Noah and Abdi met at private school, and from that day on they were best friends. Noah is sick and dying, while Abdi is a refugee, attending the school on a scholarship. Their differences do not matter between to these two. The only problem that comes between them is when Noah was out of school for a few weeks, and Abdi makes friends with another student. This did not sit well with Noah.

Noah tried several times to trick Abdi, making up excuses so that it would only be the two of them hanging out. Abdi knew what Noah was doing, but he didn't want to hurt his friend. One night after both of them attend a party in honor of Noah's dad, Noah decides that they needed to go on an adventure. Early in the morning the two of them take off. Noah is not feeling well, but he just needs to go on this trip before things get worse. Abdi goes along so he doesn't disappoint his best friend. Halfway into this adventure, Abdi notices that Noah is getting really tired and suggests that they should go back, but Noah refuses and they continue on. Again, after a while, Noah is exhausted and he and Abdi get into an argument. Abdi tries to take away Noah's cell phone away, but Noah unexpectedly falls into the water. Abdi does not go in after him because he can't swim. Luckily, someone calls 911 and the boys are both rescued.

But things come to a head when Noah is in a coma and Abdi won't speak to anyone. Noah cam hear everything around him, but his body won't respond to his attempts to wake up. Meanwhile, Abdi disappears soon after returning home. The police are at a loss: why would he disappear when his best friend is fighting for his life?

Wow is about the most I can say about this great story by Gilly Macmillan. After reading the back information on Macmillan, I completely understood why she would write this kind of story. There are so many different twists in this book. Don't worry; you don't get confused. Macmillan writes in a way that you know exactly what is going on.

ODD CHILD OUT also shows what refugees have to go through to survive. The story of Abdi and his family is very hard to swallow. It is sad that in this day and age people still have to go through this. In some spots, Macmillan's novel is very sad. If you want to read a good mystery, pick this book up.

Book Summary

How well do you know the people you love…?

Best friends Noah Sadler and Abdi Mahad have always been inseparable. But when Noah is found floating unconscious in Bristol's Feeder Canal, Abdi can't--or won't--tell anyone what happened.

Just back from a mandatory leave following his last case, Detective Jim Clemo is now assigned to look into this unfortunate accident. But tragedy strikes and what looked like the simple case of a prank gone wrong soon ignites into a public battle. Noah is British. Abdi is a Somali refugee. And social tensions have been rising rapidly in Bristol. Against this background of fear and fury two families fight for their sons and for the truth. Neither of them know how far they will have to go, what demons they will have to face, what pain they will have to suffer.

Because the truth hurts.