by Val Emmich
First published 2019
Evan Hansen battles anxiety attacks and believes he will never connect with anyone. He feels empty and excluded while watching others perform perfect lives on social media. When Evan writes a heartfelt letter to himself as a therapy exercise, it ends up in the wrong hands. This mistake launches an unexpected movement for kindness that transforms his community. Suddenly Evan finds himself at the center of attention he never wanted. He faces his biggest opportunity yet to be recognized and heard. As the situation spirals beyond his control, Evan must decide whether to tell the truth or continue living a lie. He discovers what it means to forge real connections, make a lasting impact, and experience the strange phenomenon of love. The story explores how one person's struggle with mental health and belonging can accidentally spark change in others.
Genres: family-life, mental-health, coming-of-age, contemporary
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, unexpected-hero
Setting: Community
Period: 21st-century
352 pages · Paperback · Planeta Publishing
Content warnings: anxiety, mental-illness