You Go First

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.

What happens when the only person who understands what you’re going through is a stranger on the other side of a screen?

• Alternating Perspectives: See the world through the eyes of both Charlotte in Pennsylvania and Ben in Louisiana as their separate, but surprisingly similar, stories unfold.
• Tackling Tough Topics: A heartfelt and honest look at big challenges many kids face, from a parent’s sudden illness to a family going through a divorce.
• Changing Friendships: Explores the painful, relatable experience of growing apart from a best friend and the courage it takes to find new, unlikely connections.
• Dealing with Bullies: An authentic portrayal of the social pressures that can make middle school feel impossible and the quiet resilience it takes to face them.
• A Love of Words: Perfect for fans of Scrabble and word games, this story celebrates the power of language to connect two people, even across a thousand miles.