Out of Place

Cove Bernstein, 12, lives on Martha’s Vineyard with her overprotective mother. Bullied at school for dressing differently, Cove finds solace in her friendship with Nina and Nina’s nurturing and artistic dads. When Nina moves to New York City, though, Cove feels increasingly desperate and lonely despite a tentative friendship with a new boy at school. While visiting a local secondhand store, Cove discovers a show about a kids’ fashion design competition in New York. Frustrated with her mom’s unwillingness to let her leave the island, tired of being the butt of jokes at school, and determined to see Nina again, Cove vows to become a contestant on the show even if it means she has to break some rules to do it. In Cove, Blecher has created a sweet and realistically vulnerable character who longs to feel validated and respected. The taunts of the mean girls are devastatingly true to life, the story’s leisurely pace doesn’t lag, and the ending is hopeful without feeling cliché. All in all, this is a tender, uncomplicated coming-of-age story that illustrates how hard it can be to fit in at any age. Ages 8–12. [em]Agent: Alexander Slater, Trident Media Group. (June) [/em]