A review by library_kb
Closer to Nowhere by Ellen Hopkins

challenging emotional hopeful sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This is a fantastic novel in verse--one that definitely should be added to all school libraries and classroom libraries. It tells the story of Hannah and Cal. They are cousins, but Cal's mom has died of cancer and his father is estranged and so Cal moves in with Hannah and her family, which is a hard transition for the whole family for a variety of reasons, including Cal's PSTD. Both Hannah and Cal's get their own perspectives in the book, which are marked by different fonts (and voices) and so you feel for both characters and the difficulties they are going through. This is a book that will give students more understanding about others behavior and how there is always more going on under the surface that we don't see. It is a book that can encourage empathy in it's reader. 
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