Unlocked: A Love Story

Written by Karen Kingsbury

Narrated by Roxanne Hernandez

Bestselling author Karen Kingsbury reminds us that before you take a stand, you’ve got to take a chance.

Despite his quiet ways and quirky behaviors, Holden Harris is very happy and socially engaged—on the inside, in a private world all his own. But Holden is an eighteen-year-old with autism. Every day he is bullied at school by kids who only see that he is very different.

Ella Reynolds is part of the in-crowd. A cheerleader and star of the high school drama production, her life seems perfect. When she catches Holden listening to her rehearse for the school play, she is drawn to him . . . the way he is drawn to the music. Then Ella makes a dramatic discovery—she and Holden were best friends as children. Frustrated by the way Holden is bullied and horrified at the indifference of her peers, Ella decides to take a stand against the most privileged and popular kids at school. Including her boyfriend, Jake.

Ella believes miracles can happen in the most unlikely places and that just maybe an entire community might celebrate from the sidelines. But will Holden’s praying mother, Ella, and a cast of theater kids be enough to unlock the prison that contains Holden? This time friendship, faith, and the power of a song must be strong enough to open the doors to the miracle Holden needs.

This contemporary, inspirational read is a standalone novel. Book length: approximately 80,000 words. Includes a reading group guide and a letter to readers from the author. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Release date: Oct 26, 2010
• ISBN: 9780310412113

Karen Kingsbury

Karen Kingsbury, #1 New York Times bestselling novelist, is America’s favorite inspirational storyteller, with more than twenty-five million copies of her award-winning books in print. Her last dozen titles have topped bestseller lists and many of her novels are under development as major motion pictures. Karen recently opened her own film company called Kingsbury Productions. The company’s first theatrical movie, Someone Like You, is considered one of the most anticipated movies of the year. For more information visit SomeoneLikeYou.movie. Also, the first three seasons of Karen’s Baxter Family books are now an original series called The Baxters on Prime Video. Karen and her husband, Donald, live in Tennessee near their children and grandchildren.

Reviews for Unlocked

[Alisha Wargin · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Being an adaptive PE teacher, this story took my heart!!! Unified PE is building the bridge for this gap in schools!

[merechristian · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Suicide. It's a topic that is (naturally and understandably) uncomfortable to discuss, and elicits so very many reactions ranging from sympathy to contempt, and everything in between. Disability as a topic is very similar in the reactions that it engenders as a term, except that the word “lazy” is sometimes added into the mix of pejorative descriptive words. These two terms are fraught with emotion and complexity. Even *discussing* them is difficult, but to tell a story framed around the issues in a sensitive, loving, Christ-like, and in-depth way, that has to be quite a challenge. Yet it is a challenge that Christian author Karen Kingsbury took up, and she succeeded quite well, in my opinion. In her book, *Unlocked*, Kingsbury tells the tale of two characters, Ella Reynolds and Holden Harris, and their families. Ella is a popular, but (initially) superficial girl who is a cheerleader, drama class star, star student, and dates the best-looking guy in school. The “superficial” part comes in in that this is all that she cares about initially. But when she notices her boyfriend picking on two students (one a poor student, and the other a disabled boy), she breaks it off with him, and starts some introspection. This self-examination of her life and priorities continues when she befriends the above-referenced autistic boy, Holden Harris, who is drawn to the rehearsals of the drama program's production of *Beauty and the Beast*. She starts to hang out with him and tries to help him out when possible. She is shocked when looking through some old photo albums at home when she discovers that she and Holden (their two families, in fact) were once best of friends. Then she learns the awful truth, that her parents broke off ties with the Harris' family because Holden's autism made them uncomfortable. She resolves to do what she can do to help Holden out of his prison of autism.I could go on with the tragedies and triumphs of the book, but I won't delve too much into spoilers, because doing so would be to give away a great deal of the story. What I want to do is to examine the themes that Kingsbury articulates. These themes are ones that Christians would do well to take into account. One theme above all else is the way that too many Christians are as wrapped up in their own lives as unbelievers are. How often do we see folks hurting, being harassed, or just plain sad or depressed, and we ignore it? Like the priest and Levite in the Parable of the Good Samaritan, we simply ignore the issues around us, and the people hurting, and cross onto the other side of the street. “It's not *our* problem, after all”, we say. Or we believe the problem to be “too big” to make a difference. Seemingly the idea that we don't have to make a huge difference on a large level, but only in one life to do good works for God evades us. Another theme seems to be our quiet, passive bigotry towards those different. I don't mean the way some secularists stupidly use the term, to quash judgment of those who commit sexual and other sin, or to stifle the preaching of the Gospel to sinners in need of Christ as Lord and Savior. I mean the way that we view those whom God has chosen to create differently than us, for whatever reason He did so choose, as somehow lesser than us, or not as good as us. How often do we see a disabled individual, whether physically, mentally, emotionally, or behaviorally, and think that they are “dumb”, or at best, their “faking it”, or “playing it up” for sympathy or some government check? How often do we tell folks that if they simply “had faith” or “trusted God more”, then *Voila!*, their problems would be over. Such an attitude does not help folks to do better, and learn to work past their problems, it sends them back further into the morass from which they seek an outlet. Now, obviously, if the person is in the midst of actual sin or sinful attitudes, then we ought to lovingly admonish them, but it also might behoove us at times to do some research before we open our mouths. The title of the book was chosen for a reason. Kingsbury argues that Holden was “locked” in a prison in his mind due to his autism, and that with the help of Ella Reynolds, that prison was “unlocked”. What she does, though, is expand on the point. How many of us are “locked” in some prison in our lives. Whether an actual disorder, or some other personal crisis or sin problem, we are trapped. Only with the help of the Lord and others that He sends to lovingly and patiently help us, can we learn to work around this and seek Him. That is the heart, I would say. of the message of the novel. I want to say that I had a brother who was mentally and physically handicapped. Though the difference is obvious between that and autism spectrum disorder, it still always distresses me how the handicapped are treated by our selfish society. I also have known those who have attempted suicide and considered it. We ignore them too, and lives are lost. If anything can be learned from reading *Unlocked*, should you read it, it will be a heightened awareness of these issues and those who suffer therein. And for that, I am grateful. Grateful for a realistic, yet , Biblically-based portrayal. Highly Recommended.

