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kacat's review against another edition
4.0
7.86 on CAWPILE.
A fast, well-written novel in verse.
I found Hannah slightly annoying (ok, really annoying) in the beginning but her character development is great. And she is actually pretty relatable, and her feelings are understandable under the circumstances.
Cal is a great character, in the start I wasn't sure what to think of him but the more I read, the more I understood this misunderstood character.
I definitely thought it could have been longer, but I still enjoyed it. And the cover is gorgeous too!
A fast, well-written novel in verse.
I found Hannah slightly annoying (ok, really annoying) in the beginning but her character development is great. And she is actually pretty relatable, and her feelings are understandable under the circumstances.
Cal is a great character, in the start I wasn't sure what to think of him but the more I read, the more I understood this misunderstood character.
I definitely thought it could have been longer, but I still enjoyed it. And the cover is gorgeous too!
kateelam's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
fast-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
This book had a lot of things I enjoy in middle grade stories: found family, dual perspective, characters with emotional maturity at a young age, and stylistic choices that help drive the narrative. This story, like Hopkins' other works, is written in prose.
Hannah's chapters follow a format of defining a word that drives the topic of the chapter. She is grounded in her worldview that everything should follow specific expectations and rules.
Cal's chapters start as a fact or fiction statement that he elaborates on. He uses hyperbole on occasion to help hide or explain his own trauma in a really sad but touching way.
I really enjoyed the pacing of this story and both Hannah and Cal were wonderful characters that I liked equally, and the audiobook is fantastic.
Hannah's chapters follow a format of defining a word that drives the topic of the chapter. She is grounded in her worldview that everything should follow specific expectations and rules.
Cal's chapters start as a fact or fiction statement that he elaborates on. He uses hyperbole on occasion to help hide or explain his own trauma in a really sad but touching way.
I really enjoyed the pacing of this story and both Hannah and Cal were wonderful characters that I liked equally, and the audiobook is fantastic.
morganthelibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
Another fantastic read from Ellen Hopkins!! I was so excited to pick up a middle grade novel from her, and she did not disappoint. “Closer to Nowhere” follows two tween cousins who are dealing with grief, PTSD, and the woes of middle school.
I loved the formats of Cal and Hannah’s chapters. The definition headers were super fun, and Fact or Fiction in Cal’s were perfect for his character. Anytime he dreamt up a new story I would eat it up, the kid really is talented. Hopkins did such a great job portraying these two kids and their thought processes. I felt for Cal so much and just wanted to hug him.
I would recommend this book for any middle grade readers, as well as teens and adults. It’s a quick read and covers such important topics for kiddos.
Thanks to the folks at Netgalley for a digital ARC!
I loved the formats of Cal and Hannah’s chapters. The definition headers were super fun, and Fact or Fiction in Cal’s were perfect for his character. Anytime he dreamt up a new story I would eat it up, the kid really is talented. Hopkins did such a great job portraying these two kids and their thought processes. I felt for Cal so much and just wanted to hug him.
I would recommend this book for any middle grade readers, as well as teens and adults. It’s a quick read and covers such important topics for kiddos.
Thanks to the folks at Netgalley for a digital ARC!
arri_09's review against another edition
3.0
This was cool. For a sec i thought Cal was short for Calvin loll. The book was really fun to read but i hated the fact that the book had over 400 pages but 99% of the book was a blank space. The author left so many huge spaces in the books so it was hard to read. Recommend for ages 10+ because of sensitive subjects like drinking, relationship and child abuse.
harmanmundi's review against another edition
4.0
I liked it. It's not as heavy as some her pervious, given it is middle grade, but that doesn't stop it from being just as impactful as her young adult and adult novels.
cmareads's review against another edition
4.0
Great book for kids that explores unique family situations and different experiences. Cal and Hannah have to figure out how to live together after Carl’s dad is sent to prison. Cal has a hard time trusting this new situation. Hannah doesn’t understand because she wasn’t told about the extent.
thebookrepository's review against another edition
5.0
Ellen Hopkins writes such hard-hitting YA books that cover tough subjects and she does it so well. "Closer to Nowhere" is no exception! This is written for a younger crowd (middle-grade and up) and it fits the bill.
We follow Hannah and her cousin Calvin. Calvin's father is imprisoned shortly after Calvin's mother dies, so Hannah's mother (Calvin's Aunt) take him in in order to avoid Calvin being put in "the system". Calvin is plagued with sometimes erratic behavior and nightmares related to the trauma he has experienced at the hands of his dad and with the death of his beloved mother. Hannah finds it hard to relate to Calvin and views him as an annoyance and an embarrassment at school. When Hannah and Calvin's home life threatens to implode, Hannah and Calvin must come together to help save their family and to better understand each other.
This was a sad, yet heartwarming book and it feels very appropriate for the age group. The author's note at the end really takes the book to a deeper meaning. Hopkins writes in her normal style (in verse) and it makes this book easy and quick to read. For every happy and normal childhood out there, there is a troubled one and I'm glad that authors like Hopkins write for the troubled kids so maybe they can also lose themselves in a book and find something relatable.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers group for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
We follow Hannah and her cousin Calvin. Calvin's father is imprisoned shortly after Calvin's mother dies, so Hannah's mother (Calvin's Aunt) take him in in order to avoid Calvin being put in "the system". Calvin is plagued with sometimes erratic behavior and nightmares related to the trauma he has experienced at the hands of his dad and with the death of his beloved mother. Hannah finds it hard to relate to Calvin and views him as an annoyance and an embarrassment at school. When Hannah and Calvin's home life threatens to implode, Hannah and Calvin must come together to help save their family and to better understand each other.
This was a sad, yet heartwarming book and it feels very appropriate for the age group. The author's note at the end really takes the book to a deeper meaning. Hopkins writes in her normal style (in verse) and it makes this book easy and quick to read. For every happy and normal childhood out there, there is a troubled one and I'm glad that authors like Hopkins write for the troubled kids so maybe they can also lose themselves in a book and find something relatable.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers group for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
maidmarianlib's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Interesting with two points of view, develops the characters well, highly emotional.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol