You Go First

Reviewed by: Jill O'Connor - Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: September 18, 2018

Review

A story of friendships lost and found aimed at upper elementary/middle grade readers who know all too well the fissures that can appear between long-time friends when social status and the pressures of fitting in become the most essential part of life. Two kids, who live miles apart, connect over an online Scrabble game. When one reaches out to the other in "real" life, via telephone, a friendship of sorts forms. But unbeknownst to the other, both make their life seem okay and both believe that the other has a firm grip on how to confidently and correctly navigate middle school. Meanwhile the boy, Ben, has a home life that is quietly falling apart as his perfectly ordinary parents divorce, and an abundance of misplaced confidence that he can win the School Council presidency though only a sixth grader (he's actually only allowed to run for treasurer). This puts a bulls-eye on his back for the school bullies. And while Ben may shake off their attempts to humiliate him, convinced that he is receiving recognition and these are mere road bumps on his path to greatness, the reader knows that a grand humiliation is in store for him. And the girl, Charlotte, is discovering that she is not one of the popular kids and that her up-to-this-point best friend Bridget is. The book is deftly told from the perspectives of both characters as they navigate a particularly challenging week. Charlotte's voice, in particular, may echo the feelings of many middle school-aged kids who suddenly find that they are being left behind as friendships shift. In the end, both kids learn that sometimes it just takes one person who will listen and with whom you can connect and be honest to ease the loneliness and let you know that it will be okay.

Overall Book Score: very good