Out of Place: A Voice-Driven Middle Grade Story About Friendship, Bullying, and Unlikely Friends for Kids

by Jennifer Blecher, Merrilee Liddiard (Illustrator)

When twelve-year-old Cove Bernstein becomes the target of a school-wide bullying campaign, she sets out to find a way to leave her home on Martha’s Vineyard for New York City, where her best friend lives. But Cove discovers that friends can appear in the unlikeliest places, and maybe home isn’t the worst place to be after all.

Jennifer Blecher’s debut novel is a voice-driven story about bullying, friendship, and self-reliance that hits the sweet spot for fans of Ali Benjamin’s The Thing About Jellyfish and Erin Entrada Kelly’s You Go First.

Twelve-year-old Cove Bernstein’s year has gone from bad to worse. First, her best friend, Nina, moved from Martha’s Vineyard to New York City. Then, without Nina around, Cove became the target of a bullying campaign at school. Escape seems impossible.

But opportunities can appear when you least expect them. Cove’s visit to a secondhand clothing store leads her to a surprising chance to visit Nina, but only if she can win a coveted place in a kids-only design competition. Cove doesn’t know how to sew, but her friend at the retirement home, Anna, has promised to teach her. And things start really looking up when a new kid at school, Jack, begins appearing everywhere Cove goes.

Then Cove makes a big mistake. One that could ruin every good thing that has happened to her this year. One that she doesn’t know how to undo.

Jennifer Blecher’s accessible and beautifully written debut novel explores actions and consequences, loneliness, bullying, and finding your voice. This voice-driven friendship story is for fans of Rebecca Stead’s Goodbye Stranger and Jodi Kendall’s The Unlikely Story of a Pig in the City.  

Includes black-and-white spot art throughout.

Genres: Middle Grade, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Childrens, Contemporary, Friendship, Juvenile

304 pages, Hardcover

First published June 4, 2019

Reviews

[Darla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cove wants to find a place to fit in. It is hard to do that on Martha's Vineyard when your mom refuses to leave the island and your best friend has moved to New York City. Then the cool girls in her class start to wear matching shirts that say: "Stay. Away. From. Us." Cove discovers places to escape from the bullies and discovers the world of fashion design. I loved the way the thrift store, the show "Create You" and visits to the retirement home to sew with Anna give Cove a dream to hold onto. The letters exchanged with BFF Nina give us a new view of their friendship and show us new things about Cove. It all works together well and will no doubt spark creativity and a welcoming spirit in readers.

Thank you to Green Willow Books and Edelweiss for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This little novel touched my heart. Young Cove has spent her entire life on Martha's Vineyard in the company of her hippie, yoga bendy mother. Her small world is shattered when her best friend, Nina, moves with her fathers to New York City. More than perhaps any other book I've read, Out of Place depicts, with painstaking accuracy, the cruelty of middle school age girls. Cove's classmates' torment and the ensuing isolation rang with familiarity. Desperate to visit Nina, Cove applies to a reality fashion show with the hope of winning an all expenses paid trip to the Big Apple. In the process, she compromises her own values. With the help of friends in unexpected places, Cove's tender heart and determination shine brightly, and bring the book's ultimate message to a hopeful close.

[Jessica (Goldenfurpro) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This and other reviews can be found on The Psychotic Nerd

Short and Simple Review
I picked this book up at a whim, and I am glad that I did. This is a wonderfully written book. I could really understand Cove's character, and she just felt authentically her age. I was worried by the synopsis that this was going to be a sad book, a bit bittersweet, but this book turned out to be more sweet than bitter. Cove is sad and lonely without her best friend, but she gains new friends in surprising places, and I loved seeing these relationships grow. Overall, this is a great book.

[Afoma (Reading Middle Grade) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Out of Place by Jennifer Blecher is a delicately woven slice-of-life novel about bullying, friendship, and wanting more out of life. This novel perfectly captures what it’s like to be an almost-teen who feels out of place in her world. It also explores how kids can cope when a best friend moves away. If you’re looking for a moving summery novel with unlikely friendships and character growth, you’ll enjoy Out of Place.

