You Go First

In You Go First, bestselling author Erin Entrada Kelly presents a heartfelt tale of two middle schoolers, twelve-year-old Charlotte Lockard and eleven-year-old Ben Boxer, who find themselves navigating personal struggles and school challenges from opposite ends of the country. Despite their vastly different lives—Charlotte's dream of becoming a geologist and Ben's passion for Harry Potter and history—they are united by their giftedness and shared experiences of family conflict and loneliness. Connected through an online Scrabble game, their paths intersect over one transformative week, illustrating the importance of friendship and resilience during the tumultuous middle school years. With a blend of humor and poignant insight, Kelly delivers a compelling story about growing up and finding one’s place in the world.