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    The Children's Book Review

    Close Yet Far, by Roberta R. Carr and Sierra Treewater | Dedicated Review

    Dr. Jen HarrisonBy Dr. Jen Harrison3 Mins Read Ages 9-12 Author Showcase Novels for Kids and Teens
    Close Yet Far by Roberta R Carr and Sierra Treewater Dedicated Review
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    Book Review of Close Yet Far
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    The Children’s Book Review

    Close Yet Far: Book Cover

    Close Yet Far

    Written by Roberta R. Carr and Sierra Treewater

    Illustrated by Collette Treewater and Deb Strand

    Ages 8+ | 224 Pages

    Publisher: Roberta R. Carr | ISBN-13: 979-8218137717

    What to Expect: Friendship, Competition, Bullying, Homelessness, and Identity.

    Written collaboratively by a grandmother and middle-grade granddaughter team, Close Yet Far offers a realistic and thought-provoking glimpse inside the culture and relationships of a typical middle-grade school – including the darker aspects of politics, bullying, and privilege.

    Coral and Shay are both eighth graders, but that’s where the comparison ends. Coral has everything a girl could wish for: she’s popular and intelligent, with nice clothes, loving parents, and plenty of options in life. Shay lives in a tent in a homeless shelter, with barely enough to eat and the weight of responsibility for her mother and herself hanging over her. Their worlds collide only when both girls become finalists in a school speech competition.

    For Coral, winning is about her reputation and her status with her friends, but for Shay, it’s a ticket to college, cash, and a new life for her and her mother. In managing the line between competition and bullying, Coral will find she has much to learn about the world.

    Despite their differences, Coral and Shay are both compelling, believable characters; through their eyes, the novel teaches essential lessons about empathy for others. The school principal is also a key character playing his own game of manipulation, offering readers thought-provoking insights into systemic social justice issues. Best of all, the story provides a little touch of magic, and a large helping of positivity, making this read both instructive and uplifting.

    Close Yet Far is a compelling, thoughtful, and enjoyable read—perfect for the classroom or summer reading.

    Buy the Book
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    About the Authors

    Sierra Treewater, a 7th grader at Davidson Middle School in San Rafael, California, enjoys spending time with her friends, family, and two dogs. Her interests include fashion, make-up, jewelry, and the 49ers. She listens to all types of music and plays club volleyball. Her parents have instilled a love of travel inside her. She enjoys immersing herself in other cultures and looks forward to filling her passport with stamps from countries around the world.

    Roberta R. Carr became a full-time writer after a rewarding business career at Kaiser Permanente. She enjoys creating slice-of-life stories that entertain as well as stir new thoughts. Her travel experiences often weave their way into her plots. She has published five novels and two children’s books and helped her husband write a memoir.

    To learn more about her work, please visit www.robertacarr.com.

    Sierra Treewater and Roberta R. Carr: Author Headshot

    Dedicated Reviews allow authors and illustrators to gain prompt visibility for their work. This is a sponsored*, non-biased review of Close Yet Far. Learn more about getting a book review …

    *Disclosure: Please note that this post may contain affiliate links that share some commission. Rest assured that these will not affect the cost of any products and services promoted here. Our team always provides their authentic opinion in all content published on this site.

    ABCmouse 30-Day Trial + Starter Pack! 728x90
    Books About Identity Bullying Collette Treewater Deb Strand Dedicated Review Friendship Homelessness & Poverty Middle Grade Books Roberta R. Carr Sierra Treewater
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    Dr. Jen Harrison
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    Dr. Jen Harrison provides writing and research services as the CEO of Read.Write.Perfect. She completed her Ph.D. in Children’s and Victorian Literature at Aberystwyth University in Wales, in the UK. After a brief spell in administration, Jen then trained as a secondary school English teacher and worked for several years teaching Secondary School English, working independently as a private tutor of English, and working in nursery and primary schools. She has been an editor for the peer-reviewed journal of children’s literature, Jeunesse, and has published academic work on children’s non-fiction, YA speculative fiction, and the posthuman.

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