Read my full review here.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Martha's Vineyard is a special place for me, so it's always a treat to read a book set on the island. This book does a great job of capturing some of the magic of different parts and the overall vibe of the Vineyard, but even more than that, this book really was amazing at capturing middle grade angst and some of the issues of growing up.

Cove Bernstein lives with her mother, a free-spirited artist on Martha's Vineyard. She has had some problems fitting in at school, but as long as she has her best friend Nina, everything is fine. But when Nina has to move to NYC and her mother starts dating a new boyfriend, Cove's world starts to fall apart. Not only friendless, Cove becomes the target of a bullying campaign.

This book was beautifully written, with a well-crafted description of life on Martha's Vineyard. And the description of the war zone, known as middle school was perfect. Definitely a high recommendation for middle schoolers.

[Kathie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to the author and publisher for sending me a copy of this ARC.

Cove is lost without her best friend, Nina, who just moved to New York City. She has trouble finding a new place where she belongs, and becomes the target for some girls at school who start a campaign to wear a message on their shirts that affect the her, and the morale of the school. Nina is desperate to find a way to get to see Nina in New York, and accidentally comes across an opportunity to audition for a TV design show aimed at kids, with the main prize being the chance to go to New York. But Nina's desperation results in a bad decision, and before she knows it, what she's created is a complicated problem that she doesn't know how she's going to fix.

I love stories that take place on the brink of adolescence, where you can see a character tentatively testing the waters beyond their familiar borders. Cove still wants things to be the way they were before, to play mermaids with Nina and remain within the safe boundaries of their friendship. You still see her innocence as she she is forced out of her comfort zone, and starts to question the limitations that have been placed on her. It's a bittersweet summer of transition that the author captures so well.

I really look forward to seeing the illustrations in the book, and think it will definitely be a book I'll be handing to readers this summer (releases June 2019).

[Jodi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lovely, tender-hearted coming of age story about a girl named Cove who lives (and has never left) her island home of Martha’s Vineyard. She lives with her single mother, an eccentric, spiritual, and protective woman, and spends all of her free time with her childhood best friend, Nina. When Nina’s family suddenly moves away to New York City for an incredible opportunity in the arts, Cove is forced to face her fears of feeling out of place as she navigates school, bullying, forming new friendships, and her mom dating a new boyfriend. Debut author Blecher does a stellar job of navigating the emotional waters of a protagonist torn between wanting to stay young and grow up all at the same time. The characters make authentic mistakes, learn, and grow from them. This is a sweet story about best friends and the precious childhood memories they share together, painful realities of mean-girl bullying inside and outside of school, school cliques, and how characters deal with the effects, finding connections with others in unlikely places, and how being open to new friendships and interests can lead to an unexpected, welcoming journey. I was given an ARC by the publisher in exchange for an honest review, and I think fans of THE SCIENCE OF BREAKABLE THINGS by Tae Keller will enjoy this 2019 debut!

[Kelly Hager]

I love Cove so much and I could relate to her story. My best friend also moved away when we were about that age, and as the person left behind in a small town while your best friend moves to a city, I can tell you that it sucks.

It's made worse for Cove because she's not particularly popular (most kids leave her alone, but these four popular girls seem to have it in for her and it's for no real reason, which makes it even harder) and so now she has a lot of free time and not much to do to fill it. 

This is a sweet middlegrade about accepting yourself and finding your people. Recommended.

[victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this book, and didn’t want it to end! Great plot, and good for all ages!

