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Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite
And Far Between by Alex Stearns follows Jimmy Stone's tumultuous summer as the pre-teen moves through a fractured relationship with his abusive, alcoholic mother, her partner Paul, and the cruel power imbalance of “friends” like Fred and Mike. Jimmy has dreams of an escape route and of improving his station in life, and his love for football might be the way, especially after he impresses a football coach and is invited to join the team. However, Fred's jealousy and attempts to sabotage Jimmy's new opportunities—along with a violent altercation between them—threaten his chance at a better future. Within the storm, Jimmy finds happiness in his budding relationship with Maddie and the support of his grandparents, as well as new friends in a different social circle, many of whom can see beyond the obstacles in Jimmy's life.
And Far Between by Alex Stearns is well-written, and probably one of the most authentic, heartfelt coming-of-age stories within the confines of poverty, neglect, and abuse. Stearns excels in building authentic characters whose troubles feel raw, and whose experiences are unfiltered. I like that Stearns depicts the different outcomes that children in a cycle of abuse can have. Jimmy's mother is a substance-abusing mess, and Fred hails from an overtly racist family. Their turbulence is the same but the trajectories of flight are different. Maddie is my favorite character, and Joe is the perfect bridge to the world Jimmy wants to enter. Overall, this is a firecracker of a YA novel that takes readers through the full range of emotions, with a kid we desperately want to see succeed. Very highly recommended.
