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You Go First
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Best Middle Grade & Children's (2018)Funny and poignant, You Go First by 2018 Newbery Medalist Erin Entrada Kelly is an engaging exploration of family, spelling, art, bullying, and the ever-complicated world of middle school friendships. Erin Entrada Kelly’s perfectly pitched tween voice will resonate with fans of Kate DiCamillo’s Raymie Nightingale and Thanhha Lai’s Inside Out and Back Again.
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.
Over the course of a week, Charlotte and Ben—online friends connected only by a Scrabble game—will intersect in unexpected ways as they struggle to navigate the turmoil of middle school. You Go First reminds us that no matter how hard it is to keep our heads above troubled water, we never struggle alone.
The acclaimed author of Blackbird Fly, The Land of Forgotten Girls, and Hello, Universe writes with an authentic, humorous, and irresistible voice. This engaging and character-driven story about growing up and finding your place in the world will appeal to fans of Rebecca Stead and Rita Williams-Garcia.
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.
Over the course of a week, Charlotte and Ben—online friends connected only by a Scrabble game—will intersect in unexpected ways as they struggle to navigate the turmoil of middle school. You Go First reminds us that no matter how hard it is to keep our heads above troubled water, we never struggle alone.
The acclaimed author of Blackbird Fly, The Land of Forgotten Girls, and Hello, Universe writes with an authentic, humorous, and irresistible voice. This engaging and character-driven story about growing up and finding your place in the world will appeal to fans of Rebecca Stead and Rita Williams-Garcia.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published April 10, 2018
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February 21, 2019
3.5 stars
I picked up You Go First because this author won the newbery last year and I was curious about her work. Also this was up for the middle grade goodreads choice awards last year as well. Honestly, while I enjoyed this book for the most part, it fell a bit flat. I never felt Ben or Charlotte connected at all despite being the main characters. They both had issues at school that felt very much unresolved at the end. I was left feeling... unsatisfied. And that's not a good thing.
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I picked up You Go First because this author won the newbery last year and I was curious about her work. Also this was up for the middle grade goodreads choice awards last year as well. Honestly, while I enjoyed this book for the most part, it fell a bit flat. I never felt Ben or Charlotte connected at all despite being the main characters. They both had issues at school that felt very much unresolved at the end. I was left feeling... unsatisfied. And that's not a good thing.
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June 12, 2018
Erin Entrada Kelly is a masterful writer with succinct pacing, inventive ways into a story, and wonderful multi-character voice. Plus, she has such a gift for giving voice and life to characters who feel isolated yet yearn to connect and, lucky for readers, eventually do.
"Someday, I'll be digging for specimens in Egyptian pyramids and none of this will matter."
"Someday, I'll be digging for specimens in Egyptian pyramids and none of this will matter."
May 10, 2018
I had such high expectations for this book, because I've really loved her previous books, but this one just - fell short of the mark. Charlotte and Ben never really connected with each other, preferring to share trivialities instead of actual meaningful interactions like the premise suggests. I liked that they each made friends outside of each other but the implication that Charlotte and Ben would drift apart now that they had 'real' friends was one I didn't appreciate. As someone who has formed many long lasting and deep friendships with people I met online and shared (perhaps OVERshared on my part) and have had shared with me many personal stories and struggles, I find it hard to believe neither of them would have mentioned anything real going on in their lives to one another.
Also, the ending felt rushed and forced. You have the slow set up of both Wyatt and Magda, but the resolution is approx. .03 seconds long. Magda is obviously really cool and we get a TINY hint of her brother being a 3d character beyond his objectified status but that's??? it???
Not to mention how incredibly unsatisfying Charlotte and Bridgett's friendship resolution is - I realise it's totally realistic for friendships to simply drift away, but if you've been best friends with someone for years you would think - for their sake if not yours - you would attempt some kind of confrontation.
Anyway. This is convoluted and I'm sorry. I think if I hadn't had such high expectations it'd rate at least another star, but as it is - 2.5 is as high as I can go.
Also, the ending felt rushed and forced. You have the slow set up of both Wyatt and Magda, but the resolution is approx. .03 seconds long. Magda is obviously really cool and we get a TINY hint of her brother being a 3d character beyond his objectified status but that's??? it???
Not to mention how incredibly unsatisfying Charlotte and Bridgett's friendship resolution is - I realise it's totally realistic for friendships to simply drift away, but if you've been best friends with someone for years you would think - for their sake if not yours - you would attempt some kind of confrontation.
Anyway. This is convoluted and I'm sorry. I think if I hadn't had such high expectations it'd rate at least another star, but as it is - 2.5 is as high as I can go.
September 14, 2023
Only months after winning the 2018 Newbery Medal for Hello, Universe, Erin Entrada Kelly released You Go First, another sensitively woven tale of friendship and destiny. Twelve-year-old Charlotte Lockard and eleven-year-old Ben Boxer live in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Lanester, Louisiana, respectively, but are friends via the online version of Scrabble they play. They both come from parents who prioritize education and having a curious outlook on the world, and while this leads Charlotte and Ben to be hyperintelligent, they don't fit in with other kids. As You Go First gets underway, Charlotte's father suffers a heart attack and lands in the hospital's intensive care unit, and Ben's parents announce their intention to divorce. Life just took a wrong turn for these two young misfits.
Charlotte goes to the hospital with her mother, but can't bring herself to visit her father's room. She thinks back to her recent lack of interest in spending time with him as she and her friend Bridget close in on adolescence. Charlotte used to love playing Scrabble with her father, but word games hold less appeal now that Bridget prefers talking about cute guys and hanging out with her artist friends. Charlotte is more about facts and figures than abstract creative expression; her dad is the one who can opine on Van Gogh and Seurat. Charlotte senses her friendship with Bridget slipping away even as she tries to hold on; Charlotte doesn't have many friends, and losing Bridget would hurt a lot. Is there any persuading someone to stay whose heart has already moved on?
"If you don't see anything beautiful, change your viewpoint".
