83 pages • 2 hours read
Val EmmichDear Evan Hansen
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2018A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Dear Evan Hansen by Val Emmich follows Evan Hansen, a socially anxious high school senior who unintentionally becomes entangled in a lie after classmate Connor Murphy dies by suicide. Believing a therapy letter of Evan’s was written by Connor, Connor's grieving family finds solace, leading Evan to perpetuate the falsehood in an attempt to bring comfort and gain a sense of belonging. Topics of suicide and mental health challenges are addressed.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Dear Evan Hansen by Val Emmich captures the emotional depth and complexity of its Broadway predecessor. Readers praise its heartfelt portrayal of teenage anxiety and the search for belonging, though some find the plot predictable and reliant on the musical's success. Overall, it effectively translates the story to a new medium, resonating particularly with young adult audiences.
Who Should Read Dear Evan Hansen?
Ideal for teens and young adults grappling with identity, loneliness, and mental health, readers of Val Emmich's Dear Evan Hansen will appreciate relatable characters and emotive storytelling. Fans of John Green's The Fault in Our Stars and Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why will find this book particularly compelling.