The Closest I've Come

(Hardback)

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Description

Read the book Morris Award finalist Sonia Patel called "a brilliant, subtle debut," and Kirkus hailed as "heart-wrenching, funny, hopeful, and not-to-be-missed" in a starred review!

The Closest Ive Come is a must-read from talentedfirst-time author Fred Aceves, in the tradition of Walter Dean Myers.

Marcos Rivas yearns for love, a working cell phone, and maybe a pair of sneakers that arent falling apart. But more than anything, Marcos wants to get out of Maesta, his hood, away from his indifferent mom and her abusive boyfriendwhich seems impossible.

When Marcos is placed in a new after-school program, he meets Zach and Amy, whose friendship inspires Marcos to open up to his Maesta crew, too, and starts to think more about his future and what he has to fight for. Marcos ultimately learns that bravery isnt about acting tough and being macho; its about being true to yourself.

The Closest Ive Come is a story about traversing real and imagined boundaries, about discovering new things in the world, and about discovering yourself, too.

AKirkusBest Book of 2017 * A New York Public Library Best Book of the Year *An ALA/YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults Selection

Reviews

Heart-wrenching, funny, hopeful, and not-to-be-missed. Kirkus Reviews(starred review) A memorable, hard-hitting portrait of a teenager trying to shape his own destiny after being dealt a difficult hand. Publishers Weekly (starred review) Aceves has written a remarkable debut novel. Every reader will enjoy Acevess deft handling of this coming-of-age journey. The Closest Ive Come will be a welcome addition to the growing cannon of quality urban young adult literature. Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) An unflinching portrayal of boyhood and the seemingly impossible circumstances so many young people face. Elizabeth Acevedo, New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of The Poet X A brilliant, subtle debut. Sonia Patel, author of Morris Award finalist Rani Patel in Full Effect and Jaya and Rasa: A Love Story A story that will have readers cheering by the end. An inspirational read. Booklist Recommended for fans of Jason Reynolds and for readers who appreciate gritty and introspective realistic fiction with a sense of humor. School Library Journal It takes about half a page of this debut to become convinced Aceves is an author to watch, but theres no point at which youll want to put down his strongly voiced coming-of-age, perfect for fans of When I Was the Greatest. B&N Teen Blog A debut thats as stunning as it is powerful, Aceves novel is a story is a complex story about family and friendships. Dont sleep on this one. Paste Magazine Effective, and theres a refreshing subversion of literary expectation...The accessible writing brings this story to a wide range of readers. Bulletin of the Center for Childrens Books [E]xplores the nuances of class and ethnicity through the eyes of a hero that readers will love rooting for. Bookish.com

Author Bio

Fred Aceves is a Latino author who grew up in a community like the one described in The Closest I've Come. He attended five high schools and worked two jobs, before eventually dropping out of school. He later earned his GED and traveled around the world. He was born in the Unites States and currently lives in Mexico (his father's native land) where he teaches English as a Second Language. The Closest I've Come is his first novel.