[SomahSvietlana Vincents · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wow, this book really spoke to me. I have an autistic child. though mine is more verbal than this case. But the difficulties are still there. I have often wondered if my child would be able to grasp the concept of salvation, but it is clear from this that these kids understand much more than they let out.
God bless you for this masterpiece.

[Lori Samp · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great book to bring feelings of awareness. Karen is such a talented writer.

[Eleanor Green · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Lovely story and so touching didn’t want to put it down

[kaylynvh · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love it when a story is written so well I find myself crying, smiling, or laughing along with the characters.

[400mom · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Kind of a Disney-type ending but a beautiful story.

[stormydawnc · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I didn't want to like this book. I really didn't. It has all the things I normally despise. I don't like most books that carry the label "Christian fiction", because typically, they're just not that good. I don't like books that play with cliches. I don't typically like books that are set in high schools, because once was enough. And I don't like books that are this cheesy, because let me warn you: it is.

And yet, here we are, at a five star rating. I think the main reason for this is that even though some of the cliches that are prevalent in Christian fiction are present here, the characters work around that. All the characters in this book seem like believable human beings with hope, fears, and doubts. They're the kind of people I could get coffee with and never lack for conversation. I'm invested in their lives to the point where I actively rooted for the main characters to get what they wanted.

I think it says a good deal about a book that I read this almost two years ago, and can still remember most of it. I remember the characters, what they strove for, and what they got. It may not have been realistic, but this is one of those books where I just have to be all right with that.

I also appreciate the fact that despite the overall positivity of this book, bad things do happen, which is normally my problem with Christian fiction: bad things just keep happening until it pushes the characters to have faith in God, or the book is just completely washed in happy events. This book has a balance of that this feels real, if not a little optimistic.

I think, in the end, that's why I like this book so much, enough to actually give it five stars-- it's optimistic without seeming fake, and I appreciate an author who can write in that way.

[jnut1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Not my favorite Karen Kingsbury book. I am not sure what I didn't like about it but was surprised I didn't like it.