—Magda Rivera, You Go First, P. 185
In light of the news about his parents' divorce, Ben retreats from family life. His mom and dad harbor no ill will toward each other and volunteer to answer anything Ben asks, but he has no idea what to say. Most of his anger is at his father, whom he intuitively assigns the majority of blame, but Ben isn't the confrontational type. He's a short, quiet kid whose school life is worse than Charlotte's, but at least he has her as his online Scrabble friend. For the first time, Ben calls Charlotte on the phone rather than just texting as part of Scrabble play, and every night they have a short conversation, awkward at first but improving as they get used to it. These talks convince Ben on the spur of the moment to run for student council, but how can a kid convince other sixth-graders to vote for him who barely know he exists? For some reason that not even Ben could articulate, the election is important to him. He puts all his energy into campaigning, rebuffing his father's offers to help; Ben doesn't need his advice or encouragement. Both Charlotte and Ben are unmoored, smart but unhappy, mostly friendless as the years of their school careers drift by. It might take a dramatic shared moment to change the course they're on...but change rarely acts precisely as we wish it would.
"Charlotte's father once said that everyone had a 'someday'—a fuzzy time in the future when life would go just as it should, every dream would come true, and things would clip along at a perfect pace. It's what got people through tough times, Mr. Lockard said." When you're struggling, it's hard to see how the current "you" could evolve into the confident, competent person you hope to become. But just because you don't see the path doesn't mean you don't plan on it happening, so you look to the future in faith that time will change you for the better. Friends increase and dwindle, the faces changing as you change, but life marches forward, and success is measured by how you adjust when awful things occur that you see no way to overcome: heart attacks, broken relationships, public humiliation. Continue toward your "someday", doing everything you can to become the person you aspire to be, and the rest will align. The road is rocky and rutted, but those miles must go on the odometer in order to reach your destination.
You Go First isn't my favorite of Erin Entrada Kelly's first four novels (that would easily be Blackbird Fly, her debut), but I prefer it to Hello, Universe, and would put it on equal footing with The Land of Forgotten Girls. Charlotte and Ben are intelligent and well-spoken to the extreme, but at least their family backgrounds account for that to some degree. The story isn't as well-organized or impactful as Blackbird Fly, but the ending is poignant, and part of me wants to consider rating this book two and a half stars. I like Erin Entrada Kelly's storytelling tone, and You Go First has characters I loved spending time with, particularly Ben. It wouldn't be a bad idea to reflect further on this book.
Charlotte goes to the hospital with her mother, but can't bring herself to visit her father's room. She thinks back to her recent lack of interest in spending time with him as she and her friend Bridget close in on adolescence. Charlotte used to love playing Scrabble with her father, but word games hold less appeal now that Bridget prefers talking about cute guys and hanging out with her artist friends. Charlotte is more about facts and figures than abstract creative expression; her dad is the one who can opine on Van Gogh and Seurat. Charlotte senses her friendship with Bridget slipping away even as she tries to hold on; Charlotte doesn't have many friends, and losing Bridget would hurt a lot. Is there any persuading someone to stay whose heart has already moved on?
"If you don't see anything beautiful, change your viewpoint".
—Magda Rivera, You Go First, P. 185
In light of the news about his parents' divorce, Ben retreats from family life. His mom and dad harbor no ill will toward each other and volunteer to answer anything Ben asks, but he has no idea what to say. Most of his anger is at his father, whom he intuitively assigns the majority of blame, but Ben isn't the confrontational type. He's a short, quiet kid whose school life is worse than Charlotte's, but at least he has her as his online Scrabble friend. For the first time, Ben calls Charlotte on the phone rather than just texting as part of Scrabble play, and every night they have a short conversation, awkward at first but improving as they get used to it. These talks convince Ben on the spur of the moment to run for student council, but how can a kid convince other sixth-graders to vote for him who barely know he exists? For some reason that not even Ben could articulate, the election is important to him. He puts all his energy into campaigning, rebuffing his father's offers to help; Ben doesn't need his advice or encouragement. Both Charlotte and Ben are unmoored, smart but unhappy, mostly friendless as the years of their school careers drift by. It might take a dramatic shared moment to change the course they're on...but change rarely acts precisely as we wish it would.
"Charlotte's father once said that everyone had a 'someday'—a fuzzy time in the future when life would go just as it should, every dream would come true, and things would clip along at a perfect pace. It's what got people through tough times, Mr. Lockard said." When you're struggling, it's hard to see how the current "you" could evolve into the confident, competent person you hope to become. But just because you don't see the path doesn't mean you don't plan on it happening, so you look to the future in faith that time will change you for the better. Friends increase and dwindle, the faces changing as you change, but life marches forward, and success is measured by how you adjust when awful things occur that you see no way to overcome: heart attacks, broken relationships, public humiliation. Continue toward your "someday", doing everything you can to become the person you aspire to be, and the rest will align. The road is rocky and rutted, but those miles must go on the odometer in order to reach your destination.
You Go First isn't my favorite of Erin Entrada Kelly's first four novels (that would easily be Blackbird Fly, her debut), but I prefer it to Hello, Universe, and would put it on equal footing with The Land of Forgotten Girls. Charlotte and Ben are intelligent and well-spoken to the extreme, but at least their family backgrounds account for that to some degree. The story isn't as well-organized or impactful as Blackbird Fly, but the ending is poignant, and part of me wants to consider rating this book two and a half stars. I like Erin Entrada Kelly's storytelling tone, and You Go First has characters I loved spending time with, particularly Ben. It wouldn't be a bad idea to reflect further on this book.
January 12, 2021
This is very subtle for a middle grade book, so may not be the best pick for more literal kids. Both of our main kids, Charlotte and Ben, have two problems. One at home, and one at school. The book spends the vast majority of time on the school problem, when it was obvious to me that the kids' focus on the school problems was really a way of avoiding their home problems. Yet this is never really spelled out, in fact, I bet a lot of kids would forget that Charlotte's dad is literally in the hospital for the entire book because it can go so long without mentioning it. I think it needed to dig into these things a little more, to me it felt kind of unfinished that way. Even though Kelly is so empathetic and her writing is great and feels really real, the structural/thematic elements here felt off for me.
As a readaloud, it was good. The chapters were succinct and a good length, we could often do a few in a night. We made it through this one pretty quickly, which is a nice change for us. And it got us to pull out the Scrabble board together.
As a readaloud, it was good. The chapters were succinct and a good length, we could often do a few in a night. We made it through this one pretty quickly, which is a nice change for us. And it got us to pull out the Scrabble board together.
November 16, 2017
Thanks to the Kid Lit Exchange network for the review copy of this book - all opinions are my own.
