An absolutely beautifully-written book! As a 13 year old reader, this is such a magnificent story of an unusual bond between two cousins, one who has an almost-perfect family, the other, has a rather broken family. When the other moves in, things become pretty problematic. It's a story of grief, the value of family, and finding your place. Closer to Nowhere is a beautiful tribute to all kids who feel like they don't fit anywhere. And whenever they try to find a place to fit in, they only feel like they're getting closer to nowhere.