Release: May 11th, 2021
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Source: Netgalley
Find it at Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N, Kobo, TBD
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Part family drama, part contemporary thriller, Rule of Threes is a middle grade story about what happens when “perfect” is out of your control.
An interior design enthusiast, twelve-year-old Maggie Owens is usually living her life according to her own precise plans. But when she learns about Tony, a mysterious half-brother her own age who needs a place to stay, this shatters her plans. Tony’s mom struggles with an addiction to opioids, and now she needs Maggie’s dad, who is also Tony’s dad, to take him in. On top of everything, Maggie must also come to terms with the Alzheimer’s afflicting her beloved grandmother.
While Maggie can strive for and even succeed in a picture-perfect desily, there is no such thing as perfect when it comes to family. To work through the sudden struggles rocking her world, Maggie must learn the importance of having an open heart.
• Heart-wrenching, authentic, and darkly funny coming-of-age story
• Addresses hard-hitting topics—such as divorce and substance abuse—with care and honesty
Merci Suárez Changes Gears meets The Thing About Jellyfish in this compulsively readable novel.
• Appeals to those interested in stories about friendship and non-traditional families
• Great for readers who love a bold and self-aware protagonist
About the Author:
Marcy Campbell lives in Ohio with her family and menagerie of rescued pets. Her writing for adults has been published widely in journals and magazines, including Salon.
Marcy’s debut picture book, “Adrian Simcox Does NOT Have a Horse,” was a Junior Library Guild Selection, a Top 10 Indie Next Pick, winner of the Comstock Read-Aloud Award and the Crystal Kite Award and has been translated into eight languages. “Rule of Threes” is her first novel. Upcoming books include “Something Good” and “The More You Give.”
Rule of Threes Review:
I enjoyed reading “Rule of Threes” as it covered many topics for a middle-grade novel.
Although targeted for middle grade, the plot is heavy with some topics like substance abuse, separation, Alzheimer’s, and divorce. Moreover, the characters are realistic and dynamic. The author nicely portrays how emotional and dysfunctional a family can get when uncertainty enters their lives.
Maggie is excellent in the lead as she tries to adjust to the new situation. She goes through a LOT in the story, and it was interesting to see how she copes with each of them. On one side, I loved the conflicting emotions Maggie has for her father. On the other hand, she also deals with her grandmother’s issues of Alzheimer’s. Also, there is her conflicting friendship with Rakell/Rachel and adjusting to Tony. I thought she was a strong character for handling all the challenges. On a side note, I also loved Maggie’s passion for interior design and how she aspires for things to be a certain way.
Similarly, I also enjoyed Tony in the role. One of my favorite scenes in the story is when Tony takes Maggie to meet his mother at McDonald’s and the awkward moments that transpire. Tony and Maggie share a lovely bond that felt gradual and realistic.
However, there were a few minor parts where I wished I had more details. For instance, I would have liked more information about Rachel and Tony as they also go through quite a lot. It would have also been interesting to see the mother’s emotions as she also goes through changes. But, in retrospect, that might have stretched the story.
Apart from that, I enjoyed the book. Overall, “Rule of Threes” is a riveting, realistic, middle-grade novel worth checking out.