This is a quiet book about the power of connections when you are feeling alone - just having ONE person to connect with can be life saving and life changing. Charlotte and Ben are both struggling with friendships and family and their online Scrabble game is what brings them together - I love that Ben picks up the phone to call her to break the cycle of only connecting on screens rather than verbally. However, I do wonder about the message this gives kids after we tell them constantly to NEVER connect in real life with strangers they meet on the internet........definitely something to ponder and something I didn't consider until after finishing the book.
This is a quiet and sweet story that may take some book talking to get it into kids' hands, but there are definitely middle school students who need this story.
This is a quiet book about the power of connections when you are feeling alone - just having ONE person to connect with can be life saving and life changing. Charlotte and Ben are both struggling with friendships and family and their online Scrabble game is what brings them together - I love that Ben picks up the phone to call her to break the cycle of only connecting on screens rather than verbally. However, I do wonder about the message this gives kids after we tell them constantly to NEVER connect in real life with strangers they meet on the internet........definitely something to ponder and something I didn't consider until after finishing the book.
This is a quiet and sweet story that may take some book talking to get it into kids' hands, but there are definitely middle school students who need this story.
May 2, 2018
Ahhh this book got me in the feels! Erin Entrada Kelly is a master of that particular ache that middle school brings. These amazing characters will stick with you. Hand this one to kids also feeling the ache of middle school or readers who live for character-driven stories (like meeee).
January 18, 2018
Richie’s Picks: YOU GO FIRST by Erin Entrada Kelly, Greenwillow, April 2018, 304p., ISBN: 978-0-06-241-418-2
“A gas” -- 1960s slang for having a lot of fun
“Ain’t it good to know that you’ve got a friend
When people can be so cold?
They’ll hurt you and desert you”
--Carole King” (1971)
“Charlotte wasn’t sure what happened, but suddenly there were other things to do. There was too much to worry about. Middle school infected her life like a virus. She started hiding her dolls, even though she still wanted to brush their hair. She slipped stuffed animals under the bed--how babyish they seemed now. And she said no to Scrabble.
That didn’t stop her dad from asking.
‘How about a game?’ he’d say.
‘Maybe later,’ she’d reply.
Eventually he stopped asking. Then the box wasn’t on the table anymore.
One day it was there, the next it wasn’t.
When Ms. Khatri told her about her father’s heart attack, Charlotte’s feet had turned to stone. She couldn’t move. For a second she thought she might have a heart attack, too. There was a weight on her chest that wouldn’t go away. She had millions of thoughts, but the only thing that came out of her mouth was, ‘I should have played more Scrabble.’”
“‘I came in early so I could hang up my posters.’ He patted his bag. ‘My name is Ben Boxer and I’m running for student-council treasurer. Trying to work my way up to president.’
‘Well, future Mr. President, be my guest,’ Mr. Higgins said. He waved his hand toward the empty hallway behind him.
‘Thank you,’ said Ben.
He liked the sound of ‘future Mr. President’ so he played it again and again in his head as he clipped through the hallways in his dress shoes. The echoes became a silent chant in his mind, like a military drill: Future Mr. PRES-i-dent, Future Mr. PRES-i-dent. When he reached the first blank wall in the sixth-grade hallway, he stopped, ran his hand over the cinderblocks to make sure the packing tape would stick properly, then set down his bag and pulled out a poster. Black letters. White background.
He didn’t just want to be a brand. Now that he’d jumped full-force into the thing, he really wanted to implement change. He really wanted Lanester Middle School to evolve. A new mascot to replace the red-faced Indian that he found culturally offensive, Lanester Lions, maybe. More vending options. Most importantly: increased recycling. he would be a consummate populist. A president for the people.
The hallway was different with no one in it. The lockers stretched on forever with their mouths closed. None of the classroom doors were open. When he yanked the first length of tape from the roll, the sound bounced off the walls. He had an urge to call out his name just so he could hear it echo, but he didn’t want Mr. Higgins to come charging toward him, wondering what all the fuss was about.”
Twelve-year-old Charlotte Lockard from suburban Philadelphia and eleven-year-old Ben Boxer from Lanester, Louisiana are both middle school kids who have each just hit rough patches in their young lives: Charlotte’s father is in the hospital, having suffered a heart attack, while Ben’s parents have just informed him that they are getting divorced and that his father is moving out.
Ah, middle school. Fifty years ago, I was in the thick of it and it’s clear from reading YOU GO FIRST that some things are still very much the same. When I read about Ben being shoved into a locker or overhear Charlotte’s supposed best friend talking trash about her, it makes me ache. It brought back the boys who’d slam me into lockers, or shove my books out from under my arm in the middle of a crowded stairwell, or mock my clothes.
But in 2018, a multitude of technological changes differentiate today’s middle school experiences from those of yesteryear. YOU GO FIRST reveals that those changes can make a difference beyond just being able to Google the answer to a homework question.
Ben and Charlotte are separated by more than a thousand miles, yet they know each other. The two have become online friends by repeatedly playing against each other in an online Scrabble-style game. They even occasionally telephone one another to converse. With both facing stressful family situations and suffering from fair-weather friends, their evolving online friendship will make a real difference at a crucial moment.
YOU GO FIRST is a gas. It’s funny, moving, and meaningful. I like that both Charlotte and Ben eventually each develop new and more healthy friendships at their respective schools and don’t rely on their long-distance connection for everything. But they are really there for one another.
As a Words With Friends addict, I find playing word games to be a fun and worthwhile diversion. In YOU GO FIRST, the Scrabble connection gives the story a uniqueness, as well as material for a really great cover.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
richiepartington@gmail.com
“A gas” -- 1960s slang for having a lot of fun
“Ain’t it good to know that you’ve got a friend
When people can be so cold?
They’ll hurt you and desert you”
--Carole King” (1971)
“Charlotte wasn’t sure what happened, but suddenly there were other things to do. There was too much to worry about. Middle school infected her life like a virus. She started hiding her dolls, even though she still wanted to brush their hair. She slipped stuffed animals under the bed--how babyish they seemed now. And she said no to Scrabble.
That didn’t stop her dad from asking.
‘How about a game?’ he’d say.
‘Maybe later,’ she’d reply.
Eventually he stopped asking. Then the box wasn’t on the table anymore.
One day it was there, the next it wasn’t.
When Ms. Khatri told her about her father’s heart attack, Charlotte’s feet had turned to stone. She couldn’t move. For a second she thought she might have a heart attack, too. There was a weight on her chest that wouldn’t go away. She had millions of thoughts, but the only thing that came out of her mouth was, ‘I should have played more Scrabble.’”