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

MG DESTINATION FICTION
The great and horrible thing about living in a wonderful vacation destination like Martha’s Vineyard is that everyone comes…and everyone goes. Or at least that’s how things are turning out for Cove Bernstein. It’s no plot-buster to tell you that Cove’s best friend Nina leaves right at the beginning of OUT OF PLACE, a debut MG novel by the talented Jen Blecher. Cove and Nina have been besties forever and things will never be the same for Cove with out Nina. Yet Cove is resilient—despite her eccentric and borderline agoraphobic mother—and she sets out on her own to make new friends of all ages, take on new hobbies, and stand up to the local bullies. But her new allies (spoiler alert) also leave the island one by one (or announce their plans to leave) and there’s only one thing for Cove to do, which is figure out a way to leave, too. OUT OF PLACE is a love letter to Martha’s Vineyard, and a wholesome and sweet, emotion-driven first novel with a gentle tone and indelible depictions of what it’s like to live in a place no one ever wants to leave…but must. I highly recommend this satisfying and enjoyable book. #mglit #middlegrade #booksofplace #destinationfiction #jenblecher #outofplace #MGdebut #bookstagram #marthasvineyard

[Jordan Caldwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading children’s literature as an adult is sometimes a daunting task. As a 5th grade ELA teacher, I read A LOT of books written for younger readers. Out of Place is in my list of top books. I can already think of several students who will love this book.

Cove is in a unique position: she lives year round on a very exciting place, yet she desperately wants to leave. A place others use as a sanctuary of solitude and peace from the hustle is a place where Cove feels trapped. Kids will be able to relate to Cove immediately.

My heart broke for her as we learn about the awful things being said/screamed to her. I spent several portions of the book in tears.

I did not like the mom in this book. Parents that don’t allow their kids the freedom to explore, and instead push their values make me sick. Being twelve is hard enough; give the kid a break.

I received an advance copy; all thoughts are my own.

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

See my full review here: http://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsfic...

OUT OF PLACE is an absolutely gorgeous story about bullying and feeling alone. Cove lives with her mother on Martha’s Vineyard. Although Cove would love to fit in with designer clothes and would love to see the rest of the world, her mother is a yoga instructor who is completely against commercialism and who will not leave the island. That has been okay, even though the girls at school make fun of her second-hand clothes and bark at her because she once wore a brown shirt, because she had her BFF there with her.

However, now Nina, her BFF, is moving to New York City with her dads, one of whom has made it big in art with paintings of Nina. Cove would give anything to visit Nina in NYC, and soon, she thinks she has found her solution. She will enter the fashion design show for teenagers called Create You, which films in NYC and pays for travel, stay, and all related expenses for their contestants. However, first, she must learn how to sew.

As Cove strives to meet her goal, she makes unexpected friends and allies along the way. At the same time, things at school are heating up with the popular girls wearing mean shirts and continuing to bully others.

What I loved: The writing here is simply beautiful and impossible to put down. Cove and the other main characters just felt so real, and her experiences were unbelievably genuine. The representation of bullying and loneliness is incredible, and I highly recommend this read. With an added message about honesty and trouble/consequences, this is an unforgettable story that conveys some really important messages. For anyone who has ever felt alone or anyone who has felt like an outsider, this book will speak to your soul.

Final verdict: Absolutely gorgeous and beautifully composed, this middle grade book is a must-read. I highly recommend for anyone who has ever felt lonely, lost, or picked on- Cove’s story is sure to speak to you. Character-driven and touching, this book is undeniably incredible.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Growing up is difficult. School can often feel like a battlefield for middle school students. They are always fighting to fit in, at the same time that they are dying to chisel out their own identity. Jennifer Blecher has perfectly captured this dynamic in her book, “Out of Place.”

Cove has lived her whole life on Martha’s Vineyard with her free-spirited Mother. She has also always had her friend Nina to lean on. This changes when Nina’s Dads moves to New York so that one of them can have a successful gallery show. Cove feels like she’s been thrown into a hurricane with no safe place to harbor. Even her relationship with her mom changes after her mom meets someone.
In the midst of all this change, Cove finds an anchor in a television show about designing clothes, and in the surprising friendship she finds with an elderly woman in a senior living facility. Through these anchors, she begins to learn about herself and stand up for herself at the same time.

