{"product_id":"the-closest-ive-come-isbn-9780062488534","title":"The Closest I've Come","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRead the book Morris Award finalist Sonia Patel called \"a brilliant, subtle debut,\" and \u003cem\u003eKirkus \u003c\/em\u003ehailed as \"heart-wrenching, funny, hopeful, and not-to-be-missed\" in a starred review!\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Closest I’ve Come\u003c\/em\u003e is a must-read from talented first-time author Fred Aceves, in the tradition of Walter Dean Myers.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMarcos Rivas yearns for love, a working cell phone, and maybe a pair of sneakers that aren’t falling apart. But more than anything, Marcos wants to get out of Maesta, his hood, away from his indifferent mom and her abusive boyfriend—which seems impossible.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen 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 isn’t about acting tough and being macho; it’s about being true to yourself.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Closest I’ve Come \u003c\/em\u003eis a story about traversing real and imagined boundaries, about discovering new things in the world, and about discovering yourself, too.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA \u003cem\u003eKirkus \u003c\/em\u003eBest Book of 2017 * A New York Public Library Best Book of the Year * An ALA\/YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults Selection\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e | \u003cp\u003e“Aceves has written a remarkable debut novel. Every reader will enjoy Aceves’s deft handling of this coming-of-age journey. \u003cem\u003eThe Closest I’ve Come\u003c\/em\u003e will be a welcome addition to the growing cannon of quality urban young adult literature.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eVoice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“It takes about half a page of this debut to become convinced Aceves is an author to watch, but there’s no point at which you’ll want to put down his strongly voiced coming-of-age, perfect for fans of \u003cem\u003eWhen I Was the Greatest\u003c\/em\u003e.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eB\u0026amp;N Teen Blog\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“A story that will have readers cheering by the end. An inspirational read.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Recommended for fans of Jason Reynolds and for readers who appreciate gritty and introspective realistic fiction with a sense of humor.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“A memorable, hard-hitting portrait of a teenager trying to shape his own destiny after being dealt a difficult hand.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly (starred review)\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“A debut that’s as stunning as it is powerful, Aceves’ novel is a story is a complex story about family and friendships. Don’t sleep on this one.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePaste Magazine\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“An unflinching portrayal of boyhood and the seemingly impossible circumstances so many young people face.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eElizabeth Acevedo, New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of The Poet X\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“A brilliant, subtle debut.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eSonia Patel, author of Morris Award finalist Rani Patel in Full Effect and Jaya and Rasa: A Love Story\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Aceves infuses the narrative with insight about class, ethnicity, and the intricacies of power between teens and adults, the vitality of Marcos and his friends holding rapt both readers who recognize their world and those who don’t. \u003cstrong\u003eHeart-wrenching, funny, hopeful, and not-to-be-missed.\u003c\/strong\u003e” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews (starred review)\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e★ “Heart-wrenching, funny, hopeful, and not-to-be-missed.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews (starred review)\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Effective, and there’s a refreshing subversion of literary expectation...The accessible writing brings this story to a wide range of readers.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eBulletin of the Center for Children’s Books\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“[E]xplores the nuances of class and ethnicity through the eyes of a hero that readers will love rooting for.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eBookish.com\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“\u003cem\u003eThe Closest I've Come\u003c\/em\u003e is an unflinching portrayal of boyhood and the seemingly impossible circumstances so many young people face. Aceves demonstrates a deft ear in depicting the trials and tribulations, and yes, triumphs, with which Marcos Rivas and his boys contend. You’ll be rooting for them to beat the odds page after page.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eElizabeth Acevedo, New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of The Poet X\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"HarperCollins","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44888428118245,"sku":"NP9780062488534","price":17.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780062488534.jpg?v=1730229066","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/the-closest-ive-come-isbn-9780062488534","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}