“‘I came in early so I could hang up my posters.’ He patted his bag. ‘My name is Ben Boxer and I’m running for student-council treasurer. Trying to work my way up to president.’
‘Well, future Mr. President, be my guest,’ Mr. Higgins said. He waved his hand toward the empty hallway behind him.
‘Thank you,’ said Ben.
He liked the sound of ‘future Mr. President’ so he played it again and again in his head as he clipped through the hallways in his dress shoes. The echoes became a silent chant in his mind, like a military drill: Future Mr. PRES-i-dent, Future Mr. PRES-i-dent. When he reached the first blank wall in the sixth-grade hallway, he stopped, ran his hand over the cinderblocks to make sure the packing tape would stick properly, then set down his bag and pulled out a poster. Black letters. White background.
He didn’t just want to be a brand. Now that he’d jumped full-force into the thing, he really wanted to implement change. He really wanted Lanester Middle School to evolve. A new mascot to replace the red-faced Indian that he found culturally offensive, Lanester Lions, maybe. More vending options. Most importantly: increased recycling. he would be a consummate populist. A president for the people.
The hallway was different with no one in it. The lockers stretched on forever with their mouths closed. None of the classroom doors were open. When he yanked the first length of tape from the roll, the sound bounced off the walls. He had an urge to call out his name just so he could hear it echo, but he didn’t want Mr. Higgins to come charging toward him, wondering what all the fuss was about.”
Twelve-year-old Charlotte Lockard from suburban Philadelphia and eleven-year-old Ben Boxer from Lanester, Louisiana are both middle school kids who have each just hit rough patches in their young lives: Charlotte’s father is in the hospital, having suffered a heart attack, while Ben’s parents have just informed him that they are getting divorced and that his father is moving out.
Ah, middle school. Fifty years ago, I was in the thick of it and it’s clear from reading YOU GO FIRST that some things are still very much the same. When I read about Ben being shoved into a locker or overhear Charlotte’s supposed best friend talking trash about her, it makes me ache. It brought back the boys who’d slam me into lockers, or shove my books out from under my arm in the middle of a crowded stairwell, or mock my clothes.
But in 2018, a multitude of technological changes differentiate today’s middle school experiences from those of yesteryear. YOU GO FIRST reveals that those changes can make a difference beyond just being able to Google the answer to a homework question.
Ben and Charlotte are separated by more than a thousand miles, yet they know each other. The two have become online friends by repeatedly playing against each other in an online Scrabble-style game. They even occasionally telephone one another to converse. With both facing stressful family situations and suffering from fair-weather friends, their evolving online friendship will make a real difference at a crucial moment.
YOU GO FIRST is a gas. It’s funny, moving, and meaningful. I like that both Charlotte and Ben eventually each develop new and more healthy friendships at their respective schools and don’t rely on their long-distance connection for everything. But they are really there for one another.
As a Words With Friends addict, I find playing word games to be a fun and worthwhile diversion. In YOU GO FIRST, the Scrabble connection gives the story a uniqueness, as well as material for a really great cover.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
richiepartington@gmail.com
October 12, 2018
Another review for me to type up with mixed feelings. I don’t typically read juvenile general fiction, but I do have a few favorite authors I love in the genre and was intrigued the premise of You Go First, so I gave this one a shot. I think this author didn’t lose me with her writing style, but rather with the characters, added subtle agendas, and slightly forced feel to some of the important events in the book.
The book is about two friends, well friends in the fact that they are friendly Scrabble rivals online and occasionally text each other, two middle schoolers with lives that though miles apart are quite similar. With its line “One friend can make all the difference,” the cover led me to believe the book would be focused around the two Scramble rivals, Ben and Charlotte, being friends to each other in difficult times. But both erected a façade-like front to each other that effectively closed off any real friendship or comfort they could have been to each other, causing the book to read as two separate stories not dependent of each other plot-wise.
And such was the standard for all communication coming from Ben and Charlotte in this book between the two or with their parents—closed off and unwilling to share anything real—which was never corrected. Disconcerting for a book written for children, eh? I feel as if you grow when you admit to others how you feel and not bottle it all up inside of you; what’s innocent enough as a kid can develop into a habit that has destructive consequences as an adult. Problems don’t go away because you don’t talk about them.
The two kids being gifted and unusually intelligent school-wise was interesting, and the random tidbits thrown out were definitely appealing to me as the facts geek that I can be, but it lost some of its impact by not seeming to have a purpose in moving along or adding to the plot. I would have loved to have seen their nerdy side and select hobbies have more of an impact than a momentary analogy.
I loved Ben’s courage and optimism in pursuing his seat on his school council! And the jokes he had planned for his big speech. Aww… such a cutie. But I was a little unsettled by some of his thoughts about evolution, especially how the author used it to almost normalize and justify divorce, and conversations about saving the environment, which I couldn’t help but see as agendas being spouted to brainwash kids into a certain mold of thinking. I don’t like seeing sweet characters like Ben being used as a tool of the author in that way.
But the book did have lessons both sweet and profound. Appreciating and taking time for the people we love because we truly aren’t promised tomorrow with them. Being courageous and facing your fears. Looking beyond the labels put on people to the heart. Not forgetting how precious the open and simple things in life are and not letting them seem childish.
So, hmm… a neat premise and with beautiful themes—but it missed the mark for me.
The book is about two friends, well friends in the fact that they are friendly Scrabble rivals online and occasionally text each other, two middle schoolers with lives that though miles apart are quite similar. With its line “One friend can make all the difference,” the cover led me to believe the book would be focused around the two Scramble rivals, Ben and Charlotte, being friends to each other in difficult times. But both erected a façade-like front to each other that effectively closed off any real friendship or comfort they could have been to each other, causing the book to read as two separate stories not dependent of each other plot-wise.
And such was the standard for all communication coming from Ben and Charlotte in this book between the two or with their parents—closed off and unwilling to share anything real—which was never corrected. Disconcerting for a book written for children, eh? I feel as if you grow when you admit to others how you feel and not bottle it all up inside of you; what’s innocent enough as a kid can develop into a habit that has destructive consequences as an adult. Problems don’t go away because you don’t talk about them.
The two kids being gifted and unusually intelligent school-wise was interesting, and the random tidbits thrown out were definitely appealing to me as the facts geek that I can be, but it lost some of its impact by not seeming to have a purpose in moving along or adding to the plot. I would have loved to have seen their nerdy side and select hobbies have more of an impact than a momentary analogy.
I loved Ben’s courage and optimism in pursuing his seat on his school council! And the jokes he had planned for his big speech. Aww… such a cutie. But I was a little unsettled by some of his thoughts about evolution, especially how the author used it to almost normalize and justify divorce, and conversations about saving the environment, which I couldn’t help but see as agendas being spouted to brainwash kids into a certain mold of thinking. I don’t like seeing sweet characters like Ben being used as a tool of the author in that way.
But the book did have lessons both sweet and profound. Appreciating and taking time for the people we love because we truly aren’t promised tomorrow with them. Being courageous and facing your fears. Looking beyond the labels put on people to the heart. Not forgetting how precious the open and simple things in life are and not letting them seem childish.
So, hmm… a neat premise and with beautiful themes—but it missed the mark for me.
March 1, 2019
A possible theme for this book is that it is important to connect with people. Ben and Charlotte, the two protagonists, have never met, but they've played online Scrabble together for a couple of years. After something big happens in Ben's life, he decides to reach out and call Charlotte. The two start talking and in the end this becomes very important to the story.
October 21, 2020
3.5 stars. School’s tough. Especially if your best friend suddenly decides that you’re just a gigantic pain in the ass that she needs to drop from her life because you’re both changing and your curiosity, intelligence and interests no longer interest her. Or, you’re really smart, bad at reading people, and are steadily bullied.
The two kids in this story have a connection through Scrabble, though, interestingly, don’t actually confess the pain they’re experiencing in their lives to one another, which I thought was going to happen. Instead, they do find resolutions, of a sort, separately, with the possibility of new friendships.
This is a relatively short book, but does well describing the confusion, anger and pain of Charlotte and Ben. I liked the quiet, hopeful ending.
The two kids in this story have a connection through Scrabble, though, interestingly, don’t actually confess the pain they’re experiencing in their lives to one another, which I thought was going to happen. Instead, they do find resolutions, of a sort, separately, with the possibility of new friendships.
This is a relatively short book, but does well describing the confusion, anger and pain of Charlotte and Ben. I liked the quiet, hopeful ending.
February 28, 2018
Over the course of six days two preteens engaged in an online Scrabble game both undergo major life changes. Both Charlotte and Ben are sans friends IRL (that's in real life for the uninitiated.) Both are bright and inquisitive youngsters, sticking out like sore thumbs in a land populated by homogenous middle schoolers. Alternating chapters focus on the scenarios in each child's life.
Charlotte's father has been hospitalized following a heart attack. Her once best friend now thinks of her as a parasite. Ben's parents have announced their plans to divorce. He decides to run for student council despite the daily taunts he receives from his fellow classmates. What they tell each other about their lives is far from the truth. Nonetheless, the Scrabble connection serves as a means of human contact as well as a literary device driving this engaging, poignant novel.
Recently I have read several books featuring gifted middle school characters. Like A Wrinkle in Time's Meg Murry and From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler's Claudia Kincaid, these characters are immediately engaging and memorable. It is so refreshing to read about kids who are more interested in language, science, and math than those who obsess over clothing and hair. Hope this trend of interesting characters continues!
And, now I'm itching to play a game (or several) of Scrabble!
Charlotte's father has been hospitalized following a heart attack. Her once best friend now thinks of her as a parasite. Ben's parents have announced their plans to divorce. He decides to run for student council despite the daily taunts he receives from his fellow classmates. What they tell each other about their lives is far from the truth. Nonetheless, the Scrabble connection serves as a means of human contact as well as a literary device driving this engaging, poignant novel.
Recently I have read several books featuring gifted middle school characters. Like A Wrinkle in Time's Meg Murry and From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler's Claudia Kincaid, these characters are immediately engaging and memorable. It is so refreshing to read about kids who are more interested in language, science, and math than those who obsess over clothing and hair. Hope this trend of interesting characters continues!
And, now I'm itching to play a game (or several) of Scrabble!
September 27, 2018
Charlotte made a promise to herself then and there: If I ever see someone fall, I'll ask if they're okay.
This had so much potential to be a new favorite. It just missed that mark for me. But it dealt with so much in such a nice way. Bullying, online friendships, divorce, health failures, so, so much.
I really came to care for Charlotte and Ben. They didn't seem relatable until suddenly something clicked and I saw myself in them. I don't know what that moment was or what changed, but it was a pleasant surprise. Maybe it was Charlotte being so determined to be kind to others even when they've not been kind to her. (or, in relating to an older version of myself, her suddenly feeling like she hadn't said enough to her dad, like there were a million words left unspoken and she wasn't sure she'd ever get to speak them.) Or maybe it was Ben trying his hardest to make friends and failing because for some reason beyond his control, no one wants to be his friend. I saw twelve-year-old me in these kids. To be honest, if I've seen this much of my younger self in a book, it's been a long time. Aside from the super whiz-kid stuff. I was smart but not that smart. xD
Anyway, I've about come to the conclusion that Kelly's writing style isn't for me, but her characters are. Thus the just-missed-mark.
4 stars.
This had so much potential to be a new favorite. It just missed that mark for me. But it dealt with so much in such a nice way. Bullying, online friendships, divorce, health failures, so, so much.
I really came to care for Charlotte and Ben. They didn't seem relatable until suddenly something clicked and I saw myself in them. I don't know what that moment was or what changed, but it was a pleasant surprise. Maybe it was Charlotte being so determined to be kind to others even when they've not been kind to her. (or, in relating to an older version of myself, her suddenly feeling like she hadn't said enough to her dad, like there were a million words left unspoken and she wasn't sure she'd ever get to speak them.) Or maybe it was Ben trying his hardest to make friends and failing because for some reason beyond his control, no one wants to be his friend. I saw twelve-year-old me in these kids. To be honest, if I've seen this much of my younger self in a book, it's been a long time. Aside from the super whiz-kid stuff. I was smart but not that smart. xD
Anyway, I've about come to the conclusion that Kelly's writing style isn't for me, but her characters are. Thus the just-missed-mark.
4 stars.
November 4, 2023
Redo Review!!
I love this book so much... the two children in this just BREAK my heart. They're so cute.
This book is about hardships, anxiety, friendships, family, so many relatable things. Another MUST-read masterpiece by Erin Entrada Kelly.
I can't say much more without spoiling the whole book, except go buy this!! It's heartmelting, and comes with some really good questions to think over!
I love this book so much... the two children in this just BREAK my heart. They're so cute.
This book is about hardships, anxiety, friendships, family, so many relatable things. Another MUST-read masterpiece by Erin Entrada Kelly.
I can't say much more without spoiling the whole book, except go buy this!! It's heartmelting, and comes with some really good questions to think over!
December 12, 2020
3,5/5
É uma história muito bonita, delicada, com situações e personagens muito reais. No geral gostei, mas senti que o livro foi bem raso em relação aos temas de divórcio (e os sentimentos a respeito disso) e o bullying principalmente, além de que não consegui sentir uma amizade entre o Ben e a Charlotte tão profunda quanto é posto no livro. Tem uma escrita gostosa e me deixou curioso com outros livros dela (inclusive já tenho faz um tempinho o Lalani of the Distant Sea no meu Kindle).
É uma história muito bonita, delicada, com situações e personagens muito reais. No geral gostei, mas senti que o livro foi bem raso em relação aos temas de divórcio (e os sentimentos a respeito disso) e o bullying principalmente, além de que não consegui sentir uma amizade entre o Ben e a Charlotte tão profunda quanto é posto no livro. Tem uma escrita gostosa e me deixou curioso com outros livros dela (inclusive já tenho faz um tempinho o Lalani of the Distant Sea no meu Kindle).
October 2, 2017
4.5/5 for You Go First! Thx to @erinentrada for sharing this ARC with me. It doesn't come out until April, 2018! I am sharing my copy with the @kidlitexchange network. All opinions are my own.
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Charlotte and Ben are online scrabble buddies; Charlotte lives near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Ben lives in a small town in Louisiana. Both are gifted students who struggle to make friends and both are having family problems at home. Charlotte's father has had a heart attack and she can't bring herself to visit him. Ben's parents have just let him know they are getting divorced. In just one week, their simple online friendship turns into something a bit more complicated. Swipe to see more of the summary!
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First of all, what an incredible cover! I just love when the cover art is a perfect representation of the book. Ben and Charlotte are both adrift in their lives and the only thing holding them together are their daily Scrabble games. Even though the two don't open up to each other much (I was surprised by this!); it's clear that the constancy of their games and the reliability of having one friend is the anchor they need to avoid completely drifting away. I love how Charlotte's chapters start with a small "rabbit hole" of a fact that connects to the story in an interesting way. We all know students whose minds work that way with random facts! The book is a quick read and Ben and Charlotte are easy characters for students to relate to. This is not my favorite book by Erin Entrada Kelly (that honor belongs to Blackbird Fly!), but it is a wonderfully sweet story that belongs in every upper elementary and middle school library. It's an absolute must-buy so put it on your saved spring order list now! I'll remind you to get it when it gets closer to the book birthday. :)
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Charlotte and Ben are online scrabble buddies; Charlotte lives near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Ben lives in a small town in Louisiana. Both are gifted students who struggle to make friends and both are having family problems at home. Charlotte's father has had a heart attack and she can't bring herself to visit him. Ben's parents have just let him know they are getting divorced. In just one week, their simple online friendship turns into something a bit more complicated. Swipe to see more of the summary!
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First of all, what an incredible cover! I just love when the cover art is a perfect representation of the book. Ben and Charlotte are both adrift in their lives and the only thing holding them together are their daily Scrabble games. Even though the two don't open up to each other much (I was surprised by this!); it's clear that the constancy of their games and the reliability of having one friend is the anchor they need to avoid completely drifting away. I love how Charlotte's chapters start with a small "rabbit hole" of a fact that connects to the story in an interesting way. We all know students whose minds work that way with random facts! The book is a quick read and Ben and Charlotte are easy characters for students to relate to. This is not my favorite book by Erin Entrada Kelly (that honor belongs to Blackbird Fly!), but it is a wonderfully sweet story that belongs in every upper elementary and middle school library. It's an absolute must-buy so put it on your saved spring order list now! I'll remind you to get it when it gets closer to the book birthday. :)
June 16, 2018
You Go First is similarly structured to Hello, Universe (Kelly's Newbery Medal winner) and I think coming fresh off the heels of that title, this one seems to be underwhelming people. I rather liked it though. Yes, it reads like Hello, Universe with two different characters alternating chapters, but on a much smaller scale. And I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing that the two are similar. Hello, Universe feels bigger, more important. You Go First feels more normal and everyday. When you map out the events of You Go First, you find that not really much happens but I think a lot of kids, and I mean A LOT of kids, could relate to Charlotte and Ben and the pressures to conform and maintain friendships (in Charlotte's case) or relate to peers at all (in Ben's case).
While I liked Charlotte, I couldn't quite connect to Ben. The only thing I can figure out is that something about his character/personality felt off, like he was robotically naive at times, but all too self-aware at other times. As terrible as it makes me sound, I found it difficult to root for him and his speech.
Probably more like 3.5 stars, but I rounded up to 4 just because.
While I liked Charlotte, I couldn't quite connect to Ben. The only thing I can figure out is that something about his character/personality felt off, like he was robotically naive at times, but all too self-aware at other times. As terrible as it makes me sound, I found it difficult to root for him and his speech.
Probably more like 3.5 stars, but I rounded up to 4 just because.
July 10, 2018
I'm always down for a perfectly plotted middle grade even when they are sometimes a little pat, but that's okay, because we all need hope in the world and Entrada Kelly superbly navigates the tween traumas of friendship and belonging.
Ben (is on the spectrum) and is an intelligent eleven year old who was just told his parents are splitting up, so he decides to run for school officer. Charlotte wants to be someone other than Charlotte, imagining a girl like who she is playing Scrabble with Ben, Lottie, who has it together when right now her best friend is distancing herself and finding new friends. She's even overheard her friend talking bad about her. They connect online even though they're miles apart with their shared love of words as intelligent kids. Charlotte needs support since her older father just had a heart attack and Ben needs it to figure out how to take the news of his parents separation.
I love the cover, the layout of the chapters, and how the story unfolds with gentleness and humility. It's a beautiful story.
Ben (is on the spectrum) and is an intelligent eleven year old who was just told his parents are splitting up, so he decides to run for school officer. Charlotte wants to be someone other than Charlotte, imagining a girl like who she is playing Scrabble with Ben, Lottie, who has it together when right now her best friend is distancing herself and finding new friends. She's even overheard her friend talking bad about her. They connect online even though they're miles apart with their shared love of words as intelligent kids. Charlotte needs support since her older father just had a heart attack and Ben needs it to figure out how to take the news of his parents separation.
I love the cover, the layout of the chapters, and how the story unfolds with gentleness and humility. It's a beautiful story.
May 2, 2018
My reaction was more like 1.5 stars but I listened to the audiobook and not really caring for the narration played into my reaction, so I am giving some benefit of the doubt that this might work better on the page. I thought this was too essentially similar to Hello Universe and yet also more dependent on cliches than that book. Also as I suggested in my review of Snow Lane, I really think Kelly doesn’t do right by a certain character type in her portrayals of Ben and Charlotte.
June 11, 2018
I think this is the first middle grade book I've read that features an online-only friendship. That alone makes it unique, especially when adolescent social media is portrayed so negatively. The book dealt with other important themes as well - friendships, bullying, divorce, families. My only complaint is that the story felt a little slow.
August 1, 2018
This book has so much potential to help struggling middle school students. For kids like Charlotte and Ben, it can feel like they have been left behind. Like the rug has been pulled out from under them and they are in a foreign country. You Go First deals with bullying, illness in the family, divorce, friendship and so much more. I heartily recommend it as a read aloud.
February 6, 2018
Charlotte’s dad has a heart attack. Ben’s parents are divorcing. Charlotte may lose her best friend. Ben may run for student council. How does an online scrabble game connect them? Read to find out!
Read
March 27, 2019This book hit me in the heart hard. Charlotte and Ben know each other only through their online Scrabble playing -- Charlotte, aka Lottie, absolutely destroys Ben at the game, but they love to keep their games going. Charlotte's dealing with a lot at home. Her parents are older, which is something she's always felt weird about, and when her father has a heart attack, she finds herself spiraling into worry, into fear, and deeply into herself. More, she's dealing with a former best friend who is moving away from her, and Charlotte feels alone.
Ben's dealing with a surprise announcement from his parents that they're getting a divorce, and it's then that Ben realizes he has no one he can share this big news with. He's lonely and friendless, and he believes he can make friends by running for student council. But he's stopped again and again, thanks to a group of mean kids who don't want him to succeed. Along the way, though, he begins to interact with another "weird kid" named Wyatt.
Throughout the story, which takes place over a single week, Ben and Charlotte never admit any of this to one another, even though they have a good friendship. But it's their relationship via text messaging that ultimately brings Charlotte closer to her parents and Ben ultimately closer to making his first true friend.
This is a compassionate, heart-rendering story with two fabulous voices. It hit me hard, since I felt so much like Charlotte and Ben in middle school: divorced parents, feeling lonely and friendless, dealing with other kids who just were flat out mean. Reading this as an adult took me right back to that place and was a reminder of these near-universal feelings kids struggle with at this age.
Ben's dealing with a surprise announcement from his parents that they're getting a divorce, and it's then that Ben realizes he has no one he can share this big news with. He's lonely and friendless, and he believes he can make friends by running for student council. But he's stopped again and again, thanks to a group of mean kids who don't want him to succeed. Along the way, though, he begins to interact with another "weird kid" named Wyatt.
Throughout the story, which takes place over a single week, Ben and Charlotte never admit any of this to one another, even though they have a good friendship. But it's their relationship via text messaging that ultimately brings Charlotte closer to her parents and Ben ultimately closer to making his first true friend.
This is a compassionate, heart-rendering story with two fabulous voices. It hit me hard, since I felt so much like Charlotte and Ben in middle school: divorced parents, feeling lonely and friendless, dealing with other kids who just were flat out mean. Reading this as an adult took me right back to that place and was a reminder of these near-universal feelings kids struggle with at this age.
May 28, 2022
A great look into middle school and all of the changes that come with it for friendships and self awareness. Ben and Charlotte both have much occurring in their lives but as find a common ground through Scrabble. I also enjoyed the rabbit hole descriptions and factoids throughout the book!
October 10, 2023
Vertimas toli gražu neblizga, kai kur net prasmę tekato sunku suprasti, gal dėl to ir istorija tokia so-so, nieko ypatingo.
March 18, 2020
Laut Duden hat das Adjektiv „allein“ drei mögliche Bedeutungsebenen: (a) ohne die Anwesenheit bzw. Gegenwart eines anderen; (b) einsam, vereinsamt; (c) ohne fremde Hilfe, Unterstützung, ohne fremdes Zutun. Erin Entrada Kelly, eine US-amerikanische Autorin, setzt sich in dem erst kürzlich erschienenen Roman „Charlotte & Ben“ mit diesem Terminus auseinander: Wie fühlt man sich nicht mehr so ausgeschlossen und findet den Weg zurück zu seinen Mitmenschen?
Das farbenfrohe, aber schlicht motivische Cover lädt zu einer kurzweiligen, unterhaltsamen Lektüre ein. Dabei stimmt es angemessen auf den dargestellten Inhalt ein, kann aber auch durch seine Auffälligkeit punkten. Kelly umwickelt ihre Leser*innen mit einem gut zu lesenden, honigähnlichen Schreibstil, der einen unkomplizierten Zugang zur Handlung ermöglicht.
In „Charlotte & Ben“ widmet sich die Autorin an ein relativ junges Zielpublikum. Umso mehr begeistert ihre feinfühlige und bedachte Art und Weise, das Thema ‚Alleinsein‘ aufzugreifen und zu beweisen, dass Sich-selbst-sein und –ausdrücken wichtig und möglich ist, wenn man eine Konstante hat, die Unterstützung leistet in dem, was man tut. Was du tust.
In der vorliegenden Lektüre treffen zwei grundsätzlich verschiedene, authentische Protagonisten aufeinander – und beide Figuren tragen einen schweren Rucksack aus Problemen, Hoffnungen und Wünschen mit sich. Ihre Hintergründe sind jederzeit glaubwürdig und nachvollziehbar dargestellt. Die beiden Weltbilder zusammenprallen zu sehen, hat mir während des Lesens Freude bereitet.
Dennoch hätte ich mir ein bisschen mehr Fläche gewünscht, auf der sich die beiden Figuren reiben können. Schließlich ist die Verbindung zwischen ihnen titelgebend für den gesamten Roman – letztendlich aber nicht mehr als eine lose Telefonverbindung. Dass die beiden sich ganz viel über sich selbst erzählen (wie es der Klappentext behauptet), ist de facto nicht der Fall.
Das ist wahrscheinlich auch eine der Ursachen, weshalb das Buch oftmals an der Oberfläche und somit hinter seinen Möglichkeiten zurückbleibt. Es werden ganz viele Fragen gestellt – aber letztendlich nicht beantwortet. Und die Leser*in kalt zurückgelassen. Ich hätte mir von der Autorin gewünscht, sich deutlich mehr Zeit zum allmählichen Ausbreiten ihrer Handlung, die Figuren sich erst einmal miteinander anfreunden und aufeinander reagieren zu lassen. Denn dieser Kontakt zwischen beiden Charakteren ist doch der Dreh- und Wendepunkt, die Koordinationsachse des vorliegenden Romans, kommt hier aber viel zu kurz.
Insgesamt handelt es sich bei „Charlotte & Ben“ zweifelsohne um ein angenehmes Lesevergnügen für Zwischendurch, ein Feel-good-Roman mit motivierter Grundstimmung, der sicherlich vielen kurzweiligen Spaß bereiten dürfte. Wirklich lange bleibt er damit jedoch nicht im Gedächtnis.
„Charlotte & Ben“ ist eine feinfühlige Lektüre, die einem jungen Zielpublikum die Angst vor dem Alleinsein nehmen möchte.
Für diesen Versuch gebe ich drei von fünf möglichen Sternen.
Das farbenfrohe, aber schlicht motivische Cover lädt zu einer kurzweiligen, unterhaltsamen Lektüre ein. Dabei stimmt es angemessen auf den dargestellten Inhalt ein, kann aber auch durch seine Auffälligkeit punkten. Kelly umwickelt ihre Leser*innen mit einem gut zu lesenden, honigähnlichen Schreibstil, der einen unkomplizierten Zugang zur Handlung ermöglicht.
In „Charlotte & Ben“ widmet sich die Autorin an ein relativ junges Zielpublikum. Umso mehr begeistert ihre feinfühlige und bedachte Art und Weise, das Thema ‚Alleinsein‘ aufzugreifen und zu beweisen, dass Sich-selbst-sein und –ausdrücken wichtig und möglich ist, wenn man eine Konstante hat, die Unterstützung leistet in dem, was man tut. Was du tust.
In der vorliegenden Lektüre treffen zwei grundsätzlich verschiedene, authentische Protagonisten aufeinander – und beide Figuren tragen einen schweren Rucksack aus Problemen, Hoffnungen und Wünschen mit sich. Ihre Hintergründe sind jederzeit glaubwürdig und nachvollziehbar dargestellt. Die beiden Weltbilder zusammenprallen zu sehen, hat mir während des Lesens Freude bereitet.
Dennoch hätte ich mir ein bisschen mehr Fläche gewünscht, auf der sich die beiden Figuren reiben können. Schließlich ist die Verbindung zwischen ihnen titelgebend für den gesamten Roman – letztendlich aber nicht mehr als eine lose Telefonverbindung. Dass die beiden sich ganz viel über sich selbst erzählen (wie es der Klappentext behauptet), ist de facto nicht der Fall.
Das ist wahrscheinlich auch eine der Ursachen, weshalb das Buch oftmals an der Oberfläche und somit hinter seinen Möglichkeiten zurückbleibt. Es werden ganz viele Fragen gestellt – aber letztendlich nicht beantwortet. Und die Leser*in kalt zurückgelassen. Ich hätte mir von der Autorin gewünscht, sich deutlich mehr Zeit zum allmählichen Ausbreiten ihrer Handlung, die Figuren sich erst einmal miteinander anfreunden und aufeinander reagieren zu lassen. Denn dieser Kontakt zwischen beiden Charakteren ist doch der Dreh- und Wendepunkt, die Koordinationsachse des vorliegenden Romans, kommt hier aber viel zu kurz.
Insgesamt handelt es sich bei „Charlotte & Ben“ zweifelsohne um ein angenehmes Lesevergnügen für Zwischendurch, ein Feel-good-Roman mit motivierter Grundstimmung, der sicherlich vielen kurzweiligen Spaß bereiten dürfte. Wirklich lange bleibt er damit jedoch nicht im Gedächtnis.
„Charlotte & Ben“ ist eine feinfühlige Lektüre, die einem jungen Zielpublikum die Angst vor dem Alleinsein nehmen möchte.
Für diesen Versuch gebe ich drei von fünf möglichen Sternen.
August 19, 2018
12-year-old Charlotte Lockhard lives in the suburbs of Philadelphia, and feels herself growing apart from her childhood best friend Bridget, just as Charlotte's dad suffers a serious heart attack. 11-year-old Ben Boxer lives in small town Louisiana, where he dreams of becoming class president, but right now his biggest challenge is just finding someone to sit with at lunch who loves Harry Potter as much as he does. The two live more than a thousand miles apart, but develop an unlikely friendship playing each other in Scrabble online, and realize how important it is to have someone to talk to, no matter how far away they may be. I liked this one even better than Hello Universe and The Land of Forgotten Girls by the same author. Ages 10 and up.
June 5, 2018
So sweet! Charlotte and Ben are so adorably dorky (and honestly pretty relatable) I loved them so much. This book perfectly captures middle school and all its ups and downs; bullies, relationship with your parents, growing apart with old friends and gaining new friends. Reading this made the 12 year old me feel much less alone. Also I can honestly say I got a nice science and vocabulary lesson from all the rabbit holes. 😆 Loved it!
July 13, 2019
Nothing much happens, which would be totally okay if something insightful or genuine came through despite the fact. Sadly, there is nothing noteworthy (in a positive sense) here whatsoever. It's mediocre writing at best, with obvious sentiments and forgettable characters -- though one of the two main characters is rather annoying. You can definitely find much better books to spend your time reading.
July 20, 2019
First sentence: Rabbit Hole: Rabbits sometimes dig holes for protection.
Read this as a family. The story of two tweens that play online scrabble together. Both are having family and friend problems. There is nothing compelling about the plot, the characters, the writing, or the friendship. It's boring at times and annoying at times (the "into the rabbit hole"s-bleh!!). My boys didn't enjoy it, either.
Read this as a family. The story of two tweens that play online scrabble together. Both are having family and friend problems. There is nothing compelling about the plot, the characters, the writing, or the friendship. It's boring at times and annoying at times (the "into the rabbit hole"s-bleh!!). My boys didn't enjoy it, either.
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