old Mitchell triplets, this book is a captivating read from start to finish. When Belsum came to the town of Bourne years ago, the town was thought to be saved. Instead the water turned green, an odor permeated the air and animals and people started getting sick. Birth defects and cancer topped the list. And the Mitchell household was not spared. While they were shut down, wrongdoing was never admitted and Nora has spent the last 17 years trying to prove their culpability. When Belsum comes to town sporting a new name with plans to reopen, the triplets decide to take matters into their own hands to find evidence of foul play to not only save themselves, but the entire town. Beautifully written, the voices were absolutely perfect and brought each girl and the town of Bourne to life.

The author’s book “This Is How It Always Is” has been one of my favorites since I listened to the audiobook. I was so excited for this one and it certainly lived up to my expectations! I have both the ebook and the audiobook, I listened to the audiobook version and highly recommend it, the different voices for the triplets make a good story so much better.

I liked this book; I didn't love this book.

One, Two, Three is a story told in alternating chapters of 16-year-old triplets. One is Mab, the first of the girls and the most "normal" of the bunch. Two is Monday, who is clearly on the autism spectrum, takes things literally and only wears/eats yellow things (unless it is raining and then it's green). Three is Mirabel, who is very smart, very observant, but is confined to a wheelchair as her body doesn't work and she cannot speak. She has use of one hand, and that controls an adaptive device that allows her to talk through typing.

The three live in Borne, where a chemical plant arrived just before they were born. The chemical plant leaked its residue into the water, poisoning it for people, pets and the land. Instead of dealing with repercussions, the plant closed and left, denying all responsibility.

Now, the plant is looking to re-open. River (aptly named given the plant turned the town's river bright green) is the 16-year-old son of the CEO of the plant company. He and his parents move in and the girls are skeptical of River, but also drawn to him. This is a coming of age story for all three girls as they navigated feelings toward each other, their family, and others. It is also a fight against a power that is clearly in the wrong, but people can't prove it.

The triplets take it upon themselves to fight for what is right and it is well done. I loved the different perspectives of the girls and how it all comes together. I liked the idea of this book, but something was missing. Perhaps it was too long? I wasn't drawn in for most of the book - I liked it and I was interested but I didn't need to pick it up at any available second of the day. I think I wanted a little more about the legality of the plant as well - who was verifying that the water was fine all the time? How are companies allowed to get away with this (as it does happen in real life)? I think it just needed a bit more detail (and cut out some of the middle that dragged a bit).

ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY: A big-hearted story about siblings and small town life after a chemical spill changes everything.

BRIEF REVIEW: Bourne, is a very tiny town where everyone knows everyone. Seventeen years earlier Bourne made national news when the water turned green and was found contaminated. Belsum, the factory in town had been leaking chemicals into the water there. The residents that are left have suffered the lasting effects, many have died from cancer as a result of the contamination and poisoning. Now the same company is back in town promising new jobs, which the town desperately needs, and claiming they have changed their ways.

Nora Mitchell was pregnant at the time and is now a widow. In addition to motherhood, she's an activist and her focus has been on gathering evidence for a class action lawsuit on behalf of those who have suffered. Nora gave birth to triplets just after the disaster and two of them have likely been affected as a result of the contamination. The story is told from the perspective of each pf the triplets in the present day at age sixteen.

Mab (One) is the "normal" triplet who feels the guilt of being born unscathed. Monday (Two) is a lover of books, known as the town librarian and her quirky nature lead me to believe that she is likely on the autism spectrum. Mirabel (Three) has been noticeably, physically affected by the spill and even speaks through a specialized device.

The story is told through (3) distinct voices of the triplets. We learn the unique story of Bourne, its residents past and present and the consequences of what the people living in Bourne have experienced. What could have been a rather depressing story was told in a way that never felt that way. If you enjoy quirky, unforgettable character driven stories complete with even a rather tidy ending, this may be just the kind of story for you. A story of friendship, siblings, resilience, acceptance and moving forward. I enjoyed the story but, did think it was a bit too long. The audio was good and easy to follow but, I also had the eGalley which worked well for a great combo read.

