Closer to Nowhere

August 10, 2020
In this two-voicer written in prose poems, Hopkins (People Kill People) tells the story of cousins Hannah Lincoln and Calvin Pace, both sixth graders. Following his mother’s death three years prior and subsequent difficulties with his father, who struggles with drug addiction, Cal is living with Hannah’s family. He likes it there, but he’s been through a lot and doesn’t feel completely safe, and he knows that popular gymnast Hannah isn’t crazy about having a housemate who melts down at school and whose tall tales and disappearances bring chaos into her home life. She admits that things haven’t been great for a while, but it’s hard not to blame Cal when her parents’ marriage seems to be fraying, in part because they disagree about how to handle him. Cal’s an aspiring writer, and his chapters question their own accuracy (“FACT OR FICTION:/ Owls Are Bad Luck”); Hannah’s sections are framed as definitions, as she tries to pin down what’s what. While the headers can feel forced, Hopkins creates realistic portrayals of two kids trying to do their best even when it’s not easy. Ages 10–up. Agent: Laura Rennert, Andrea Brown Literary.

September 1, 2020
Sixth grade cousins learn to navigate complicated family dynamics. Cal came to live with Hannah and her parents nearly 15 months ago. The two share a mean-spirited, alcoholic grandmother; their Italian heritage; and red hair. Hannah, a gymnast and dancer, has enjoyed stability, attention, and affection from her parents. Cal's life has been filled with the loss of his mother at age 9 followed by a period of abuse and neglect by his now-imprisoned father. Cal suffers from PTSD and a defensive kind of vigilance while Hannah resents that Cal's peculiar behavior makes him a target at school. Brief chapters in the first-person voices of Cal and Hannah reveal their divergent personalities. Imaginative Cal describes the world in terms of "Fact or Fiction," his statements and answers offering sometimes wryly ambiguous observations of his experience. Practical and more certain of herself, Hannah's poems with the header "Definition" are a jumping-off point for sharing glimpses into a more physically and emotionally privileged childhood. Hopkins' use of free verse provides a canvas for sure-handed, brush-stroke development of the backstory and plot and emotional investment and identification with the characters. A school lockdown and shooting at the climax of the story allow Cal to demonstrate his new ability to connect with others and to see the ways that kindness can come back around. Compassionate and compelling. (author's note) (Verse fiction. 10-14)

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September 1, 2020
Grades 5-8 The queen of gritty YA novels-in-verse enters the realm of middle-grade literature with this story of a white, middle-class family fracturing under myriad pressures yet refusing to be broken. Hannah Lincoln is monumentally annoyed when her cousin Cal moves in with them after his mother dies. His mood swings and prank-playing have cemented his weird kid status both at home and at school?of course he's in her class, too?and the arguments between Hannah's parents have skyrocketed since Cal's arrival. Hopkins reveals the already-fraying edges of the Lincolns' domestic life as it begins to unravel more rapidly. Hannah's dance recitals and gymnastics meets provide a veneer of normalcy by routinely bringing everyone together, but Cal's PTSD over losing his mother and suffering abuse by his drug-addicted father forces everyone to reassess the truth of their situation. Hannah and Cal narrate in free-verse passages, providing insight into their psyches and Cal's tumultuous past. Hopkins paints a realistic picture of a family undergoing upheaval and learning to better care for one another.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)

November 20, 2020

Gr 5-8-This novel in verse centers cousins Hannah and Cal. Cal is a troubled sixth grader who has been living with Hannah and her family for over a year. Cal's mother died of leukemia three years ago, sending him to live with his father (who is abusive and experiences drug addiction) until his father's imprisonment. Cal and Hannah share a mean alcoholic grandmother, but Hannah has had a completely different upbringing from Cal. She has thrived from a stable family, gymnastics, and dance-she isn't thrilled when volatile Cal is thrust into her life. Told through the two tweens' alternating voices, readers soon understand Cal's frustration and inability to accept help, often running away in his attempts to cool down. Hannah's jealousy of Cal receiving extra attention from her family is understandable, and readers see that even stable families have major ups and downs. The short chapters reveal each character's personality. Cal is an aspiring writer and his chapters begin with "Fact or Fiction," where he reveals much of what he's thinking or experiencing. Hannah's chapters begin with "Definition," as she is attempting to understand Cal's hardships and become more sympathetic to him and her own family. Hannah and Cal bond over their shared difficulties with their grandmother, and their witnessing of Hannah's parents' marital problems. Hopkins ends her book with a poignant note explaining how she based Cal on her own grandson, who came to live with her family after his mom (Hopkins's daughter, who also experienced substance abuse) abandoned him, leaving him with severe PTSD. While he still has breakdowns like Cal, he has many strengths and a big heart, just as Cal does. VERDICT Readers will root for these realistic characters, and will cheer for the growth they experience. Highly recommended.-Michele Shaw, formerly at Quail Run Elem. Sch., San Ramon, CA

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