Everyone knows everyone in the tiny town of Bourne, but the Mitchell triplets are especially beloved. Mirabel is the smartest person anyone knows, and no one doubts it just because she can’t speak. Monday is the unofficial official town librarian (even though there’s technically no library). Mab’s job is hardest of all: get good grades, get into college, get out of Bourne.

Seventeen years ago, the tiny town of Bourne was national news when its water turned green, caused by runoff from the town’s biggest employer, a chemical company. The company shut down, but there was no escape for the citizens of Bourne. Over the years the problems multiplied: pets died, local businesses closed, cancers multiplied, children were born with birth defects, people died.

The girls have come of age watching their mother’s endless fight for justice. But just when it seems life might go on the same forever, the first moving truck anyone’s seen in years pulls up and unloads new residents and old secrets. Soon, the Mitchell sisters are taking on a system stacked against them and uncovering mysteries buried longer than they’ve been alive.

The book is alternately narrated by Mirabel, Mab, and Monday. I really enjoyed their different perspectives, although it added to the length of the book (a hefty almost-400 pages). I ended up alternating between the audio and hard copy and that worked very well for me.

I really enjoyed Frankel’s previous book This Is How It Always Is, and once again the author made me laugh, cry, rail against the world, and ultimately question my assumptions about everything.

Highly recommended and approved for your next #bookclubpick!

Thank you @henryholtbooks for the #ARC and @macmillianaudio and @netgalley for the #ALC wonderfully narrated by Emma Galvin, Jesse Vilinsky, and Rebecca Soler.

While the overarching narrative of this novel is inspired by and similar to real-life events, this story and the characters in it are very unique. I am not familiar with Frankel's previous work, but I heard good things and a lot of anticipation for this book. What I got from this was definitely a bit different from what I was expecting, but it did not disappoint. The three unique triplets and the town worth saving provide an enjoyable ride of a novel. The audiobook narration was great and definitely added to the story with the three very different narrators.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio for a free advanced listening copy of this book.

The small town of Bourne is pretty isolated from the rest of the world but the residents are close-knit. Everyone is especially fond of the Mitchell triplets - 17-year-old Mab, Monday, and Mirabel. Shortly before the girls were born, the town's water turned green and people started getting sick. Even the triplets have varying degrees of physical and mental capabilities though all three are smart as can be. For their whole lives, their mother has been fighting to avenge Bourne's residents against the chemical company that forever altered their community. When a moving van shows up in town, everyone is abuzz with questions. The Mitchell girls are determined to look into the past and the present to change the trajectory of the town's future.

This reminded me of Erin Brockvich with powerful and unstoppable teen girl narrators. I especially enjoyed the way this book embraced all levels of abilities and challenged the perception of "normal".

Thanks so much to @netgalley and @macmillan.audio for an audiobook copy of this book. It’s really good. Although, had I read this a few months ago I’m not sure I would have believed a corporation could be this evil. However, I recently read a book called Mill Town by Kerri Arsenault that was eye opening on this very subject.
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Anyway, the title refers to a set of triplets. Mab, Monday, and Mirabelle. They are 16 and have been raised by a single mother. Their father died of cancer before they were born. Monday is autistic. Mirabelle was born with many congenital anomalies. She is unable to move her body or speak on her own. The town they live in is full of illness, disability, and death. The chemical plant that was operating in the area poisoned the water. The company denied, persisted, then fled. Leaving in its wake unimaginable devastation.
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Their mother has spent the subsequent 16 years trying to get a lawsuit going but the company is so rich and unethical that it has been able to keep it from proceeding. Then one day the residents notice some construction work going on. It turns out the company is planning to reopen the plant. Now it’s the next generations turn to fight. The triplets take on trying to find any evidence that the company knowingly poisoned them the first time and that they are likely to do it again.
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Although there has been so much suffering this community has rallied. They’ve worked their hardest to be good people. They have taken care of themselves and each other. Also, there’s a little bit of mystery as the girls try to piece it all together. As hard as parts of the book are it’s also really hopeful. There’s value and beauty in an imperfect world.

PS The narration is great!