I loved the character of Cove, and her restless search to find her voice. I wish that the author would have spent more time on the resolution and on developing the relationship Cove had with another character, Jake. The ending felt rushed and less satisfying than the beginning and middle of the book. There were also the loose ends dangling around her mom, and her mom’s insistence to stay on the island. What had happened that left her with this antagonism toward the outside world? I felt there was a mystery there that should have also been resolved. Overall, however, I thought the book did a good job of capturing the middle schooler. The impulsive things they do, the regrets that come after, and the constant feeling they have of never being “enough.”

[Lonna Pierce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cove, named for a safe harbor by her bohemian mother, lives on Martha's Vineyard and tells her sad story of desperately missing her best friend, Nina, who has moved to New York City. Both girls write letters, as Cove is not allowed a cell phone and becomes even more despondent, feeling out of place and isolated. She dresses differently, thinks differently, suffering in silence as the mean girls in school bark at her and call her "Rover" cruelly as they wear specially-ordered matching t-shirts that read: "STAY AWAY FROM US." Meeting Jonah, a cashier in a thrift store and watching reruns with him of "Create You," a TV reality show of teens designing and creating their own fashions changes her life. A gifted artist, she learns to sew from Anna, a senior center resident and former seamstress in Coco Chanel's iconic atelier, and aspires to sketch her own designs to win an all-expenses paid trip to NYC for the show to visit Nina. What finally gets her there is an inspired scarecrow design for her Middle School's contest. It's stuffed with straw by her new friends, Jack and Molly, and wears a t-shirt that says: "JOIN US," changing the discourse and spirit of the town. A coming of age novel with emotional perfect pitch, Blecher's debut novel is full of truth, heart, and art.

[India C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh Cove, Cove, Cove.
You are a gift to the world of middle-grade literature.
Growing up is hard, and few authors get the intricacies of what it is like to grow up feeling out of place in such a beautifully relatable way! 10-year-old India, moving from place to place needed this exact book.
Cove has lived her entire life on Martha's Vineyard with a mother who teaches yoga, loves kale, and refuses to buy commercial clothing. Her best friend Nina has been her grounding force until Nina's dads decide to move to New York City, now Cove is left battle the world of bullies and loneliness on her own. When she meets a young writer named Jonah and learns all about the hip show Create You a fashion design show for teens (which I wish was real because I would watch it in a heartbeat!) she finds her chance to visit Nina in the big city and FINALLY get off of the island that's been her entire life.

Filled with so many beautiful moments, I just really cannot wait for the world to meet Cove in all of her kindness and strength!

[Jennifer Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Available June 2019



Cove lives in Martha's Vineyard with her artist mom and she has never left the island in her 12 years. Her mom refuses to leave, even for a trip. Cove's best friend, Nina, is moving to New York City so her dad can try selling his artwork there. Cove is devastated. She is bullied by the other girls on the island, and really has no other friends. Once Nina moves Cove decides to apply to be on a reality show called "Create You" so she can go to New York and find Nina. There's only one problem, Cove doesn't know how to sew. With the help of her friend, Anna (who lives in a retirement home), Cove begins learning how to sew. Things go terribly wrong though when Cove makes a decision that she is not ready for.



Great middle school book for theme, character development, and learning how to deal with typical adolescent social issues.

[Kourtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Out of Place ARC

Author: Jennifer Blecher

Read Dates: June 1st- July 4th

Why did I choose to read this book?
I chose to read this book because I received the ARC of it and also because I can relate to the main character.

Did I like it? Yes, I loved it. I can relate to Cove I was bullied all throughout my life and also have wanted to be a fashion designer too since I was younger. (Make handmade custom clothing now) The book kinda made me cry and get very emotional because of that.

One character I disliked: The Mean Girls

Do I recommend this book? Yes, it will show younger kid's never to give up on your dreams and to ignore the bullies.

Questions for you:
1. Have you read this book?
2. Have you ever been bullied?
3. What's your "dream" or dream job?

[Elliott Winter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good debut Middle School novel, but with an ending that felt a little rushed.

