Funny and poignant, Newbery Medalist and New York Times bestseller
Erin Entrada Kelly's national bestseller You Go First is an
exploration of family, bullying, word games, art, and the
ever-complicated world of middle school friendships.
In a starred review, School Library Journal wrote that Erin Entrada
Kelly can "capture moments of tween anguish with searing honesty."
Twelve-year-old Charlotte Lockard and eleven-year-old Ben Boxer are
separated by more than a thousand miles. On the surface, their lives
seem vastly different--Charlotte lives near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
while Ben is in the small town of Lanester, Louisiana.
Charlotte wants to be a geologist and keeps a rock collection in her
room. Ben is obsessed with Harry Potter, presidential history, and
recycling. But the two have more in common than they think. They're both
highly gifted. They're both experiencing family turmoil. And they both
sit alone at lunch.
During the course of one week, Charlotte and Ben--friends connected only
by an online Scrabble game--will intersect in unexpected ways as they
struggle to navigate the turmoil of middle school. The New York
Times-bestselling novel You Go First reminds us that no matter how
hard it is to keep our heads above troubled water, we never struggle
alone.
Newbery Medalist Erin Entrada Kelly writes with an authentic, humorous,
and irresistible voice. This engaging and character-driven story about
growing up and finding your place in the world is for fans of Rebecca
Stead and Rita Williams-Garcia.
