What About Will

by Ellen Hopkins

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Ellen Hopkin's comes a new heartbreakingly tender middle grade novel-in-verse about the bonds between two brothers and the love they share.

Twelve-year-old Trace Reynolds has always looked up to his brother, mostly because Will, who's five years older, has never looked down on him. It was Will who taught Trace to ride a bike, would watch sports on TV with him, and cheer him on at little league. But when Will was knocked out cold during a football game, resulting in a brain injury--everything changed. Now, sixteen months later, their family is still living under the weight of the incident, that left Will with a facial tic, depression, and an anger he cannot always control, culminating in their parents' divorce. Afraid of further fracturing his family, Trace begins to cover for Will who, struggling with addiction to pain medication, becomes someone Trace doesn't recognize. But when the brother he loves so much becomes more and more withdrawn, and escalates to stealing money and ditching school, Trace realizes some secrets cannot be kept if we ever hope to heal.

Genres: Middle Grade, Poetry, Realistic Fiction, Young Adult, Novel In Verse, Mental Health, Fiction

384 pages, Hardcover

First published September 14, 2021

About the author

Ellen Hopkins is the New York Times bestselling author of Crank, Burned, Impulse, Glass, Identical, Tricks, Fallout, Perfect, Triangles, Tilt, and Collateral. She lives in Carson City, Nevada, with her husband and son. Hopkin's Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and Pinterest pages get thousands of hits from teens who claim Hopkins is the "only one who understands me", and she can be visited at ellenhopkins.com.

Like most of you here, books are my life. Reading is a passion, but writing is the biggest part of me. Balance is my greatest challenge, as I love my family, friends, animals and home, but also love traveling to meet my readers. Hope I meet many of you soon!

Reviews

[Jessica White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ellen Hopkins writing middle grade novels makes my heart so happy.

Like most of her books, What About Will was written in verse. This writing style makes it so easy to fly through her books, which is probably why I read this entire book in like.....4 hours.

What About Will is the story of two brothers, Will and Trace. The story is told through Trace's point of view and details Will's downward spiral. Trace tries not to upset Will because he knows his anger is related to the traumatic brain injury he suffered while playing football. But Trace misses the brother he used to have. He wants to help, even if he is only 12.

Trace notices Will becoming more and more withdrawn everyday. He tries to tell his overworked dad and absentee mom, but they both brush it off as high school stress. At one point, Trace's mom tells him she's sure he'll go through this phase one day too. But Trace knows deep down that this is different.

What I love about Ellen Hopkins is that even in this middle grade novel, she refuses to shy away from tough topics. This book deals with absentee parents, prison, addiction, and even rehab. Kids today need books like this because there's a good chance someone in your class is going through the same things. Hopkins knows that first hand and regularly writes about things going on in her life. The kids she's raising are all familiar with these topics because they're living it.

This review and reviews for literally all of Ellen Hopkins' books can be found at A Reader's Diary!

[Gary Anderson]

Trace is a good kid and the central voice in What About Will (Putnam, 2021), the new novel in verse for middle-grade readers from Ellen Hopkins. Trace has good instincts and a solid moral code, but he also finds himself in a lot of situations with family and friends that cause self-doubt. Trace’s mother is a traveling rock musician divorced from Trace’s father, a man who tries to be a responsible dad but spends too much time away from home. Trace is talented at baseball, but his new teammate might be even better, and she’s a girl.

And then there is Will, Trace’s older brother.

Will has never been the same since suffering a football injury, and lately he has been even meaner than usual. Trace loves his brother and wants to give him benefit of the doubt but is unsure how to handle things that seem simultaneously right and wrong. Trace doesn’t know until late in the book that Will is struggling with opioid addiction, but readers will figure it out much sooner because we see the clues that Trace ignores, misunderstands, or downplays.

Ellen Hopkins has crafted powerful novels in verse for a very long time, and What About Will continues her tradition of excellence. Trace’s interior monologue creates empathy, and Hopkins uses a variety of poetic conventions to emphasize his thought patterns, as well as to convey the tone of Trace’s conversations ranging from friendly banter to dramatic confrontations. Through it all, readers are led to consider what exactly makes a family, and what family members owe each other.

