Shay and Coral are eighth graders with very different home and school lives. Coral lives in a house with her parents and brother, while Shay and her mother stay at a campground delegated for homeless people. Her teachers and close friends hold Coral in high esteem, but Shay feels ostracized. A speech contest with a significant award places Coral and Shay in a competition, and they discover more about themselves as they write and recite their speeches. Each girl has a chance to win and take the prize, but one of the girls may have a little magical help along the way. You can learn more in Close Yet Far by Roberta R. Carr and Sierra Treewater.

Roberta R. Carr and Sierra Treewater have written a fantastic tale. Treewater is a seventh grader, so her contribution to the story is impressive! The authors share just enough about the characters to grab our attention and immerse us in the story. It moves along at a medium pace, and Meli’s appearance, though startling, provides some comic relief and encourages Shay’s confidence. Sensitive subjects like the dangers associated with homelessness, bullying, and gun violence are touched on, but the story remains appropriate for the targeted age group. The actions of the principal and Shay’s circumstances would make great conversation-starters, and the guided questions for book clubs are helpful. Close Yet Far is an excellent gift for a preteen, and it will make a lovely addition to any middle school library.

Close Yet Far by Roberta R. Carr and Sierra Treewater is a coming-of-age story about two eighth-grade girls from widely different backgrounds coming head to head under extraordinary circumstances. Thirteen-year-old Coral Robertson is the leader of the most popular clique of Bay Vista Middle School, the Fab Four. Meanwhile, Shay O'Brien and her mother live in a tent at a camp for homeless women, somehow surviving one day at a time. When Principal Miguel Delgado organizes a speech contest, the winner of which will represent the school at a tech billionaire's company, together with winning prize money, Shay's and Coral's lives intertwine in ways neither could have fathomed. The prize money would make Shay's and her mother's lives easier, but with Principal Delgado scheming, how will Shay and Coral perform in the worst run contest in middle school history?

With the constant rise in the cost of living all over the world, millions of children are facing homelessness. Roberta R. Carr and Sierra Treewater shed light on this increasingly relevant topic with their gripping young adult novel Close Yet Far. This slice-of-life story touches on some vital social issues while following the lives of two middle-grade girls from contrasting backgrounds. Creating well-developed characters with layers of depth and a thoroughly riveting plot, the authors keep your eyes glued to the pages. The book includes some dramatic scenes you rarely see in stories with teenagers as protagonists. Shay's story will break your heart, but somehow, you end up finishing the book on a positive note. This is an inspiring tale about resilience and having the courage and tenacity to overcome the odds. I highly recommend it.