THE UNLIKELIES
Sadie is not excited for her pre-senior year summer, which will be her first without her best friend and on-again-off-again boyfriend by her side. Sadie braces herself for a long, lonely, and boring season in the Hamptons (where her family lives on the “have not” side of the divide), working at a farm stand. Things take an unexpected turn when Sadie steps in to help rescue a baby in distress and a video of her good deed goes viral.
Suddenly internet-famous, Sadie’s summer changes for the better when she is introduced to other local do-gooders. These very different teens form an unlikely clique to right local wrongs and do good in their community.
Sadie is not excited for her pre-senior year summer, which will be her first without her best friend and on-again-off-again boyfriend by her side. Sadie braces herself for a long, lonely, and boring season in the Hamptons (where her family lives on the “have not” side of the divide), working at a farm stand. Things take an unexpected turn when Sadie steps in to help rescue a baby in distress and a video of her good deed goes viral.
Suddenly internet-famous, Sadie’s summer changes for the better when she is introduced to other local do-gooders. These very different teens form an unlikely clique to right local wrongs and do good in their community. But when they try to help a heroin-addicted friend, they get in over their heads and discover that there might be truth in the saying “no good deed goes unpunished.” Can Sadie and her new friends (and new love interest) make it through the summer with their friendships—and sanity—intact?
With the same combination of humor, romance, and depth that is garnering Loose Ends List fans, Carrie Firestone weaves a rich and timely story that will leave readers laughing, swooning, and thinking.
- Little Brown for Young Readers
- Paperback
- June 2017
- 336 Pages
- 9780316382854
Buy the Book
$9.99
About Carrie Firestone
Carrie Firestone is the author of The Loose Ends List and The Unlikelies. A former NYC high school teacher, she currently lives in Connecticut with her husband, two daughters, and their pets.
Praise
“Fans of Maureen Johnson will appreciate the exploration of friendship and romance with a touch of humor…. A feel-good tale of friendship that’s perfect for any YA collection.”—School Library Journal
“This unlikely story is likely to be a hit.”—Kirkus Reviews
Discussion Questions
1. The Unlikelies begins with Sadie creating care packages rather than with her decision to rescue a baby. How do these two good deeds—one “small” and one “big,” one thoughtful and one spur-of-the-moment, tie into the novel’s exploration of doing good?
2. The Unlikelies is composed of five distinct characters, each with its own personality quirks and flaws. How did these traits balance each other out over the course of the novel? What did each character contribute to the group?
3. How do issues of race and class inform the novel?
4. Did you know anything about the Hamptons before reading the book, and did any of your assumptions change? Why do you think Carrie Firestone chose this location?
5. The Unlikelies deals with the topic of bullying and the long-term effect it can have on people. How has technology changed the way bullying might occur? How do the Unlikelies use technology to combat this trend? Do you think the internet is ultimately a helpful or hurtful tool when it comes to bullying?
6. When Sadie finds the diamonds, she decides to give them away to specific people. However, she realizes that money can’t automatically fix bad situations. What would you have done in her position? Do you agree with her decision to put the diamonds away for a while rather than distribute them?
7. What does the saying “no good deed goes unpunished” mean? How does it apply to the Unlikelies?
8. The cover features five frozen treats and there are five members of the Unlikelies. Which ice cream or popsicle do you think corresponds to each character?