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You Go First

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You Go First
Written by Erin Entrada Kelly
Harper Collins Children's Books, Fiction. 288 p.

Erin Entrada Kelly won the most recent Newbery award with Hello Universe. She has already followed it with a brand new relatable middle school fiction novel.

Twelve-year old Charlotte Lockard and eleven-year old Ben Boxer met online playing scrabble. They live far away from each other and have never even spoken, they only text back and forth. Both are very intelligent and happen to do well playing scrabble They are constantly competing for the top score.

Each friend encounters tough life experiences, especially for a middle-school student. Ben's parents decide to get a divorce and Charlotte's dad has a heart attack and has to stay in the hospital. Ben decides to pick up the phone and actually call Charlotte instead of just text her. He has a hard time making friends and with everything he is going through he needs a good friend he can talk to.

Friendship is a constant theme. Charlotte and Ben each experience bullying. The all-too-common experience where someone you thought was a friend, really isn't. Friendship is found in  places that previously had  never seemed possible. In the face of tragedy, true character develops. This book could be a conversation starter with a child about to enter middle school when friendships and learning to endure through tough experiences are important.






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