The Sidekicks

A free spirit who didn’t let rules get in his way, high school junior Isaac had three totally different best friends. Now that he’s dead, do they have anything in common? Not on the surface: Ryan’s a serious swimmer, Miles is described as a nerd and seems to be on the autism spectrum, and Harley is a rebel (and Isaac’s drug supplier). As the boys grieve and try to cope with life in their buttoned-down prep school, secrets are revealed and they grow closer. Australian author Kostakis’s U.S. debut isn’t particularly subtle: the 17-year-olds are portrayed as types—largely, it seems, so that they can then be revealed to be more than that (predictably, the rebel has a soft heart and a secret pain). But 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. Ages 13–up. Agent: Sarah Williams, Sophie Hicks Agency. (Oct.)