Out of Place

Gr 3–6—Shy and quirky Cove has never left the island of Martha's Vineyard. She longs for discovery, and is heartbroken to learn her best friend Nina will be moving away to New York City to live a life of adventure without her. To make things worse, she is bullied at school by a group of mean-spirited girls. Cove finds respite in a local thrift store and befriends Jonah, a college student who avidly watches the fashion competition television show Create You. Soon after, she meets retired seamstress Anna and a quiet boy at school named Jack. Her three new friends inspire her to try her chance at competing on Create You, and Cove soon finds that her island contains more excitement than she ever imagined. Blecher's debut is a sensitive and compassionate tribute to every child who has ever felt like a misfit. Supported by clear and precise prose, the narrative progresses at a good pace, making it a strong choice for a classroom read-aloud or a bedtime story. The characters are vibrant and memorable; Cove is an emotionally intelligent heroine who successfully names and processes her feelings.