One Two Three by Laurie Frankel; narrated by Emma Galvin, Jesse Vilinsky, and Rebecca Soler
Publisher: Macmillan Audio Production from St. Martin’s Press
Release date: June 8, 2021
ISBN: 9781250790965
Mab, Monday, and Mirabelle have grown up in Bourne, a bucolic little place that has an above average percentage of pets and humans who have been afflicted with various cancers, congenital birth defects, and early death. Wheelchair accessibility is common. All of this can be traced back to the silty effluence caused by Belsum Chemical that presaged the water turning a violent shade of green. Nora Mitchell, the mother of the triplets, KNOWS that Belsum is responsible and has single-handedly rallied the town in a class action lawsuit that will never bring back her dead husband or make her two neuro-divergent daughters whole. Then, Duke Templeton, son of Belsum Chemical’s owner, comes to town with his family reopening old wounds and heightening town tension with news that the Belsum plant is reopening. In a race against the clock, Mab, Monday, and Mirabelle must try to find evidence that Belsum wants to keep hidden–evidence that could keep the plant shut down forever.
Galvin, Vilinsky, and Soler are frequent narrators for YA audiobooks, and this is a title that stretches their talents. Galvin interpreted Monday’s character and Soler took on the challenge of Mirabelle’s internal narrative as well as the electronic voice upon which Mirabelle relied for communication. Subtle word play was emphasized in just the right way to add the humor from the written text, so listening readers will get the same tone that visual readers experience. The audiobook concludes with an interview with the author in which Frankel discusses her strong desire to showcase the strength in differing abilities as well as some of the production challenges the audio crew faced in crafting this lovely story.
The environmental themes of this story are reminiscent of Dig Too Deep by Amy Allgeyer while the bonds of sisterhood will resonate with readers of Jenny Han’s To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before.
– Jodi Kruse
Other Nominated Titles
Between Perfect and Real by Ray Stoeve; narrated by MW Cartozian Wilson (April 27, 2021)
What I Like About Me by Jenna Guillaume; narrated by Candice Moll (April 5, 2021)
The Selected Lists teams read throughout the year in search of the best titles published in their respective categories. Once a book is suggested (either internally or through the title suggestion form), it must pass through a review process to be designated an official nomination.
Each week, the teams feature a review of one of the officially nominated titles. Additional titles to receive this designation are listed as well. At year’s end, the team will curate a final list from all nominated titles and select a Top Ten. The previous years’ lists are available on The Hub.