Odd One Out

August 13, 2018
In Decatur, Ga., three teens in a complex love triangle navigate a fine line between friendship and romantic love. High-school junior Courtney (“Coop”) can’t deny his physical attraction to his neighbor and female best friend, Jupiter, whom he’s loved for years. She identifies as gay, but she begins to wonder about her feelings for Coop, leading to mixed messages between them. Meanwhile, new student Rae dramatically changes Courtney and Jupiter’s dynamic after befriending them, and she finds herself infatuated with them both. Divided into three sections, each narrated distinctively by one of the three protagonists, the book effectively conveys teen dynamics, early sexual exploration, and feeling left out. Stone (Dear Martin) challenges stereotypical notions of what it means to be straight, bisexual, or gay, showing how sexual identities and desires can be as complicated as the individual human brain. Ages 14–up. Agent: Katherine Dunn, InkWell Management.

Narrator Dion Graham's portrayal of Courtney "Coop" Cooper pulls listeners into this portrayal of three teens and their complicated relationship dynamics. Coop, who is straight and cisgender, longs for something more with his best friend, Jupe, but Jupe, a lesbian, is oblivious. Their relationship changes when Rae Chin appears and seems to like both of them. Graham excels at emotion, ably expressing Coop's puzzlement at female behavior. His confusion is mirrored by Kim Mai Guest's depictions of Rae's misunderstandings of her two new friends. Guest's portrayals of Rae and her sister are heartfelt and appealing. Author Stone's delivery does not always differentiate characters, but she more than compensates with a complex, poignant look at adolescent friendship, gender, and sexuality. Her story's ending and author's note will satisfy listeners. E.J.F. � AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine