47 pages • 1 hour read
Tim GreenUnstoppable
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2012A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Chapters 1-25Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapters 1-5 Summary
Content Warning: This section of the guide contains descriptions of domestic abuse and an accidental death.
The opening chapters introduce Harrison, a 13-year-old boy in foster care who has been subjected to the harsh and abusive environment of the Constables’ farm. Harrison’s daily existence is a grueling mix of physical labor and emotional abuse, primarily at the hands of Mr. Constable, who scornfully calls him “Mud.” Despite his many hardships, Harrison’s spirit remains unbroken, even when Mr. Constable punishes him for minor infractions like watching football. Although the farm produces plenty to eat, Harrison and the other children in foster care are given meager meals and powdered milk and frequently neglected.
One day, Mrs. Constable gives Harrison a rough haircut in preparation for a court appearance to determine his long-term adoption status. Harrison clings to the hope of seeing his mother and yearns for a possible change in his circumstances. In the courtroom, Harrison’s anxiety mounts, his hopes pinned on the slim chance of his mother’s intervention.
The proceedings begin with a routine air, the judge dispensing reprimands to delinquents before turning his attention to Harrison’s case. Harrison, urged by Mr. Constable to address him as “Papa,” scans the room for his mother. The judge, displaying clear impatience for the absent Melinda Johnson, quickly moves to finalize Harrison’s adoption.
As the judge’s gavel seals Harrison’s fate, a sudden commotion erupts. Harrison’s mother, in a state of disarray with frizzy hair and worn slippers, bursts into the courtroom, her cries for her son cutting through the proceedings. As the judge orders her removal for contempt, Mr. Constable clamps his hand on the back of Harrison’s neck and steers him from the courtroom. Outside he tells Harrison that Mrs. Constable is his new mother now.
Back at the farm. Mr. Constable demands Harrison perform chores, roughly grabbing him by his hair when Harrison questions him about missing school. Harrison feeds cows by spreading hay with a pitchfork. When he reports that he is finished to Mr. Constable, who is helping a cow give birth, the man accuses him of lying and hits him with the buckle end of his belt. Harrison, defending himself with the pitchfork, sinks the tines into Mr. Constable’s legs, sending him falling over a railing into the enclosure with the cow, who kicks him in the head, killing him. When Mrs. Constable sees what has happened, she accuses Harrison of killing her husband.
Chapters 6-10 Summary
After the traumatic events at the Constables’ farm, Mrs. Constable—or possibly someone under her direction—locks Harrison in an abandoned silo where he languishes for three days, grappling with hunger and thirst and suffering from an eye injury. He is eventually rescued by a county worker and taken to a doctor who treats his injuries. Harrison spends several weeks at a juvenile center, and he gradually tells others about his past and the abuse that he has suffered. During his stay, he learns that his adoption by the Constables has been annulled.
Mrs. Godfrey, a kind woman at the juvenile center, tells Harrison that his mother—who was “very sick, and very tired” (19)—has died, leading Harrison to feel even more isolated and alone. But things turn around when Mrs. Godrey reveals that he will be living with her daughter, Jennifer Kelly. Her daughter’s husband is an English teacher and a football coach. When Harrison moves in with the Kellys, the family welcomes him warmly. He finds comfort in the new environment, which includes a well-furnished room and access to books. His foster parents express genuine care and encourage his interest in football, and Coach Kelly even arranges for him to get a physical examination to join the school football team. During a visit to the doctor, Harrison meets Becky, the doctor’s daughter, who treats him with kindness and doesn’t seem fazed by his injured eye.
Chapters 11-15 Summary
Harrison continues to adapt to life with the Kellys. Despite his initial struggles, Harrison goes on a fishing trip and improves his fishing skills under Coach Kelly’s patient guidance. The day ends with a satisfying meal prepared by Mrs. Kelly. Harrison finds comfort in the family routine and discovers the joys of reading for leisure. He becomes engrossed in Sackett’s Land by Louis L’Amour, a story that captivates his imagination and offers a new form of escape and adventure.
When Harrison is preparing to start school, he is reassured by the guidance of Coach Kelly, who provides him with the school’s football playbook. Coach Kelly also advises Harrison on how to handle potential conflicts at school, emphasizing the importance of self-control and urging Harrison to channel any anger into football practice. On Harrison’s first day at Brookton Junior High School, he must face the curiosity and judgment of his new classmates and teachers. In math class, led by Mrs. Zebolt, a teacher with little round glasses and a demanding demeanor, Harrison encounters both curiosity and judgment from his peers and the teacher herself. Despite a rocky start to math class, where he is poked and teased by Leonard (Leo) Howard, who comments on his size and asks him how many grades he has failed, Harrison, thanks to Coach Kelly’s earlier advice, is able to restrain his anger. When Mrs. Zebolt challenges him to solve a math problem at the board, Harrison is grateful when Becky Smart, the doctor’s daughter, steps up, sparing Harrison from being put on the spot. As the school day wears on, Harrison faces additional provocation from Leo, but he manages to control his reactions, breaking a pencil instead of resorting to violence.
