Welcome to Windows & Mirrors, where we feature books that provide us windows to lives outside our own and mirrors to our shared common human experiences.

Today we are featuring ODD ONE OUT by NIC STONE.

I’ve been a superfan of Nic Stone since I met her in 2017 at a MadCap Retreats Writing Cross-Culturally workshop. Nic rocked the teen world with her debut DEAR MARTIN last October (read my interview with her here), and she’s ripe for doing it again this year with her latest book ODD ONE OUT.

High-school basketball star, Coop, can no longer deny his crush on his neighbor and female best friend, Jupiter. Though Jupiter likes girls, she begins to wonder about her feelings for Coop. New student Rae disrupts everything when she finds herself infatuated with them both.

ODD ONE OUT freshly examines the intersections of sexuality, gender, and race, in a complex, but relatable love triangle, discovering the fine line between love and friendship in this truthful and eye-opening read, important for today’s youth and those who care for them.

NY Times bestselling author Nic Stone has created yet another epic contemporary coming-of-age story that teens will be dying to get their hands on.

Here are my Top FIVE Reasons Why Teens Will Connect with ODD ONE OUT:

1. Busted stereotypes– Coop (real name Courtney) is a gorgeous, muscle-bound male basketball player and cheerleader who’s also straight, smart, and thoughtful. Jupiter is super-tough, aggressive, driven, and thinks she’s gay, but she’s also kind, always investing her time in advocacy for others, and remorseful (and honest) when she screws up. Rae is friendly and outgoing, but on the inside she’s barely keeping it together. Great, well-imagined characters. We want to be friends will all of them.
2. Authentic Teen Voice-The story is told in thirds, with each of the main characters telling us part of the story. The voices are spot on for today’s teens. I was so caught up in the authenticity of Coop’s voice is that I had to keep reminding myself that Nic Stone is a grown woman.
3. Relatable issues-Love triangles, friendship woes, confusion about sexuality, all mirror everyday real life for today’s teens. Everyone will see a little bit of themselves in the characters or situations they’ve encountered.
4. Cool use of a plot device-not giving this one away. Read it for yourself! (Made me want to ask Nic if she had a charm bracelet as a teen. Maybe she’ll tweet us and let us know. Hello? Nic??)
5. Provocative– Like DEAR MARTIN, ODD ONE OUT is book that will make people think, but ODD ONE OUT is also completely different. It explosively opens up our interpretations and thinking about sexuality and gender, hopefully lending to more open conversations and acceptance of those trying to be true themselves. It explores the confusion of first love and the complexities of our relationships with a respectful vision that I hope teens will pay attention to. Possibly the most important thing about ODD ONE OUT is it supports those who feel unsure about sexuality, reassuring them that those feelings are perfectly normal. (DO NOT MISS NIC’S AUTHOR NOTE AT THE END. Also, check out Nic’s letter to herself in Teen Vogue.)

(Note: Sexuality and sex are treated very openly in this book, making it an important read for those who are having sex, considering having sex, or who may be trying to understand their sexual feelings. Because of this openness, it may not be appropriate for younger teens who would be uncomfortable reading about sexual situations, acts, or anatomy, which are covered in vivid (yes, you might blush) detail. Recommended for ages 15+ satisfying the aforementioned conditions.)

ODD ONE OUT releases on October 9th. Preorder it at your favorite bookstore or request it from your library today!

Also, congrats to Nic on the big announcement last week that she has a book deal for TWO middle-grade novels, the first one releasing in spring 2020. It is entitled Clean Getaway and is the story of “an 11-year-old black boy and his white grandmother on an impromptu road trip.” Sounds fantastic! More info about her new book deal and switch to writing middle grade can be found here.

Nic Stone was born and raised in a suburb of Atlanta, GA, and the only thing she loves more than an adventure is a good story about one. After graduating from Spelman College, she worked extensively in teen mentoring and lived in Israel for a few years before returning to the US to write full-time. Growing up with a wide range of cultures, religions, and backgrounds, Stone strives to bring these diverse voices and stories to her work.

You can find her goofing off and/or fangirling over her adorable little family on most social media platforms. NIC STONE is the NYTimes bestselling author of DEAR MARTIN, which released in 2017. Connect with Nic by visiting her website, on Twitter, or on Instagram.

Posted by Michelle Leonard.