Closer to Nowhere
Readers rate it 4.4 (5 on Hardcover)
418 pages · Released Oct 6, 2020 · Penguin
Content report card
Closer to Nowhere parent’s guide: what’s inside
Sexual content
LGBTQ+ themes
Substance use
What it offers
A note for parents
Ellen Hopkins's novel in verse explores grief, family conflict, and belonging through the dual perspectives of two cousins navigating loss and adjustment. The book addresses mature emotional themes—particularly Cal's unprocessed grief after his mother's death—but handles them with sensitivity appropriate for upper middle grade readers. While there is some mild language and references to difficult family circumstances, the story ultimately celebrates resilience, empathy, and the importance of honest communication within families.
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From the publisher
#1 New York Times bestselling author Ellen Hopkins's poignant middle grade novel in verse about coming to terms with indelible truths of family and belonging. For the most part, Hannah's life is just how she wants it. She has two supportive parents, she's popular at school, and she's been killing it at gymnastics. But... #1 New York Times bestselling author Ellen Hopkins's poignant middle grade novel in verse about coming to terms with indelible truths of family and belonging. For the most part, Hannah's life is just how she wants it. She has two supportive parents, she's popular at school, and she's been killing it at gymnastics. But when her cousin Cal moves in with her family, everything changes. Cal tells half-truths and tall tales, pranks Hannah constantly, and seems to be the reason her parents are fighting more and more. Nothing is how it used to be. She knows that Cal went through a lot after his mom died and she is trying to be patient, but most days Hannah just wishes Cal never moved in. For his part, Cal is trying his hardest to fit in, but not everyone is as appreciative of his unique sense of humor and storytelling gifts as he is. Humor and stories might be his defense mechanism, but if Cal doesn't let his walls down soon, he might push away the very people who are trying their best to love him. Told in verse from the alternating perspectives of Hannah and Cal, this is a story of two cousins who are more alike than they realize and the family they both want to save.
Shelved under
- Juvenile Fiction
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ISBN 9780593108611 · Penguin