The Sidekicks

 

Bibliography

Kostakis, W. (2017). The sidekicks. Don Mills, Ontario, Canada: Harlequin Teen.

Plot Summary

Three boys who seem to have nothing in common are brought together by the death of a classmate. Each boy had a special relationship with Isaac and attempt to navigate their grief in the best way they know how, eventually learning how to lean on each other. 

 

Critical Analysis

This novel is split into three parts: the swimmer, the rebel, and the nerd. Each boy is affected in different ways by the death of a mutual friend, Isaac. Kostakis provides a distinct voice for each character. While listening to the audio version of the novel, it could have been easy to get lost in who was narrating at any given time, but this was not a problem due to the clarity of each character’s personality. Ryan, Olympic hopeful, has lost the one friend who knows his secret; Harley has lost his best friend is overridden with guilt at the thought that he could possibly be the cause of Isaac’s death; Miles had two partnerships with Isaac that were clearly business, but he grew to care for the other boy as a friend. 

Each section begins with the news of Isaac’s death. First, Ryan learns of his friend’s passing and dives into practice without stopping. Then Harley’s perspective begins during Isaac’s last moments. Harley leaves Isaac and their other friends to go home and sleep the night off, not knowing it will be the last time he sees his friend. He also provided more than just alcohol for Isaac, but what exactly he was able to supply is never revealed. He sinks into a sort of depression, skipping school and drinking his mother’s wine until one day, he returns to school. Miles’s perspective begins earlier than Harley’s. He was to drink alcohol with Isaac after Isaac pestered him enough. But when Miles learns that Isaac has invited a bunch of people over and suspects Isaac to be high, he leaves. This guilt gnaws at him, and he relives his relationship with Isaac through playback of a film they worked on together. 

The glimpses of Isaac revealed through the boy’s memory of him is one of a charismatic, cocky, and humorous teenage boy. His sudden death is a shock to everyone, and it’s hard to imagine that he would be unhappy enough to commit suicide. This leads one to wonder if Isaac was secretly struggling with something his friends knew nothing about. This was a boy who enjoyed a good time and wanted others to partake and enjoy life. 

Miles' section of the novel was interesting. He thinks of life as a movie or television show and each time he is in a new setting, it is notated as if it were part of a script. He goes as far as comparing these new relationships with Harley and Ryan as a spin-off called The Sidekicks. 

The setting of Australia doesn’t have a huge affect on the story. There is one mention of Easter and winter sports starting which reminds the reader that the seasons are quite different from that in America. Harley goes to his father’s home in Gerringong which is 2 to 3 hours away from Sydney - three for Harley’s train ride. 

Ultimately, this is a story of how to deal with grief, finding support in people we may not have imagined, and learning how to be true to yourself. All of this is universal and the setting of Australia only solidifies that everyone struggles with unexpected death and identity. 

Review Excerpt(s)

"An engrossing study of relationships, unintended consequences, and the many-nuanced similarities and differences that makes us human. Male and female readers alike will be readily drawn into each character's unique emotional journey and the tapestry of friendship they ultimately create." -VOYA

"Kostakis makes good use of the three characters' narratives, moving from relatable Ryan to sympathetic Harley and finally the initially unprepossessing Miles, whose inability to wear a social mask and habit of seeing his life as a movie make him a touching narrator." --Publishers Weekly

While this is Kostakis's American debut, his literary polish and deep understanding of teen storytelling is compelling and nuanced from the first page.... A memorable experience with teens who grow to absorb tragedy and build a future on its foundation. VERDICT An excellent exploration of grief from a rising talent that belongs in all libraries serving teens." -School Library Journal

Connections 
Activities 

• Now that we’ve gotten Ryan, Harley, and Miles’ perspectives, write in Isaac’s. Choose a scene that involved Isaac and write from his point of view. 
• Miles thinks of life as a movie or television show, even going as far to think of himself in a spin-off show called The Sidekicks. If your life were a television series, what would the title be? Write a synopsis of the show and a scene with multiple characters. 
• Harley and Miles are upset at the wording in the Herald Daily regarding Isaac’s death. Why is this so important to them? 
• When Miles gets the alert about the Herald Daily, he mentions how the article has been updated. Have students look up their own articles and notate if they have been updated. 
• “Growing up, he’d say we spend our lives wrapping rubber bands around people. Some bands are so tight that you can feel them pulling you together. Some are loose and stretch for miles, there’s so much give you hardly notice them. But you’re still connected and sooner or later…” (174) Think about who you have wrapped your “rubber bands” around. Who in your life do you feel pulled to? Whose connections are loose for you?