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Unlocked: A Story of Unexpected Friendship and the Courage to Defy Expectations

by Karen Kingsbury

Friendship beyond labels

Regular price $17.19 USD
Regular price $26.86 USD Sale price $17.19 USD
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AlbakiReads Editorial

Friendship beyond labels

Set in a small town, Karen Kingsbury’s novel brings together Ella Reynolds, a popular student involved in her school’s drama production, and Holden Harris, an eighteen-year-old with autism who faces bullying. Their connection reaches back to childhood, and music becomes another point of connection as Ella reconsiders how she sees Holden and chooses to challenge the treatment he receives. The story places an unlikely friendship alongside questions of belonging, social pressure, and the courage to oppose cruelty. Faith and miracles are also part of the book’s framing. This standalone novel includes a reading group guide and a letter from the author.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • Readers interested in contemporary Christian fiction and themes of faith.
  • Book clubs seeking a novel with a reading group guide.
  • Readers interested in friendship, autism, and standing against bullying.

Themes

Friendship across social labelsAutism and bullyingCourage and peer pressureFaith and miracles

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Karen Kingsbury comes a moving small-town story about an unlikely friendship between a popular cheerleader and a teenage boy with autism--and the miracle that unfolds when someone dares to take a stand.

Holden Harris may live in a quiet, private world of his own, but inside, he's happy and connected. At eighteen, though, his autism makes him a target of daily bullying at school. When Ella Reynolds--part of the in-crowd and star of the drama production--discovers that Holden was once her childhood best friend, she begins to see beyond the labels. Drawn together by music and a shared past, Ella risks her popularity to stand against cruelty, even when it means confronting her own boyfriend and peers.

Inspiring and heartfelt, Unlocked is a powerful reminder of the difference one person's courage can make. With a reading group guide and a personal letter from the author, this standalone novel is perfect for book clubs and makes a meaningful gift for readers who believe in the power of friendship, faith, and miracles.

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