The Closest I've Come [Paperback]

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

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

The Closest I’ve Comeis a must-read from talented first-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 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.

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 isn’t about acting tough and being macho; it’s about being true to yourself.

The Closest I’ve Comeis a story about traversing real and imagined boundaries, about discovering new things in the world, and about discovering yourself, too.

“Aceves has written a remarkable debut novel. Every reader will enjoy Aceves’s deft handling of this coming-of-age journey.The Closest I’ve Comewill be a welcome addition to the growing cannon of quality urban young adult literature.” -Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

“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 ofWhen I Was the Greatest.” -B&N Teen Blog

“A story that will have readers cheering by l