Someone Like You (novel)

Infobox Book
name = Someone Like ME
title_orig =


image_caption =
translator =
author = Sarah Dessen
cover_artist =
country = United States
language = English
genre = Young adult
publisher = Viking Children’s Books
release_date = May 1, 1998
media_type = Print (Hardback & Paperback)
pages =
isbn =

"Someone Like You" is a 1998 young adult novel by Sarah Dessen.

Plot introduction

Halley and Scarlett have been best friends for years, sharing secrets, clothes, and crushes. People know Scarlett as the popular, flamboyant one; Halley is just her quiet sidekick. Then, at the beginning of their junior year, the balance shifts. First, Scarlett's boyfriend Michael is killed in a motorcycle accident; soon afterward, she learns that she is carrying his baby. For the first time, Scarlett really needs Halley. Their friendship may bend under the weight, but it will never break--because a true friendship is a promise you keep forever.

Plot summary

The book is split into three parts.

Part One: The Grand Canyon

Halley and Scarlett are best friends and have been since Scarlett moved into the neighborhood when they were both eleven. Halley is shy and quiet whereas Scarlett is the popular one. They live in directly opposite houses and both have jobs at Milton's Market.

At the beginning of the summer, Scarlett started dating Michael Sherwood but they decide to keep it quiet, with only Halley really knowing, because Michael recently broke up with cheerleader Elizabeth Gunderson and he claims he didn't want her to get upset.

For the last few weeks of summer vacation, Halley has been sent away to Sisterhood Camp against her will by her mother who is having difficulties coming to terms with Halley growing up and changing. Then disaster strikes and Halley gets a phone call from Scarlett telling her about Micheal's death and Scarlett asks Halley to come home and be with her.

Her mom, even though she is unhappy about this, brings her home.

On the day of the funeral, it is clear that no one knew about Scarlett and Michael and Elizabeth Gunderson seems to be taking it very hard. On the ride home, it is raining heavily and as they are driving along they see Macon Faulkner, Michael's best friend, walking and they offer him a lift which he declines as he is clearly upset.

Going back to school on the first day, Scarlett states she feels ill ("just bad") and she chalks it up to nerves of the first day back. Halley goes to class and finds her new schedule is wrong so she goes to the guidance counselors office to sort it out. There she gets talking to Macon who jokes around with her and teaches her the "Jedi Mind Trick". She is a bit taken aback by his sudden friendliness. Later that day, she finds out they have P.E together and from then on, she develops a crush on him as he fascinates her with his unpredictable and wild lifestyle.

Macon eventually mentions a party, casually asking her out and she accepts. She and Scarlett later go to the party, where Macon fails to show up. When the party host, Ginny Tabor, throws everyone out, they go back to sit on Scarlett's porch and Halley talks about how she doesn't deserve him. He later turns up at her window and tells her he did go to the party but he was in the attic so it was all a misunderstanding. He then kisses her and Halley's nerdy ex-boyfriend Noah Vaughn is watching from the kitchen window.

The next day, whilst she is doing her chore of mowing the lawn, Macon turns up with a giant mower to help which pleases her father but makes her mother angry as it is supposed to be Halley's responsibility.

Part Two: Someone Like You

Halley and Scarlett are working when Scarlett pulls Halley into the bathroom and tells her of her pregnancy. Halley is shocked as she didn't know Michael and Scarlett had had sex but it was the night before he died and, although they used a condom, it came off.

They proceed to tell Scarlett's mother and her mother books an abortion appointment. On the day of the abortion, Scarlett decides against it and calls Halley to pick her up from the clinic. Halley asks Macon to drive her there and he does. When they have picked up Scarlett, Halley's mother sees them and assumes they are just cutting class. She tells Scarlett's mother who then enlists Halley's mother's help to sort a compromise. So now Halley's mother knows about the pregnancy. Halley is then grounded.

Halley has a birthday dinner the next day with the her family, the Vaughn family and Scarlett. Later she sneaks out with Macon. He takes her to the quarry and has fireworks set off for her present.

The next chapters are focused on the changes that happen throughout Scarlett's pregnancy and the pressures of Halley's relationship with Macon, who is constantly asking her for sex. Although she thinks about it a lot she isn't ready to and they start to become distant which isn't helped by his secretive lifestyle. Elizabeth Gunderson, who has changed, drops hints about him cheating on her. Also her mother is forever asking her about Macon and she dislikes him despite never having met him. Halley is forbidden from seeing Macon. And everyone at school finds out about the pregnancy because Ginny, who can't keep secrets over hears them talking in the bathroom.

Another disaster comes in the form of her Grandma Halley's illness. She is quickly deteriorating. Halley shares a special bond with her grandmother because they both share a name, named for Halley's Comet, which they both watched years before.

When Halley decides to have sex with Macon at a New Year's Eve party, Scarlett tries to dissuade her and they get into an argument. Halley gets drunk and takes drugs and before she can do it, she throws up and Macon is furious. Whilst he is driving her home, he is too busy shouting at her to watch the road and they get into a car accident. Halley is seriously injured and taken to hospital and Macon never visits. Her mother is disappointed in her.

Part 3: Grace

After Halley gets out of hospital, Macon comes to see her at her window. But Halley has had enough and breaks up with him which breaks his heart because he then realizes he's in love with her. Her mother comes down and starts to shout at her for seeing Macon and then Halley explains what has just happened. She also tells her mother how she feels about all the restrictions she has put on her and they come to an understanding: both of them will try harder to get on.

Next is prom and with Elizabeth now dating Macon, and Halley goes to prom with Noah. Noah gets drunk and rips Halley's prom dress and she is forced into the toilets where she bumps into Elizabeth. Elizabeth tells her that Macon still loves her but they are interrupted by the announcement that Scarlett's giving birth.

Halley and Scarlett and Scarlett's other friend, Cameron, try to leave but the only transport to the hospital is Macon's car. When they get there Scarlett scares Halley with her pain and she runs away from her. Then she calls her mother who comes down and helps her through it.

After the birth, Scarlett names the baby Grace Halley Thomas and everyone turns up in the waiting room; the school prom-goers and all Scarlett's mother's friends and they all come together in happiness of the birth. After everything has calmed down and everyone has gone home, Halley starts the walk home alone, but happy, thinking about the Grace Halley's life ahead and what she could offer her.

Film, TV or theatrical adaptations

"How to Deal"

External links

* [http://www.sarahdessen.com/someone.html Sarah Dessen's "Someone Like You" page]