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abibliophobicbibliophile's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
blondetheoneandonly's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
soul_of_sunflowers's review
5.0
This was so good! There are some pretty heavy topics but it was handled wonderfully.
mclarenmallory's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I loved this! Perfect amount of emotion and humor and such a real portrayal that I know many of my students will relate to. The end had me gasping out loud and tearing up.
mrsginthelibrary's review
challenging
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
margaretann84's review against another edition
2.0
I liked the way the narrators were written, and I felt like I could understand both of them and their worries. I've always felt that characters and voice are Hopkins' forte.
Plot-wise, I feel like Closer to Nowhere was trying to do too much in a short span. I feel like some of the subplots could have been either explained differently or omitted entirely, which would have strengthened the main message (living with PTSD) of the book. I know that in real life people often have many, many different things going on that shape them to be and behave in particular ways, but in novels--especially middle-grade novels--too many issues at once overwhelms the reader. In a prose novel, where each of these sub-themes (alcoholism, bullying, family relations) could be explored with more depth, then I could see maybe having them. In this novel-in-verse, however, it felt like most of the themes were shoehorned in. Adding in "pop-culture" references like Harry Potter and all that made the book already seem dated (especially given the recent controversy and the massive stereotyping issues surrounding that series).
Not the worst book I've come across by far, but definitely disappointing.
Plot-wise, I feel like Closer to Nowhere was trying to do too much in a short span. I feel like some of the subplots could have been either explained differently or omitted entirely, which would have strengthened the main message (living with PTSD) of the book. I know that in real life people often have many, many different things going on that shape them to be and behave in particular ways, but in novels--especially middle-grade novels--too many issues at once overwhelms the reader. In a prose novel, where each of these sub-themes (alcoholism, bullying, family relations) could be explored with more depth, then I could see maybe having them. In this novel-in-verse, however, it felt like most of the themes were shoehorned in. Adding in "pop-culture" references like Harry Potter and all that made the book already seem dated (especially given the recent controversy and the massive stereotyping issues surrounding that series).
Not the worst book I've come across by far, but definitely disappointing.
aryelweasley's review against another edition
5.0
This book was phenomenal.
Covers topics like the death of a parent, parent in jail, domestic violence, parental substance abuse, living with a foster kid/cousin, parents splitting, family judgment, PTSD, etc. all in a child-friendly way that's easy to understand and makes you think. This book was utterly heart-wrenching, I cried more than once. It had beautiful character development, believable family dynamics, real-world issues, all while told from the perspectives of two very different kids living under the same roof.
Covers topics like the death of a parent, parent in jail, domestic violence, parental substance abuse, living with a foster kid/cousin, parents splitting, family judgment, PTSD, etc. all in a child-friendly way that's easy to understand and makes you think. This book was utterly heart-wrenching, I cried more than once. It had beautiful character development, believable family dynamics, real-world issues, all while told from the perspectives of two very different kids living under the same roof.
khaleesimod93's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The writing took a bit to get used to, especially since the narrators were two 12 year old kids. Following their thought process wasn't easy. They were both so different. Not just with one being a boy and the other a girl, but two very different POVs, two different ways of thinking, and two different life experiences. Cal has not had it easy. His mother died, his dad in jail, and he doesn't think like everyone else. I'm not sure if the author meant to write it the way she did, but she wrote someone on the autism spectrum so darn well. The outbursts, the way his mind works, not fitting in, and hates his routine disrupted. I loved his pov. It reminds me a lot of my oldest son. How he views the world and Cal's POV helped me understand my own kid a little better. Hannah's mind was so different from Cal. I could tell how much she resented and hated him for some things he couldn't control. And she didn't understand why he acted that way. As the book goes on, you start to see how she learns about Cal's past and starts to understand. I really love how the author tackled so many issues from the POV of two children. Amazing story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug abuse, Death of parent, and Child abuse
melmattocks21's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
evamadera1's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I enjoyed this book a lot more than I expected, especially since this was the third middle grades novel that I had read via audiobook in the same day. (Trying to do better on not overloading myself going forward.)
Hopkins crafted unique voices for each of the main characters, cousins, dealing with a whole lot of life changes that have happened in the past couple years for them with the death of the mother of one of the cousins, the aunt of the other, as a well as numerous other things. I knew, and would have even without the different narrators for each character, which character narrated the chapters.
The nuance in the story as the relationship between these two 12 year olds grows and changes I found so realistic and both heartbreaking and heartwarming.
After finishing the story, I looked up the author because her name sounded familiar and realized that I had indeed read a novel by her before. Even though I did not end up vibing with that other story, I could still see her craftsmanship in that novel, Crank, and recognized it in this middle grade work from her.
Hopkins crafted unique voices for each of the main characters, cousins, dealing with a whole lot of life changes that have happened in the past couple years for them with the death of the mother of one of the cousins, the aunt of the other, as a well as numerous other things. I knew, and would have even without the different narrators for each character, which character narrated the chapters.
The nuance in the story as the relationship between these two 12 year olds grows and changes I found so realistic and both heartbreaking and heartwarming.
After finishing the story, I looked up the author because her name sounded familiar and realized that I had indeed read a novel by her before. Even though I did not end up vibing with that other story, I could still see her craftsmanship in that novel, Crank, and recognized it in this middle grade work from her.