RATING: 4/5

Audio download and eGalley sent to me in exchange for my unbiased review courtesy of Macmillan Audio, Henry Holt & Co and NetGalley.
https://bibliophilebythesea.blogspot.com/2021/05/82-2021-one-two-three-laurie-frankel.html

Just like she did in This Is How It Always Is, Laurie Frankel has created a family that will steal your heart, this time in the form of triplets Mab, Monday, and Mirabel. In the tiny town of Bourne, a chemical spill in the local river resulted in numerous impacts on the health of the town’s residents, though the company responsible was never held accountable for it. This novel is told in alternating chapters between each triplet, and I highly recommend listening to this one on audio, as each narrator captures the personality of each triplet perfectly. Highly recommend!

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

If one thing is for sure it is the fact that Laurie Frankel can really spin a yarn. And if a second thing is for sure it is that I am, at the pit of my soul, a horrible person. You see, when I first saw people talking about this, my mind went to a severely underrated cartoon called "The Oblongs," proving once again I could never qualify as any sort of emotional support animal. But then I noticed this was by the author of This Is How it Always Is so even though I wasn’t super interested in reading it, I still needed to have a copy immediately. Because I am the poster child for first world problems.

<i>One, Two, Three</i> is about a town that was decimated by a chemical company who had poisoned the water. If you are getting some "this sounds familiar" sort of vibes, y ou are pretty much spot-on, because the plucky mother and her decade plus long battle most certainly will give you Erin Brockovich vibes. The story, however, is told in three-part narration (hence the title) via Nora’s (the mother) triplet daughters. All three have distinctive voices, personalities and issues, but I will admit it took me a minute to settle in to the who was who. Mainly due to them calling each other both “One Two and Three” but also by their given names of Mab, Monday and Mirabel – which, let’s just be honest, don’t really roll of the tongue easily. It can also be blamed on the fact I’m a little stupid.

One of the things I love best about this book is that for so long there appeared to be a potential gray area regarding <s>Big Oil</s> the goings on at the chemical company. No documents had ever been discovered implicating any wrongdoings and, despite one of the triplets being born with disabilities and a father who had died of cancer, other people in town seemed to have been impacted more from fluke accidents such as losing limbs in the machinery or feeling trapped due to their property no longer being worth any money and the other so-called “different” twin was clearly just someone on the spectrum. But of course that all ended up being just some shit my brain was conjuring up. It still ended up being a story that gives the reader something to gnaw on regarding man’s inhumanity to man, the power of money, but also about family and friendship and loyalty (whether right or wrong). I will say this could have been quite a bit shorter as my attention waned in parts and things got a little repetitive, but as a whole this was a quality character driven type of read and I will absolutely be first in line for whatever Ms. Frankel comes up with next.

<I>ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!</i>

Thank you to NetGalley and Laurie Frankel for an advanced copy of this book!

This was such a unique story. The small town of Bourne has suffered a tragedy sixteen years ago - their water turned green and all of a sudden many residents died and years later, much of the next generation suffers from birth defects. The town, and most specifically, Mom/therapist/bartender/baker Nora, believe it was because the towns water was knowingly poisoned by Belsum - the owners of the Chemical Plant that opened shortly beforehand. But no one can prove it and after 16 years, the town is starting to give up on helping Nora.

The story is narrated by Nora’s three triplet daughters (whom she raises alone since her husband died shortly after the green water). The first daughter is Mab who is, according to Bourne standards, unaffected by the water.
Then there is Monday, who is able bodied, but her mind suffers. And then there is Mirabel, who is brilliant but is wheel chair bound and forced to rely on a Voice speaker to communicate. No one is ever new to the town of Bourne, the girls can’t even remember the last time they saw an unfamiliar face - and then River Templeton shows up at their school one day. They realize he is the grandson of the owner of Belsum Chemicals and the girls need to figure out why he’s here and what is going on!

My favorite part of this book was the narration. I love how it switched between the three girls and their voices were so different from each other and that came through perfectly on the page. I loved the concept of the story about how “big business tries to hurt smaller business (town) for gain by using their money and power” and showing how the town of Bourne chooses (or fails to) fight back.

What I didn’t love was the ending. While the story felt like it could have really happened - the ending does not.
It’s a little too unbelievable and that left me disappointed at the end. With that being said I do think this was an enjoyable, unique read and I would definitely recommend