What I really liked about this book was the love that the 3 sisters had and how they stood together in what they believed in, which was family and their community. They believed that their disabilities would not stand in their way and and they way persevere. This is a great story on how a community comes back and fights.

Mab, Monday, and Mirabel are triplets born to Nora. Mab the first triplet is named with one syllable. Monday the second triplet is named with two syllables. She is lover of books and defender of truth. Mirabel the third triplet is named with three syllables. She is only able to communicate through the tap of a finger or a robotic device. The three sisters are from a small town dealing with an aftermath of big factory chemical pollution.

I have to say this is not what I expected. Triplets who live in a run down town destroyed by a disastrous history due to a chemical plant that had promised such wealth and prosperity that only led to death, birth defects and bad health for the towns citizens. The triplets mother has been the one leading the charge since day one and she won't go down without a flight. As the girls get a new classmate, the grandson of the plant owner, they devise a plan to find evidence as to why the plant shut down so quick all those years ago, and stop it from opening again.

I thought this was an interesting way to tackle an environmental horror, by having triplets take on the system in support of their mother. As they are still in high school, the way they handled it was flawed at times and rightfully so. I loved how each of the triplets carried each other and played their own parts in this story, each having a key role.

I thought this went a bit long and lost my attention a few times, even with the audiobook. I am clearly in the minority, and it may be a case of wrong time wrong read. I thought it was very well done but I was a bit bored with it throughout. Another issue is the NetGalley audio app has serious issues, the sound quality is not as good as other apps and anything above a 2x speed is just horrific. I am hoping this gets fixed soon.

Thank you to Henry Holt and Co and NetGalley for the ALC to review.

Many years ago, before the Mitchell triplets were even born the water in Bourne turned green. And not a little green but bright green. The Mitchell girls have some disabilities due to being poisoned by the water in utero. There dad died from this as well. Their single mom has been fighting for years to get justice for her family and the town. Mab, Monday and Mirabel are unique characters that the three narrators brought to life. I loved listening to this book and the distinct voice of each girl was wonderful. Yes the book is about a town that is poisoned, but also about three teenagers who take on a huge task of stopping the factory from reopening and poisoning the town again. Moments of of discovery, betrayal, love and humor make the story real.

Thanks to netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the arc.

I received a complimentary print copy of this book from the publisher and Library Thing. I received a complimentary audio version from Macmillan Audio. My review is my voluntary and unbiased opinion.

Nora Mitchell was the mother of triplets who were aptly named: Mab, Monday, and Mirabel which held significance to the triplets. They used numbers representing their birth order which were 1, 2, 3 so often they would refer to each other by numbers. They are 17 years old and live with their mother, each with her own challenges. But in Bourne, it seems that many children were born with impairments many years ago when Belsum Chemical held a manufacturing plant there. People became outraged and filed legal actions against Belsum as it hardly seemed coincidental that this small town suddenly had an increased need for special education and rehab services. Nora worked as a therapist in the town which became overwhelming with so many people needing help and not being able to work.

The story surrounds the controversial nature of companies situated so close to towns to use the town's resources at the cost to the community. Nora devotes all her free time to either baking or working diligently on the lawsuit against Belsum since her husband died. The town was blindsided by the chemical company when the town's water supply became tainted. Some people like Nora could not move past such an aggrievance of justice. Nora organized a class action lawsuit again Belsum which was a daunting if not futile effort to repair the past.

Things in town change when the Templetons move into town as the grandfather had been the one in charge during the chemical disaster. Interestingly, they have a son named River which is rather symbolic of what the family ruined over the years. People would no longer drink tap water and it appeared that even the Templetons were leery themselves although hid that from the town. They were planning to re-open a company there again which would provide employment. Although skeptical, many people listened to the speech regarding all the changes and business practices. Well, this news infuriated Nora who goes to all lengths to prevent this from happening.

Can a disaster ever be forgotten and forgiveness offered? When does holding on to anger from the past keep you tied there unable to live in the present? This is a touching story about families and struggles with medical and mental health, consequences of careless greedy people. Although this is a work of fiction, it does address the town of Bourne, Massachusetts which has a long history of water contamination issues.