What About Will follows Closer to Nowhere, the first Ellen Hopkins middle-grade title. I like the idea that middle-grade readers will become familiar with her work and then discover her young-adult titles when the time is right.

[⋅˚₊‧Draco's girl୨୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read.
Free Verse
Real world Trauma

[Joy Kirr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read. And the sense of urgency the entire time (for me) was palpable. Trace’s older brother Will is a lot like lots of teens these days… only Trace sees that no, he’s NOT “just being a teenager.” I loved the emphasis on telling adults about what you notice - even if it seems as if they wouldn’t want to hear it right then, or it’s probably no big deal. Yes, siblings, tell the adults in your life what is going on when you see that your brother or sister isn’t like they used to be. You could save their life.

[MaryBeth's Bookshelf]

Trace and his big brother, Will, are closer than close. They have to be - it seems like sometimes they're all each other has. Their Dad works full-time to support the boys and their mom has left the family to pursue a career in music. When Will has a horrific football accident, everything changes.

I thought this book was beautifully written and heartfelt. Children have the most honest voices sometimes and I could feel Trace's pain and despair as he wrestled with how to best help his brother without losing him completely. I highly recommend this one for your middle-grade readers.

[TJL · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars.

It would have gotten four if so much time hadn't been spent on that bizarre 1950s-esque "GIRLS playing SPORTS!?!?!" routine that the author kept awkwardly shoving into the story. Where in the hell do you live where a girl playing baseball is that big of a damn controversy?

I have no grace left for social issues being crammed into a story so the author can get woke-points. I just don't.

[Mika · Rating 2 out of 5]

*2.5
Too many sexist comments for my liking. Even if it was a young boy narrating.

[Christine Indorf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will had an accident and after his life changes. He now suffers from depression and facial ticks and the worst is his parents got divorced. So slowly he becomes someone his family doesn't know and in the middle is Trace his younger brother. He would do anything for Will which includes not sharing what is going on in his life. Trace thinks he can protect Will, but at what cost? Slowly things start to unravel and no one knows what will happen to Will? This story was such a great book to read for all ages. When an brain accident happens what will happen to the one involved. Life changes sometimes for the worst or best its just Will can't see it. He blames his mother for leaving. his Dad for not caring enough and getting a girlfriend to replace his mother, and even Trace for just being there. Can we help someone who doesn't act like they want our help. I believe in prayer and this family starts to see that can be one of the answers and many more. Such a wonderful book, I think more for parents who has faced this trail. Highly recommend!!

[Cherlynn | cherreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pills were to make you
better. I never thought they
could be a sickness.

You say Ellen Hopkins and I say sold! #autoread

This is such a raw and well-written book about drug addiction. I'm surprised that it's middle-grade because it covers a wide range of hard-hitting topics from mental health to absent parents. It also does a great job in exploring how one gets addicted to drugs and the vicious cycle an addict gets trapped in.

Despite being a novel-in-verse, the character development is great. I was initially very frustrated with most of the characters because of how self-absorbed they seem but I gradually started to empathise and feel for them. Mr Cobb and Lily were simply awesome.

Only thing was I wish Serene's arc was more fleshed out. Distancing herself appears to be her way of coping but she was a shitty parent even at the end, so I would have liked to hear more about her.

You can't stop
anyone who's determined
to go down a certain path.

You can tell them you think
it's wrong. that you're scared
for them, even. But you can't
stop them because decisions
like that are totally their own.

The best you can do
is keep loving them.

[rue mortensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

rtc.

[Jasper Domondon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to see how well this book addresses addiction that is targeted towards a younger audience (junior high level). The writing style was definitely something that needed to get used to, but it grew on me (especially because it made reading this book faster 😂). I thought this book provided several good insights about how addiction or crime can turn a young person's life around for the worse. I also really liked how the book addresses the main character's (Trace) relationship with his mother in a way that is unique and unfortunately relatable to many.

