The Closest I've Come by Fred Aceves

The Closest I've Come

by Fred Aceves

The Closest I've Come is a must-read from talented debut 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.

Reviewed by Sam@WLABB on

4 of 5 stars

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Marcos didn't have it easy. His mother wasn't very committed to parenting, and he didn't really have any positive male role models. During this story, he discovers a lot about himself, and what it means to be a man. He comes to terms with the fact, that his mother will probably never be who he needs, but realizes that his "boys" are there for him, and that it's not unmanly to share his feelings and concerns with him. He also embraced an opportunity that was thrust upon him, and began to see it as a road to the future he wants. It was nice change of pace to read a coming of age tale for a male character, and I found myself really proud of what Marcos learned and the decisions he ended up making.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 25 June, 2020: Finished reading
  • 25 June, 2020: Reviewed