One, Two, and Three are the main characters. They are triplets who were born in a town contaminated by the local company that also employed everyone. Now they live in a town full of people somewhat like themselves, all with some sort of injury or birth disorder. Some have likened it to the Stringfellow Acid Pits incident. Having lived through that, I’d say it is an exaggeration of that time but not completely off. Anyway, the entire town is a depressing mess and almost everything is closed down. However, a familiar family returns to town and sets everyone off.

I liked the characters and the distinctive voice of each girl. I loved that their voices showed what they were thinking even if not every character in the book could express themselves in words, showing that there is almost always more going on inside of people than we ever know and that we should not judge everyone on the same scale. I would love this to be a book for my students if I teach older children again.

I liked the characters of the three sisters and how the story was told from their unique, alternating perspectives. I did think the story was very Erin Brokovich, had she had 3 teenagers who were also sleuths. It verges into unrealistic at times, and I thought the story was a bit long overall.

Romeo and Juliet meets Erin Brockovich in this stunning new release from Laurie Frankel.

Nora Mitchell has triplet 16-year-old daughters...and a years-long grudge against a the chemical company that ruined their lives before they even began.

Mab, Monday, and Mirabel have spent their whole lives in the tiny, washed up town of Bourne, watching their mother fight an un-winnable fight. They’re each special in their own way, but they don’t think they’ll ever get the chance to show it...until...everything changes. Forever.

This book is a fascinating David vs. Goliath story mixed with a coming-of-age tale. It tackles topics like family, the environment, and capitalistic greed. I listened to this as an audiobook, and they did an amazing job vocally showing the difference between the three girls. If you have the opportunity to get the audiobook, I highly recommend it!

Thanks to NetGalley for the audiobook arc in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to the publisher for an advanced ecopy of the audiobook version of One Two Three by Laurie Frankel. This was my first novel by the author and I can see why people who have read her previous novel love her. She can write quirky, fascinating characters so well that even if the story plodded along a bit too slow for me, I rated the book 4 stars because I was so impressed with the writing of the characters. Most notable characters were, of course, the 16-yr-old triplets: Mab, Monday, and Mirabel, aka One, Two, and Three. These three sisters narrate the book in alternating chapters.

The story is about a town that years ago was poisoned by a chemical plant and has been attempting, without success, to sue the company for all the years since. The reader sees the damage from the point of sixteen years post damage. Nearly everyone in town has some sort of physical or mental ailment from ingesting tainted water...while many loved ones have died from the effects over the years. The triplets each are very distinct from one another. Mab is the only one born "normal", thus carries the emotional burden of carrying her sisters. Monday is savant-like, but with many sensory issues. Mirabel is confined to a wheelchair with little control of her body, and only able to really speak through a mechanical device she can operate by typing with her right hand, but is otherwise mentally sharp as a tack.. Their mother, Nora, a therapist by day, barkeep by evening, has led the lawsuit charge for all these years and is a bundle of rage against the company that got away with the damage to the town's people.

There are a host of other characters who are all interesting to read: other townsfolk as well as the family of the man who owns the chemical plant, who have moved back to town to start up the plant again. There is a tiny bit of mystery, a bit of romance, a ton of sisterly bonding, quite a bit of motherly love, and a very strong sense of community family.

The book made me laugh out loud, rage against the injustice, and feel wistful for the sisters I never had. One, Two, Three is a book most lovers of literary fiction would love.

I was pretty excited when this novel showed up on my doorstep from a Shelf Awareness win after I requested the audiobook on Netgalley. You know me, I love going back and forth to keep the reading going. Little did I realize how truly captivating this story would be.

Triplets, Mirabel, Monday and Mab were born after the water contamination in Bourne. Now they live with restrictions and regiments to safely use what water comes into town in bottles. Their mother holds the town's lawsuit by a thread fighting for justice but hitting rejection. When a new kid arrives in town the sisters realize they may have the ability to find the truth and get the recompense their town deserves by keeping their enemies closer.

