Sunday, March 1, 2020

What If It's Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera

Title: What If It's Us
Authors: Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: October 9, 2018

Format: eBook
Price: $10.99
Page Count: 448 pages
ISBN-13: 9780062795243

Reading Level: Grades 9 and up (ages 14+)
Lexile: HL 610L
Interest Level: Grades 9 and up (ages 14+)

Annotation: Two teen boys meet in a New York City post office and try everything to find each other again after losing their first chance to connect.

Plot and Content Summary: Told in dual perspective, What If It's Us follows two gay teenage boys: Broadway-loving, quirky Arthur, who is in New York City for the summer as an intern at his mom's law office, and NYC native Ben, who is currently taking summer school to graduate on time, writing a fantasy novel as his side hobby, and getting over a break-up. Ben is at the post office to mail his ex-boyfriend's things back to him, and Arthur gains the courage to approach him. Although they chat and, quite possibly, feel a spark, Ben ends up leaving before they exchange contact information. Arthur is desperate to see him again, so he does everything he can to track Ben down. Little does he know, Ben is doing the same.

Evaluation: What If It's Us is guaranteed to be a hit among teens. Equal parts comedic, fluffy, and just an adventure to read, the Albertalli-Silvera duo is, as expected, entertaining. With both perspectives of Ben and Arthur, Albertalli and Silvera captures both personalities so well. We get a realistic look at how two teen boys struggle through the beginnings of a new relationship and how their issues, big and small, are dealt with—showing up on time, interacting with ex-boyfriends, etc. Albertalli and Silvera took on these conflicts well and did not just breeze through them. Sometimes, relationships are difficult, no matter how much we want things to work out. What If It's Us did not just focus on Ben and Arthur's relationship, however. We were able to see the dynamics between the two of them, alongside their parents, friends, and even co-workers. Glimpses into the lives of their families and friends provided a deeper look at who Ben and Arthur are. Despite the convenience of many events, it really was a fun read.

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: Although Ben and Arthur are fresh in their new relationship, there are a lot of things that come up and warrant discussion. Ben is no longer hung up on his ex-boyfriend, but Arthur harbors negative feelings about it because he thinks they are in secret contact. Because he is unsure of their situation, it causes some hurt. It takes some time for Ben to talk to him about it, which is understandable, and Ben eventually confesses his true thoughts about him and his ex-boyfriend. This can be a great lesson for teens, that being honest is necessary in a relationship. Even though Ben assured Arthur he had nothing to worry about, Ben was still willing to sort it out in detail so Arthur would be okay. This is an ongoing theme in the entirety of What If It's Us.

Issues Present: What If It's Us will probably be challenged, if it has not yet, for containing LGBTQ+ content. For those who are not comfortable with talking about their sexuality, this can bring a small source of hope. Both Ben and Arthur's parents are accepting of Ben and Arthur's sexual preferences, which means they have adults to walk alongside them and support them. However, this book is not immune to the discrimination that those who identify as LGBTQ+ receive. While Ben and Arthur are on the metro, a father with his child calls them out and says they should not be cuddling in public. He tells them he does not want his child to see it because it is wrong, and Arthur gets scared. He tells Ben he did not think something like that would happen in New York City, of all places. This is the reality, and can show teens who share the same feelings as the dad to take on a new perspective. At the very least, teens will see themselves represented in What If It's Us. Reading this can help teens understand their sexuality and open them up to speak about it with people they trust. This is the hope, that if they do not have it now, that there would one day come friends and family who will support them no matter what.

Book Talk Ideas: "I believe in love at first sight. Fate, the universe, all of it ... I just think you're meant to meet some people. I think the universe nudges them into your path." (p. 7) Arthur talks a lot about fate and "the universe" bringing him and Ben together. Why do you think he feels this way? How has fate played a role (or not played a role) in their relationship?

  • Why is Ben embarrassed about taking summer school?
  • Arthur is passionate about Broadway and Ben is passionate about writing. How do these two forms of art play into the way these two get to know each other? How does Arthur use Broadway music and Ben use his story to express themselves?

Genre/Subgenres: Realistic fiction; LGBTQ+ fiction

Readalikes: Bloom by Kevin Panetta, This Train is Being Held by Ismee Williams, This is Kind of an Epic Love Story by Kacen Callender

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