Odd Man Out

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.