The Unlikelies

May 29, 2017
After 17-year-old Sadie Sullivan is brutally assaulted at a farmer’s market during an altercation with a drunk man, she’s left feeling shaken and isolated from her friends, despite being hailed as a hero. (The man had an infant and a shotgun in his car, and the entire “incident,” as Sadie thinks of it, was captured on video and has been circulated widely, naturally.) After this jarring beginning, Firestone (The Loose Ends List) offers a mix of humor, friendship building, and altruism as Sadie and four other teens form a band of vigilante do-gooders called the Unlikelies. Together they take on injustices and perform kind acts, sometimes as small as leaving nice comments on a website, and use an unexpected windfall of illegal diamonds to fund grander projects. Firestone touches lightly on racism (Sadie is of Iranian descent on her mother’s side) and dives deep into heroin addiction. It’s a memorable blend of the serious, madcap, and romantic that, while over the top in some regards, champions the Unlikelies’ values of kindness, bravery, and respect. Ages 14–up. Agent: Sara Crowe, Pippin Properties.

April 1, 2017
With her best friend headed off to camp and college, Sadie Sullivan knew that the summer before her senior year was bound to be different, but she never could have imagined how different it would be. While working at a local farm stand on the East End of the Hamptons, Sadie is brutally attacked while trying to save a baby from the back seat of her drunk and enraged father's car. Sadie's selfless act earns her recognition, a richly diverse new group of do-gooder friends, and a summer unlike any other. Firestone's (The Loose Ends List, 2016) sophomore novel offers readers a refreshing, diverse cast of teens headed by mixed-race Sadie, whose mom is Persian and dad is white. They are determined to quash the internet trolls and "lizards" of the world and champion their targets. What starts with small acts of kindness soon becomes a movement, and Sadie and her crew of "unlikelies" boldly tackle everything from fat shamers to heroin dealers. While Sadie, Alice (white), Gordie (white), Jean (Haitian), and Val (Salvadoran) are "homegrown heroes," they are also teenagers reflective of a multicultural world and deal with typical teenage problems. Though several characters are more fully developed than others, readers will find plenty to relate and aspire to as the kids attempt to better the world and confront their own struggles with love, loyalty, and friendship. This unlikely story is likely to be a hit. (Fiction. 14-18)

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March 1, 2017

Gr 9 Up-Sadie is convinced that the summer before her senior year will be boring. All her friends have graduated and are leaving their small community in the Hamptons. Sadie is stuck working at the farm stand and whiling away her evenings with her parents. An unpredictable and violent attack changes Sadie's summer-and her life-in the blink of an eye. Suddenly, she is an Internet sensation and local news darling. A "hometown hero" lunch brings Sadie together with four other teenagers, sealing their fates as a misfit band of do-gooders. They take on social media trolls and negativity, creating a team that fights for underdogs and positivity. Things get tough when they go up against a local heroin dealer in an attempt to save an addicted friend. The challenges these unlikely friends face are handled with humor, love, and authentic emotions. Firestone creates characters reflective of the teenagers who will read and fall in love with these Unlikelies. Sadie's attack will shock readers into rooting for her and her friends to rise above and beat the bad guys. The elements of romance, friendship, and family prevent the story from feeling preachy and move readers along at a comfortable pace. Fans of Maureen Johnson will appreciate the exploration of friendship and romance with a touch of humor. VERDICT A feel-good tale of friendship that's perfect for any YA collection.-Carrie Finberg, South Park High School, PA

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