The following novel was used in the creation of this study guide: Kelly, Erin Entrada. You Go First. Greenwillow Books. 2018. Paperback.

The narrative jumps back and forth between Charlotte and Ben every chapter. For this summary, these individual days have been split between the characters. More detailed summaries are in the summary and analysis sections.

On Monday, Charlotte learns that her father had a heart attack and got into a car accident. She imagines holding her dad’s heart and thinks of her upcoming starfish dissection when she pictures him in surgery. When her mother asks her to come see her Dad, Charlotte is unable to. Later, she thinks of her best friend Bridget and how much Charlotte wishes she has a nickname. She uses the name Lottie for her online Scrabble game with Ben. However, when Bridget calls their next door neighbor Mad Magda, Charlotte does think that some nicknames are terrible. That night, she remembers her father teaching her Scrabble and how she stopped playing once she started Middle School. Now she wishes she had played more.

Meanwhile, Ben learns that his parents are getting a divorce and struggles to process it. He messages Lottie (Charlotte) about their reliance on digital communication and the two end up calling each other. However, Ben does not share his parent’s divorce and instead lies and says he is running for Student Council. He feels that he and his family are devolving, as he has no friends at school and is losing his family. He refuses to talk to his mother despite all of his questions.

On Tuesday, Charlotte listens to Bridget complain about Tori. Charlotte thinks of how she and Bridget used to call themselves the anti-clique. She remembers when she and Bridget once went to Red’s, but turned Mr. Lockard down because they thought it would be too embarrassing to have him there. Bridget then says Sophie invited her to an art club and half-heartedly tells CHarlotte she will ask if they want Charlotte to join. In class, Charlotte wishes she had given her dad more attention and breaks down in tears. That night, they go to Bridget’s house where her brother, Gordo, asks if Charlotte’s father is going to die. She admits to herself that she has thought the same thing. Bridget then tells her Sophie only wants art people in the club.

Meanwhile, Ben meets Mrs. Carlisle in the attendance office who lets him sign up for student council even though he is a day late. In the lunchroom, he tries speaking to two separate tables, but both mock him and he learns he has to give a speech on Friday. He tries giving one in English class, but no one claps. At home, he works on his posters and decides to wear a suit while trying to avoid both of his parents. He talks to Lottie about things he wishes were different about himself and pretends he is doing better than he really is.

On Wednesday, Charlotte talks to Sophie and learns that she is not in charge of the art club. Charlotte convinces herself she is overthinking things. However, she eavesdrops on the meeting that afternoon and overhears Bridget call her a parasite and lie about the things they used to do together. Charlotte is crushed and embarrassed. She goes home early and pretends she is sick so she does not have to go to the hospital.

Meanwhile, Ben goes to school early to hang up his posters. Later on, Theo and his gang of boys insults Ben’s suit and slams his head into a locker. At lunchtime, Ben stands near the recycle bin to encourage others to recycle. Theo smears his shirt with ketchup, forcing him to go to the attendance office for a change of clothes. There, he meets Wyatt. At home, he works on his speech and thinks of how much he wants to improve the school. He talks to Lottie who describes herself as someone with a lot of friends who wants to get rid of one that is dragging her down. Ben thinks all of her friends should hang out together.

On Thursday, Charlotte ends up on the roof at lunch and meets Magda who tells her to change her viewpoint if she cannot find anything beautiful. In class, she prepares for the dissection of starfish and chooses Magda as her partner. She talks to Ben that night and decides that she is going to skip school to go to the art museum. Later that night, she meets Magda’s brother Mateo who tells her that Magda is the kind of weird that cares for things as small as ants.

Meanwhile, Ben practices his speech with his mother and hates when she calls him her perfect pineapple, as he feels that nothing is perfect. At school, Theo trips him causing him to split open his chin. However, he becomes closer to Wyatt after he is forced to go to the attendance office for a band-aid. At home, he silently blames his father for the divorce and refuses to speak with him, even after he learns his father is moving over the weekend.

On Friday, Charlotte takes the train into the city and hails a cab to the art museum. Once there, she searches for a piece that speaks to her, but only feels out of place. She stares at images of Van Gogh when her mother finds her. The two go to the hospital together and Charlotte finally sees her father who is now awake.

Meanwhile, Ben prepares for his speech. However, the scene skips to afterwards where the reader learns that Theo and the others set off firecrackers before his speech could begin. Ben is humiliated (though the author only hints as to why) and decides he never wants to speak again. He takes a call from Lottie’s mother (as she does not know where Charlotte is). Later, he wakes up from a nap and his father tries to encourage him saying that life is not always fair but it will go on.

On Saturday, Ben sees his new room in his dad’s apartment and plans on how he is going to decorate it. He learns that Wyatt lives nearby and the two go to Sonic. Meanwhile, Charlotte declines an invite from Bridget and decides to play Scrabble with Magda instead.