Chapters 16-20 Summary
Despite the rough start to the school day, Harrison’s outlook improves as he finds some classes easier than others and begins to adjust. At football practice, Coach Kelly does not tell the other students that he is also Harrison’s foster father, instead allowing Harrison to integrate on his own terms. Harrison is momentarily embarrassed when he wears his shoulder pads backward, but he soon blends in with the group. During practice, Harrison’s physical prowess becomes apparent, but so does his lack of experience in football. He makes mistakes but learns quickly, observing and adapting to the techniques of the game. Although his confrontations with Leo continue on the field, Harrison keeps his focus on mastering the game.
Chapters 21-25 Summary
One day, during a tackling drill, Harrison inadvertently injures himself by hitting with the top of his head. Concerned for Harrison’s well-being, Coach Kelly uses the moment to teach him about the importance of safety in football. In Harrison’s first attempt at playing during a scrimmage, he initially fumbles but uses his natural talent for football to recover quickly. However, when his overzealous celebration leads to a breach of game etiquette, Coach Kelly reprimands him by ordering him to run laps. Despite his continuing feelings of isolation and misunderstanding, Harrison slowly adapts to being part of a team and finds a new sense of belonging.
Chapters 1-25 Analysis
The first section of the novel unveils Harrison’s challenging and transformative journey from an abusive setting to a supportive and welcoming home. Set against a canvas of personal struggles and shifting scenarios, these chapters highlight the key themes that shape Harrison’s persona and his interactions with his surroundings. Throughout these chapters, Harrison’s journey is marked by his unwavering strength in the face of adversity. His yearning for a different life, symbolized by his love for football, stands in stark contrast to the grim reality of his life on the farm. The early narrative therefore sets the stage for Harrison’s ongoing struggle for identity and belonging as he works to regain a sense of hope and empowerment amidst his challenging and often traumatic circumstances.
One prominent theme is Resilience in the Face of Adversity. Harrison’s existence on the Constables’ farm is marked by constant physical toil and emotional abuse, and this grim reality stands in stark contrast to his aspirations of playing football. Likewise, the game itself symbolizes his desire for liberation and personal achievement, and to this end, the author uses football imagery to highlight the protagonist’s inner resilience despite his troubles. As the narrative states, “Harrison admired the NFL football player, battered and exhausted but unstoppable. Harrison knew about being battered and exhausted, not by the game, but by life” (7). Throughout the narrative, Green uses football as a metaphor for life’s battles, and this stylistic choice also accentuates Harrison’s tenacity and resilience. Further amplifying this theme is the depiction of Mr. Constable’s domineering manner, as illustrated when he chastises Harrison for taking a moment away from his work to watch football. He roughly states, “You got chores. You don’t watch” (7), and threatens the boy with a raised fist. The terse dialogue and the imagery of the raised fist portray the oppressive atmosphere and the resilience that Harrison must summon to endure it.
The story also explores The Transformational Power of Mentorship, as Harrison’s life veers towards the positive with the Kellys. The disparity between his former and current life is glaring, for in addition to adapting to new physical surroundings, Harrison must learn to trust the kind attention and care of his new foster parents. The Kellys serve as an emblem of optimism and guidance, empowering Harrison to carve out his unique path and nurturing his autonomy. This encouraging environment is pivotal for Harrison’s maturation as he tackles uncharted challenges and discovers his role in a strange setting. To this end, Coach Kelly offers Harrison guidance and a sense of normalcy amid the chaos of his new life. He provides practical support, such as football equipment, and emotional support, helping Harrison to navigate the challenges of joining a team mid-season. Despite Harrison’s physical abilities, he struggles with the emotional aspects of being part of a team and fitting into a new life. His interactions with Coach Kelly, his teammates, and his performance on the field reflect his ongoing journey of personal growth and adaptation.
Another pivotal theme is Finding Identity and Belonging Amidst Change. Harrison’s transition to a new academy and his endeavors to integrate underscore his quest for self-discovery. The apprehension of being an outsider and the initial obstacles he faces underscore his odyssey of personal transformation and adaptation. These chapters highlight Harrison’s struggles and growth as he navigates a new environment, showcasing his resilience, his efforts to adapt to a healthier lifestyle, and the positive influences of his new foster family and schoolmates. As he works to overcome his lingering anger for the injustices he suffered, the narrative emphasizes the theme of change and personal growth, and gradually, Harrison incorporates these positive life lessons and learns to deal with his past as he takes productive strides toward a brighter future. Throughout the protagonist’s transformation, Green’s use of literary devices enhances the narrative’s impact by using striking visual imagery to convey Harrison’s emerging physical and psychological power. As the narrative states, “Harrison looked at his own arms, the thick cords of muscles, hard from work” (10). This representation manifests Harrison’s escalating sinewy strength and resolve even as it illustrates his ability to embrace change and surmount obstacles.
Foreshadowing also plays a key role, especially in episodes where crowds cheer for Harrison’s accomplishments on the gridiron, as these particular scenes reflect Harrison’s ambitions and drive for success. Green also employs situational irony, especially in Harrison’s new and improved environment at the Kellys’ home, for this development creates a stark contrast between his bleak past and his new prospects for a healthier and more supportive existence. Thus, Green employs a linear narrative structure that highlights the positive implications of Harrison’s luminous present and hopeful future. The author deftly interweaves Harrison’s challenges and development, accentuating his determination to overcome adversity by embracing the constructive support of his newfound mentors. These chapters therefore chronicle Harrison’s continuous quest for identity and increase his appreciation for community amidst an ever-evolving landscape.