[lchs1mrso · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Unlocked by Karen Kingsbury is about the protagonist, a young boy, who becomes autistic at the age of three. His good, family friends leave him because they do not want their daughter to see the autistic boy. He has not spoken or made eye contact with anyone since then. The boy and young girl who used to be his best friend run into each other in high school. The girl is determined to make him talk or “unlock” him because she remembers how outgoing he was when he was younger. With many sacrifices and opportunities the young boy is “unlocked” and both the families’ lives change for the better. If you would look at this book it would not look like it would be about an autistic boy. The cover is very appealing with a young, good-looking boy on the front staring off into space like something is on his mind. People who have a disease like this in their family and teenagers who are uncertain of what all goes on with a person with autism should read this.

[chicgeekgirl21 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I listened to Unlocked on CD during a recent car trip, and I have to say that based on this book alone, Karen Kingsbury is not for me. I found the novel to be repetitive, cloying, and potentially filled with inaccurate information about autism (it's implied that Holden, the autistic young man at the center of the story, developed autism after receiving nine vaccinations in one day. The author repeatedly brings this fact of the story up and then dismisses it by saying "but science hadn't proven there was a link". Ok, Ms. Kingsbury--do you believe vaccinations cause autism or don't you?). In addition, since this is a Christian novel, faith is part of the characters' every day lives. This is fine, except when Kingsbury uses her beliefs to moralize in a way that doesn't relate to the story. For example, at the beginning, there is discussion about how Ella, the main female character, is a virgin and is glad her boyfriend is ok with waiting. That's fine, but then the issue is dropped and never brought up again. It's as if Kingsbury wants the reader to know that Ella, despite not being religious initially, is a "good girl" and that it's ok to root for her, so she uses virginity as a placeholder for "good person". There are so many problems with that, I don't even know where to begin.Unlocked had the potential to be an interesting and timely novel on an issue of utmost importance in today's world, but it fails as an exercise in writing. It is sickeningly sentimental, preachy, and predictable. I understand that not every reader wants to read challenging or "edgy" books all the time, but when an author picks a heavy subject, they should be prepared to approach it in a realistic way that might make some readers uncomfortable.

[hischild_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Unlocked is another top-notch book from the prolific and amazing author Karen Kingsbury. It is about a teen-aged boy, Holden Harris, who is locked away in his own private world due to autism brought on by childhood immunizations. It is overwhelming to read this book as Karen delves deep into the mind of this young man. She has an ability to convey his innermost thoughts to the reader that makes it almost seem as if you are living the story and sitting in the same room with the characters. You can feel the pain and anguish of the mother and father as they strive to discover the happy, laughing little boy that once lived with them. Unlocked is not only the story of how prayer and music work together to bring Holden back to those he loves and who love him, it is the story of how others surrounding him are impacted and changed by this young man. As the power of music begins to unlock Holden's ability to communicate and react with the world around him, the reader is overwhelmed by the power of the story. As always with books by Karen Kingsbury, I recommend that you have a box of tissues nearby when you read Unlocked.I have had the experience of working around some autistic children on occasion at the school where I work. Not only has reading Unlocked helped me to better understand why autistic children react the way they do to outside stimuli, it has helped me know how to respond to these students. This book is one of the best that Karen Kingsbury has written in a long line of outstanding novels.

[judyg54 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Holden Harris is a 18 year old child who is locked in his own world with autism. Despite his unusual behavior at times, he seems content and happy in his own little world; even if he is sometimes picked on by some at school.Ella Reynolds finds herself running with the "in" people at her school. But she quickly discovers how cruel they can be and begins to devote herself to the school play and helping Holden become a part of the musical "Beauty and the Beast". Ella soon discovers that her and Holden use to be playmates when they were very young, before Holden became autistic. So what happened to Holden and why did her parents suddenly stop being friends with Holden's folks? There were many facets to this story and as usual Karen Kingsbury makes these people so real you feel that the story is really true. Holden though is not the only person in the story who is "locked" in a world of his own. You have the problems kids face at school with bullying, the problem Holden's dad couldn't face regarding his son and how he dealt with it and many more folks who had to "unlock" their narrow way of thinking and open themselves up to God's possibilities in their life. This was a beautifully written story and my heart was moved having read it.