Frankel has a wonderful writing style that sticks to the plot and keeps the reader engaged as everything unravels. Hardly any unnecessary filler and a catalyst of emotion you vividly feel as you read and listen. There is so much underlying the storyline that instead of feeling overwhelmed, you find yourself connecting wholey to the triplets and their unique circumstances. From the inability to speak, or walk and possible levels of high functioning thinking, the uniqueness of each sister creates one of my favorite coming of age stories this year. It felt like Romeo and Juliet had a baby with The Poisonwood Bible and out popped this magnificent trio.

The narration is equally gratifying. Narrated by Emma Galvin, Jesse Vilinsky and Rebecca Solet; this trifecta of audio vocals was literary perfection for me. The cadence is smooth, expressive and even synthesized for Mirabel who speaks through a machine. The narrators were so in sync that the entire production ran with the grace of a favorite Hallmark movie.

I hope those who enjoy this genre take a moment to puck this one up. Frankel has a gift for writing and I can't thank Macmillan Audio and Henry Holt enough for the gifted alc and arc.

Such a wonderful emotional read. This book was everything I wanted it to be. The author writes so well; and makes you feel emotions deeply with her books. This is a definite read!

The audiobook had 3 narrators and was exceptionally well narrated. Mab, Mirabel, and Monday were truly able to shine in this audiobook.

One Two Three tells a unique story centered around three delightful-to-read-about triplets and their mother, who is on a relentless rampage against a chemical plant that has affected not only her own family's life and physical and mental abilities, but the lives of many people in her beloved town. The town of Bourne itself is fascinating to read about and equally heartbreaking. As the story unfolds, we learn much more about this family, and about the hopes and dreams and quirks of the triplets Mab, Monday, and Mirabel. They all have different perspectives that are interwoven into the storyline. I will say I found the ending a tiny smidge anticlimactic, but I did love this writing and this story. It falls firmly into the genre of literary fiction and it is very character driven, so just be aware of whether that's your cup of tea or not :)

What a unique, emotional and profound novel about family, betrayal and ecological distress,

I was immediately drawn to this novel not just because I heard all kinds of great things about Laurie Frankel, but also because the subject matter concerning water pollution. Ecology and climate and very dear to my heart, and I feel there is a huge gap in contemporary literature on this matter, given the dire state of the planet.

This novel is about more than that, however, Mab, Monday, and Mirabel Mitchell are teenage triplets living in a small town where they each are known and respected. The book centers around their relationship and explores the delicate strings through which it evolves, But I was glad to find that Frankel really emphasized the ecological disaster of the town as the center of the plot, as well as the ways in which it impacted the town and its people.

It is safe to say that One Two Three is a bit of a slow burn in the best meaning possible. I personally would have preferred a little more pace, but I understand that then, a lot of the emotions and minute descriptions would have likely been lost - and this is something that makes Frankel's writing so gripping and unforgettable.

Finally, as I listened to the audiobook version of the novel, I would highly recommend it to everyone. The narration is realistic, captivating and simply brings the characters and voices to life.

I really enjoyed the audiobook of "One Two Three" by Laurie Frankel. The different narrators for each character made it easy to understand which character was narrating each chapter.

This is a. timely story about the devastating impacts of environmental disasters, the moral obligations of large corporations, and the bonds of families. The Mitchell sisters, growing up in the small town of Bourne, have lived their entire lives with the effects of chemical pollution from an irresponsible corporation. Their mother has been fighting for justice for sixteen years, even though it seems like an impossible fight. Each of the three sisters is given her own voice in the story, and we see events unfold from each of their unique perspectives.

I would recommend this book to adults and young adults who are interested in compelling family stories.

Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt and Co. for the ARC of this book.

Brief Overview:
In a small town that was poisoned with toxic water 17 years ago, now three triplets are living with their mother, uncovering secrets from the present and past.

Likes:
-Friendship between characters
-Individual portrayals of each triplet and the mother
-Normalization of all types of different people

Dislikes:
-Slow plot building

Narration:
Fantastic narration! Loved having a different narrator to keep each of the triplets separated in my head (which is sometimes hard to do with the audiobook format).

Overall:
Beautiful story about a beautiful family and their interactions, although lacking in much plot to keep interest high.
4/5