However, there were certain the things that I wished the book covered more deeply. For one thing, I wished we got to know more about the relationship between Trace and his brother Will before the accident. That would have made it easier to invest and support Trace and Will's relationship throughout the story. This leads to my next issue, which is that we don't really get to see much of Will nor his interaction with the family. Although you could argue that this is to show how his mental health problems are causing him to withdrawal from his family members, I think this took away the potential to explore the mental health struggles that Will faces and made the first 2/3 of the story uneventful (since the whole point should be about Trace's relationship with Will, as implied in the title). I also found the ending to be quite incomplete and unsatisfying. I think the book would have benefitted from a prologue or a few more pages.

[rowan ꩜ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
i thought it was great that a middle grade book touched on the topic of a sibling dealing with addiction medicine.. but especially in the beginning of the book theres this girl who joins the MC's Little League baseball team. they've never had a girl playing before and the MC keeps saying like, "wow, i've never seen a girl playing baseball etc etc" it was annoying cuz like "dude at one point u must have seen girls playing sports, ball etc. especially when he says that his family liked watching the Winter olympics... so i guess they only watched the Men's competitions... ???
apart from taht (MC and the girl did become good friends and he didnt remark anymore about her playing ball, thank GOD) it was a really good book. i would recommend just try to keep calm while reading the MC's sexist remarks.

[Patti Sabik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being a fan of Ellen Hopkins for some time now, I'm so very happy she is finally writing for the middle school audience. As a parent, I was thrilled when my own daughter coveted every book she read by Hopkins in high school and as a middle school librarian I've been recommending her to my 8th graders fervently. I'm thrilled to now have Hopkins on my shelf that I can confidently recommend to my students.
"What About Will" is a page-turner and a gut-punching quick read. It is just what many of my young teens are looking for when they come into my library. Hopkins makes the reader walk in Trace's shoes and see through his eyes. By the last page, you feel like you have experienced Trace's pain and loss over his brother's tragedy.

[Kadi P · Rating 4 out of 5]

RTC soon...

[Eileen Mackintosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are a couple of reasons why this was a one day read for me. One is the verse writing style and the other reason is the quality story. It is intended for readers aged 10 and up. I am a huge distance from 10 (68) and I know times have changed since I was! I am sure when I was that age I would not have been reading about divorce, drugs and depression. I think things have changed for the better if there are books like this. This is a story about a young boy of 12, who is hoping for a return of his former family, discovering that a new family could even be better. #indigoemployee

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one. I think it’s such a good middle grade that deals with some series topics and events that happen to a lot of kids. This actually made me tear up at one point. I do think the parents were awful though.

[Christine (KizzieReads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't feel the impact that I normally do with an Ellen Hopkins book. Don't get me wrong, it was still good, and there were parts I related to, but I just felt it was lacking a bit. A lot of girls in sports comments, but I was also frustrated with Trace for not telling his dad everything that Will was doing. It's hard to help or fix a situation when you don't know what's really going on.

[Beth Honeycutt · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ Excellent novel in verse!

[Raven 🖤 · Rating 5 out of 5]

it started a tad bit slow, but then it picked up fast. I felt a lot of emotions reading this. the main two being sad and frustrated. the topic(s) in this book were sad..so that put me in a sad mood kinda. I actually enjoyed this book honestly. Once I started to really get into it, I couldn't stop picking it up. would definitely recommend this.

[Erin Cataldi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never realized that Ellen Hopkins wrote middle grade books! What About Will is so masterfully done. Ellen writes in her trademark style, putting together a novel in verse that will rip your heart out. 12 year old Trace constantly worries about his older brother Will. Ever since he suffered a catastrophic brain injury during a football game, he hasn't been the same. He's mean, moody, and never leaves his room. Trace thinks that there is something else going on but his mom is never around, his dad is always so busy working, and he doesn't want Will to get mad at him for "tattling." Thankfully he has a new friend to share his concerns with, a new girl who has joined his little league team who has some relatable problems going on in her own home. Heartbreaking, funny, and hopeful. I love Ellen Hopkins!