[reviewsbymolly · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Karen Kingsbury is a seasoned author, who creates stories that her readers can relate to in someway or another. One thing about her stories and her books, is that she uses Forever in Fiction...an auction of sorts, that honors a friend or family member by placing their name as a character in her books. I think that that adds a meaning to her already depth filled stories.We saw about Unlocked in Karen Kingsbury's Take Four book as the characters in that book were producing a movie entitled Unlocked, about a young man who has Autistic. I'll be honest with you and tell you that I just wasn't sure how that would pan out in a story all it's own, like it would drag on and on and not be like her previous stories, that touch the heart. But, I was pleasantly surprised with the book when I sat down and opened the story. Karen took two very touchy subjects: bullying and Autism, and combined them in one powerful book.In Unlocked, we meet Holden Harris, an Autistic high schooler locked inside himself. Her's a tender hearted character who prays for EVERYONE, even if they are "mean jerks" who like to tease and bully him. Enter Jake Collins. He's the "mean jerk" who's intent on bullying Holden, along with his jock buddies, even his girlfriend says to stop. Enter beautiful Ella. God used Ella in Holden's life to help him....well, that's were I'll stop for fear if I go on, I'll give spoilers to the story.Through a hard lesson in bullying and through the seriousness of Autism, Kingsbury shows that God can take every situation, bad, good, or in between, and use it as a message. She also shows the power that unrelenting prayer can have on ones life. It is truly amazing. This is definitely a 4 star book that should not be missed. Oh and did I mention that you should really have lots of tissues handy? Yea, well, in case I forgot to mention it.....HAVE TISSUES!

[lauriehere · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

“Unlocked”, by Karen KingsburyBook Review:Zondervan sent me a new, free book by Karen Kingsbury, called ‘Unlocked’, in exchange for me to write a review about her newest ‘life-changing fiction’ book she has written. This book is a touching story about a young boy who was struck with Asperberger’s Syndrome, (a form of Autism,) at the young age of three. As a teenager attending regular High School, he begins being drawn out of his ‘locked’ shell by a long, lost, young playmate whom he used to play with as a young boy. Unknowingly, they meet back up together in High School through music. She was touched with the magic of the blessings of the Lord, our God, to draw out this young man afflicted with Aspergers... To miss this book is to miss the magic our Lord has working in us in ways we never know until they happen.Laurie Carlson

[jdy_26 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another one of Karen Kingsbury greats. I always enjoy her style of writing, and for some reason, when I picked this book up, I thought I would be following a Baxter. The story of Holdon and Ella were captevating and I enjoyed the way the story of Holdon and Michael were portrayed. Makes everyone think just a little bit more when they face or interact with people who are different. Not in large ways either. A good reminder of God's grace and love for every one of us. Another great read.

[kittycrochettwo · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Unlocked by Karen Kingsbury is a touching story about a young man with autism that will grab your heart and not let go! Until the age of three Holden Harris and Ella Reynolds had been inseparable, their families were the best of friends. When Holden is diagnosed with Autism, the Reynolds family decides they don't want their daughter playing with him anymore, but for Holden he never forgot Ella, part of his daily routine is watching home movies of him and Ella before he got sick. Fast forward Holden is 18, he is basically uncommunicative,the only thing he really responds to is music.His mother Tracy struggles daily with the challenges of taking care of an Autistic child, you can feel her pain and longing as she talks about never being able to touch or hold her son, of how she holds out hope that some day he will respond to her! Holden's dad basically ran away from the problems at home by taking a job that keeps him away from home most of the year. Ella Reynolds seemed to have the perfect life, she was a cheerleader, and dating one of the most popular boys in school, and she has just landed the lead in the school musical,but things aren't good at home, since the family moved back to town, her mom and dad seem to be having major problems! When Ella sees her boyfriend bullying a special needs student, she realizes he isn't who she thought he was and breaks up with him, she soon realizes the boy is Holden her old childhood friend. Can faith, music, and finding his friend Ella, help Holden unlock the stranglehold that autism has on him? This was one of the best Karen Kingsbury books I have ever read! The characters came alive, and the emotions literally surround you as you read. I believe that Karen is certainly guided by God when she writes her stories, because you come away uplifted, and your faith is renewed. With this book she taught me about Autism, something I knew nothing about. She also deals with some very timely issues such as bullying, suicide and peer pressure, which makes me think that this book should be mandatory reading for every high school student. I highly recommend this book, but be prepared to laugh and cry, and see the world thru Holden's eyes just for a bit. This is a faith building life changing book you wont be able to put down. On a scale of 1 to 5 this book deserves a 10! Even though I was provided a copy of this book by Zondervan for review it in no way alters my opinion of this book!