Dear Evan Hansen

YA fiction 

     Evan Hansen, protagonist of Val Emmich, Steven Levinson, Benj Pasjek, and Justin Paul's Dear Evan Hansen, writes letters to himself.  It's an assignment he got from his therapist.  It's supposed to make him more optimistic.  Only it's not exactly working.

     Evan feels alone in the world.  He's invisible to his peers.  His mother is almost always at work or school.  Sometimes the only contact he has with her is handwritten positivity messages from horoscopes.

     Then one day his self letter gets taken by a classmate who commits suicide shortly afterward.  Somehow Connor's parents get the idea that Connor wrote the letter right before killing himself--a final message to a close friend.  They start inviting Evan to visit, eager to see previously unknown things about their son.

     At first this all feels extremely awkward to Evan.  But soon he realizes that he's bringing comfort to Connor's family.  Not to mention he has a major crush on Connor's little sister, Zoe.  But mostly Evan finally feels like he's he's included, he belongs, he matters.  But even as he tells lie after lie and creates evidence to back them up...

     ...he realizes it can't go on forever.  When the truth comes out he'll lose everyone he's come to care about.

     An authors' note tells readers:  "This story is a work of fiction, but the reality is that anyone anywhere can feel as if they have nobody to reach out to.  No one should ever feel they have to suffer in silence.  We need to keep talking about mental health and continue to reach out to those who might be suffering."

On a purrrsonal note, yesterday morning I met with Jasmine to discuss what I'll do as an Upward Bound volunteer.  One of the things we brainstormed was what kind of workshops I'll plan and lead.  I'll be doing things in June beginning next week.  So dining won't get me until August.  It's going to be a great summer ☀️.   (Jules)

As long as she spends plenty of time with her best little cat 🐈 😻 🐈‍⬛️ ❤️ in the world.  (Tobago)

A great big shout out goes out to Jasmine.

Tobago and Jules Hathaway 

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