Close Yet Far by Sierra Treewater & Roberta R. Carr

Close Yet Far by Sierra Treewater and Roberta R. Carr is an emotionally charged novel about Coral and Shay, two bright and ambitious teenagers who lead very different lives. Coral’s perfect family lives in a beautiful house, while Shay and her mother have been homeless since the premature loss of Shay’s father. Thanks to a school speech competition, Shay has a chance to showcase her talent, leading to Coral becoming aware of her privilege. With intimate prose supporting two sensitively drawn protagonists, Close Yet Far is a story about social justice and friendship that will make readers laugh, cry, and reflect in equal measure, handling vital contemporary issues with empathy and nuance, while also offering a strong degree of hope.