Odd Man Out Book

When Kip arrives for a summer visit with his grandmother and five cousins in British Columbia, he learns that her ramshackle house is to be demolished. This means unfettered fun for Kip and his cousins as they explore every inch of the place. There, Kip finds something unexpected — an old binder kept by his dead father as a boy. It’s a strange scrapbook filled with puzzling lists, newspaper clippings, business cards, hair samples, and intricate drawings — all accompanying a confidential report written by a mysterious young operative with a secret plan to infect teenagers with a cell-altering virus. Kip is both intrigued and alarmed as the fantastic tale offers a window into his father's unsettling imagination. When his cousins start making plans for Talent Night, Kip panics — then remembers the story in the binder. Can he handle what it will reveal about his father? This highly praised novel has Sarah Ellis' trademark quirkiness, humor, and insight. As well as exploring the themes of family, Odd Man Out features intriguing notions about memory and stories, how writers get their ideas, how real and imaginary lives are interwoven, and how the writing life can provide both escape and ballast.

VOYA

When his mother remarries and heads off on her honeymoon, Kip is sent to stay the summer with his grandmother, who is also hosting five of his girl cousins. Finding himself ensconced among very eccentric girls, Kip struggles to find his place. When Kip discovers a binder made by his late father when he was a teenager, things begin to change as he becomes entranced by its story of a mysterious young operative who is recruited to carry out a secret plan to stop a nefarious plot to infect all teenagers with a cell-altering virus. Illustrated with detailed hand-drawn pictures, old newspaper clippings, business cards, and other oddities, the binder's tale prompts Kip to discover the long-held secret of his father's mental illness. While revealing secrets, Kip's experience also leads him on a journey of discovery about himself and connects him to his cousins, his grandmother, and his new stepfather. Ellis, an award-winning Canadian author, offers an insightful character study in this novel. Kip is a sharp character who will connect with many readers. The eccentric supporting cast offers a good counterpoint to Kip, who is always the novel's main focus. Often, however, readers are left getting only Kip's point of view, leaving the others nearly undeveloped. The novel's surreal tone makes some portions of the text confusing, but the themes of growing up, accepting change, and finding out where one belongs make it a universally appealing work that teens will enjoy if led to it.