Out of Place captured the feeling of transition.from grade school to middle school, finding out who you are from who you were. It also tackles bullying, finding friends in unlikely places, the motivation to follow your dreams. Cove Berenstein is a good protagonist and carries the story forward brilliantly.

Some of the story could've been expounded upon, and the ending could've shown us that Cove succeeded in winning "Create You" . I sure hope that a sequel will be on its way.

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This middle grade fiction book centers around a tween girl named Cove who lives on the island of Martha's Vineyard. In the early chapters, Cove deals with the reality that her best friend is moving to NYC. Cove must learn to live everyday without her friend and open herself up to new people. Cove is faced with loneliness, frustration, and desperation. Will Cove find new connections and a renewed sense of purpose?

I connected with this book because changes in friendship can be difficult and is often a form of grief. The author, Blecher, chronicles this concept with realism and honesty.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished another “beach” read when I found this on the shelf and figured I’d try to hold onto summer a little longer. Both books also had letters written between characters that helped move the plot along and that appealed to me too. And both happen in summer towns-that’s just a cozy place for a story to unfold. And a girl named Cove? How geological. This book felt real to me and Cove’s internal life is portrayed beautifully.

[Berkley · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
This book was pretty good! I really liked the setting and the message, and the main character was super cute. I just really don't like reading about gay characters. In this case, the best friend's dad's were talked about a lot, and I really don't like reading about that. Other than that, I thought the main characters' journey from the beginning to the end of the book was funny and sweet and I enjoyed the overall story except for that one problem.

[c · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review copy courtesy of Edelweiss.

I greatly enjoyed this contemporary middle grade book about a girl named Cove who is devastated after her best friend moves away. She turns to learning to sew while watching a Project Runway esque reality show, and this leads her down a series of adventures. Will definitely be purchasing!

[Katie Devine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down! I needed to know what happened to Cove and the people in her life I grew close to over the course of this story. Written in an intimate and engaging voice, this is a debut novel I want all middle-grade readers to discover and love. Can't wait to read what's next from Jennifer Blecher!

[Crystal A Chwatek · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 10 year old daughter and I both read this heartwarming story of Cove. Author Jennifer Blecher creatively describes a young girl who learns about herself while living at her home on Martha's Vineyard. Blecher touches on early puberty for the main character Cove, bullying, fitting in, and having a best friend move away. A beautifully written story that I encourage any 4th-7th grader to enjoy.

[Matt Haldeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compelling & Genuine! I've read a lot of books for children in this age range, and seen authors struggle with pre-teen characters, dialogue and emotion. Out of Place is a special book. It's a page-turner for readers of all ages, full of genuine characters who stay with you long after you put it down. An impressive debut for Jennifer Blecher!

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a brilliant book and one that I can't wait for my kids to read in a year or two. It speaks volumes about being kind, being creative, and being honest, while at the same time really resonates with how hard it can be to be a kid these days. It's a quick read, and I enjoyed every minute of it.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, especially the part portraying middle school students realistically! I think lots of kids will find something to identify with. As an adult reader, I found a lot of subplots that could have been developed even more (mom's backstory, dealing with bullies further, friend Jack, etc.) - any of them could have been their own story. Maybe some companion books?

[Kyah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very sweet, well paced middle grade book which explored a lot of really interesting topics like loss, friendship in various forms, and promoting positivity through one's own story. Also, this is on the younger side of the middle grade genre which is a consideration as well. Cove's character was relatable in many core ways to the middle grade audience.

[Sasha Bredenhof · Rating 3 out of 5]

A slightly lame book. It was in the young adult section, but definitely felt like a kid's book. Quite cringe and some scenes sounded like they were supposed to be super deep but they just fell kind of flat.
But slightly relatable as it was about moving and changes in life, and trying to make friends and fit in.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

What do you do when your best friend moves away...and you just don't fit in with the other girls. Then some of the girls band together and wear matching shirts that say....STAY AWAY FROM US. It is hard not to stay stuck in self pity. But sometimes you need to step away from the pity to see other opportunities.