Dear Evan Hansen - Book Review

The book that almost broke Friday at BookExpo: Dear Evan Hansen, based on the award-winning Broadway musical. You would not believe the crowd that charged the Hachette booth trying to get their hands on an advance review copy of this book!! And with good reason.

If you've never seen the musical, the story is about a boy named Evan. Evan keeps to himself because of his crippling anxiety. But with a single note that he's written to himself, his whole world changes. He's taken out of his shell, he's talking to the girl he has a crush on, he's almost got friends. But at what price?

Dealing with topics of teen suicide, divorce, anxiety, and so much more, this is a Young Adult novel that every kid should read.

Even if you've never seen the musical (like me), you'll still enjoy reading the book. (I am wondering, though, how the story changed, if at all, and what the music sounds like.) But the fact that they turned the musical into an accessible-for-all novel is really great! It means the story and message of this musical can reach more kids, teens, and adults.

Dear Evan Hansen is published by Poppy and is on bookstore shelves now. I received a free advance review copy at BookExpo.