Unplugged

Gordon Korman

46 pages 1-hour read

Gordon Korman

Unplugged

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2021

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Character List

Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.

Major Characters

Jett is the 12-year-old son of a billionaire tech tycoon and proudly holds the title of Silicon Valley’s Number One Spoiled Brat. Because his parents prioritize their businesses over family time, he frequently acts out and pulls extravagant pranks using his unlimited financial resources. Stripped of his gadgets at a tech-free wellness camp, he initially rebels but soon finds his attention captured by a tiny rescued reptile.

Key Relationships

Son of Vladimir Baranov

Rival of Grace Atwater

Friend of Tyrell Karrigan

Caretaker of Needles

Extorted by Brandon Bucholz

Grace is a 12-year-old camper who adores the Oasis and strictly adheres to its naturalistic rules. She holds firm ideas of right and wrong, frequently judging others who fail to meet her high moral standards. Her love for the camp puts her in direct conflict with rebellious guests, though her protective instincts over a small rescued animal force her into unfamiliar moral territory.

Key Relationships

Rival of Jett Baranov

Friend of Tyrell Karrigan

Rescuer of Needles

Reluctant ally of Brooklynne Feldman

Disapproves of Brandon Bucholz

Tyrell is a 12-year-old camper plagued by allergies that leave him perpetually itchy and physically uncomfortable. Despite his ailments, he maintains a pleasant disposition and tries to keep the peace among the other children. Naturally timid, he finds himself drawn to Jett's recklessness and lives vicariously through the other boy's daring antics.

Key Relationships

Friend of Jett Baranov

Friend of Grace Atwater

Caretaker of Needles

Brother of Sarah Karrigan

Son of Mr. Karrigan

Intimidated by Brandon Bucholz

Brooklynne is a teenager who keeps to herself at the Oasis, making her a mysterious figure to the younger campers. She knows the hidden areas of the property intimately and quietly harbors her own opinions about the camp's strict unplugged philosophy. Her solitary habits change when she takes an interest in helping the younger children hide a forbidden pet.

Key Relationships

Privately connected to Magnus Fellini (Marvin Feldman)

Cautious ally of Jett Baranov

Friend of Tyrell Karrigan

Protector of Needles

Ivory is an imposing, six-foot-four meditation director with pale eyes and close-cropped silver hair. As the second-in-command at the Oasis, she conducts private, one-on-one sessions with the adult guests. She operates a highly secretive life outside the camp boundaries, utilizing questionable techniques to fund her lavish external interests.

Key Relationships

Antagonist of Jett Baranov

Guide to Matt Louganis

Guide to Mr. Karrigan

Supporting Characters

Matt is a 27-year-old top programmer at the Fuego software company. Instead of advancing his tech career, he has been assigned the frustrating task of babysitting his boss's erratic son for six weeks. Exhausted by Jett's constant pranks, Matt unexpectedly finds himself succumbing to the camp's stress-relieving, tech-free environment.

Key Relationships

Chaperone of Jett Baranov

Employee of Vladimir Baranov

Brandon is a 13-year-old camper who stands over six feet tall and closely resembles his football-player father. He relies on his size to intimidate other children at the wellness center. When he accidentally discovers a secret being kept by his peers, he uses the information to build an extortion ring.

Key Relationships

Extorts Jett Baranov

Intimidates Tyrell Karrigan

Friend of Armando

Threatens Needles

Magnus is the charismatic, idealistic founder of the Oasis wellness center. A former Wall Street businessman, he genuinely believes in his unplugged, New Age philosophy and its power to heal modern ailments. He maintains a perpetually optimistic outlook, convinced that even the most disruptive guests will eventually find peace at his retreat.

Key Relationships

Privately connected to Brooklynne Feldman

Host to Jett Baranov

Idolized by Grace Atwater

Needles is a tiny, carnivorous reptile rescued from boiling water by Grace. Named for his sharp teeth and tendency to bite fingers, he requires a specialized meat diet that forces the vegetarian campers to sneak off the property. His constant need for care unites a disparate group of children who would otherwise have nothing to do with one another.

Key Relationships

Rescued by Grace Atwater

Cared for by Tyrell Karrigan

Threatened by Brandon Bucholz

Vladimir is a wildly successful tech tycoon who heads the software company Fuego. Consumed by his massive business empire, he is a neglectful parent who relies on his employees and extreme measures to manage his rebellious son.

Key Relationships

Father of Jett Baranov

Employer of Matt Louganis

Armando is a camper at the Oasis who associates with Brandon. His keen observation of smuggled goods accidentally helps launch a camp-wide underground market for forbidden food.

Key Relationships

Friend of Brandon Bucholz

Customer of Jett Baranov

Sarah is Tyrell's older sister, attending the family retreat at the Oasis. She spends most of her time focused on her life back home, constantly exchanging coded text-shorthand letters with her boyfriend to bypass the camp's digital ban.

Key Relationships

Sister of Tyrell Karrigan

Girlfriend of Landon

Landon is Sarah's boyfriend back home. He communicates with her via physical letters filled with text-message abbreviations since standard digital devices are completely banned at the retreat.

Key Relationships

Boyfriend of Sarah Karrigan

Mr. Karrigan is Tyrell's father. Like many adult guests, he participates in intensive one-on-one meditation sessions with the camp staff, though his subsequent emotional behavior raises suspicions among the younger campers.

Key Relationships

Father of Tyrell Karrigan

Father of Sarah Karrigan