[Heaven Adore · Rating 4 out of 5]

NEW REVIEW (2025) -

I still think there needs to be a book 2. xD It was quite lovely being able to revisit this book. I honestly forgot how sad it was like the gravity of the heaviness hit me differently than when I first read it. Perhaps it's because I've experienced a little more life since then and have grown to be more emotional/sensitive. But for a MG book, Hopkins tackles the heavy subjects of grief, depression, and addiction so well.

The verse novel format makes you want to just keep reading, like whenever I picked it up, it was hard to put it down sometimes. And I think because the characters and the story are so well-developed, that played a part as well. It was easy to get invested, and I love that.

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.
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OLD REVIEW -
We need a book 2, haha. This was a fantastic read! I was not expecting to like it so much. I typically don't read non-Tim Shoemaker 400 pages books within 2 days, but I had a hard time putting "What About Will" down. I was on the edge of my seat whenever I turned to another page on my e-reader the entire time, wondering what would happen next.

The author captures the emotions very well. You feel the pain that Trace has because his brother is slowly drifting away. On top of that, his parents got a divorce and found new "loves of their lives." So much change is happening! You just want to cry with Trace and give him so many hugs.

I also really like the in-verse style of writing. It's much like poetry, which I thought was very unique. It reminded me of "Inside Out and Back Again" by Thanhhá Lai.

Now, there were a few things I disliked, which is why I gave it 4 stars.

Will and Trace's Dad worked at a casino, h**k was used (only once though) and there was a substitute for a cuss word (*facepalm*).

Because of the intensity of everything, I'd say this book would be best for kids ages 13 and up. Although it is classified as a MG, I feel like it's a bit much for that genre. Nevertheless, it was a great read!

[Alexis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh. My. Goodness. I could not put down this book in verse. The emotions were so raw and powerful throughout this entire book, but it wasn’t draining. This is an important book to show what kids go through, when to ask for help, and to know that no matter what may be going on, you are never a long. It’s a must read.

[mya · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don’t know why people think breaking up sentences into multiple lines makes it poetry. This was a normal prose novel formatted weirdly that takes up way more pages than it needs to. It might as well have been in normal writing. I kind of cringed at the formatting because it seemed like it was trying hard to be poetic and artsy when it just wasn’t.

Also cringed at all the weird comments about girls? And how it’s a shock to the main characters that they can play sports and do robotics? Because they thought most girls were useless and shallow and it was hard to believe that they could be decent human beings?

I wanted to like the story more, but it was just so slow. And I was a lot more interested in Will than the main character. His character was done kind of well, and I think I would’ve liked this better if it was at least half in his point of view and formatted/written normally.

[Haley Guendling · Rating 1 out of 5]

Such a boring book. The only reason I kept reading it was because I was waiting for The authors famous finale or twist but literally nothing happened the whole book. It lacked the authors usual imagery and details. It was literally just an ongoing story following a family with nothing THAT unusual or exciting happening. I love this author, and it’s the first time I have been truly disappointed by one of her books.

[Katlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

What About Will is a middle grade novel told from the perspective of Trace, a 12-year-old boy. Along the way, we come to understand Trace’s thoughts and feelings about his older brother Will, who is struggling with his mental health after suffering a TBI. Trace also grapples with longing for his absent mother and accepting his dad’s new relationship.

The book is written in the poetic verse that Hopkins has made herself rightfully famous for. It tackles hard topics in a way that preteen readers can understand, but also moved me as an adult. As a therapist, I appreciate the way Hopkins handled the complex issues presented in this novel.

I have been a fan of Ellen Hopkins since I was a young teenager. I haven’t read her work in over a decade, but I am glad I decided to pick up What About Will.

[Abbie Lawalin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read several of Ellen Hopkins other books and was excited to see how she tackled this subject matter but geared toward middle school-aged kids. She does a good job talking about how life can take quick turns and how that can be hard for adults and kids to navigate. Many kids think life will always be how it has been for them and then struggle to accept and adjust when things change. She does a good job in the end, telling kids to talk to adults to help process life, and if they think something is wrong, keep telling an adult.

[ALI · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did not pick a good mental health day to finish this!

[Lauren Phelps · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tough issues are handled really well in this book.

[Tanya Prax · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Meagan Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rated 3.5