Read the book Morris Award finalist Sonia Patel called "a brilliant, subtle debut," and Kirkus hailed as "heart-wrenching, funny, hopeful, and not-to-be-missed" in a starred review! The Closest I've Come is 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 Come is a story about traversing real and imagined boundaries, about discovering new things in the world, and about discovering yourself, too. A Kirkus Best Book of 2017 A New York Public Library Best Book of the Year An ALA/YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults Selection

Author Biography

Fred Aceves is a Latino author who grew up in a community like the one described in The Closest I've Come. He attended five high schools and worked two jobs, before eventually dropping out of school. He later earned his GED and traveled around the world. He was born in the Unites States and currently lives in Mexico (his father's native land) where he teaches English as a Second Language. The Closest I've Come is his first novel.