A novel by 12-year-old, Sierra Treewater
and her grandmother, Roberta R. Carr.
A novel by 12-year-old, Sierra Treewater
and her grandmother, Roberta R. Carr.
The Story: Thirteen-year-old Coral Robertson is a popular 8th grader at Bay Vista Middle School. Her classmate, Shay O'Brien, is a loner who lives in the shadows. The two girls have nothing in common until they become finalists in a speech contest. What begins as a friendly competition escalates into manipulation and bullying. As Coral struggles with pleasing people and Shay teeters on the edge, their worlds start to unravel. Will Coral and Shay find the courage to face their fears? What is holding them back? Who wins the grand prize?
Check out the trailer.
To order a copy, click here.
Check out the trailer.
To order a copy, click here.
What people are saying about Close Yet Far
Essien Asian from Readers’ Favorite says, "Lingering social issues and the inadequate responses of society establish the theme for this collaboration between Roberta R. Carr and Sierra Treewater. The characters in the story are well fleshed out with adequate attention paid to their origin stories to give the novel the aura of a true-life account. Principal Delgado’s diplomatic dance with the education authorities while trying to keep the teachers in the school on his side serves as an interesting subplot that is as realistic as the world of education administration can be in modern times. Carr and Treewater spare no effort to make the reader aware of the harsh realities of being homeless in America without deviating from the feel-good tone of an unusual story. The speeches are unique and educative while the fairytale element is a masterstroke in comic relief. Close Yet Far is a thought-provoking novel in a class of its own."
Pikasho Deka from Readers' Favorite says, "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."
Courtnee Turner Hoyle from Readers' Favorite says, "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."
Ten-year-old Penny says, "Thank you for the Close Yet Far book, I found it most interesting and am on chapter 6 in only ten minutes."
Twelve-year-old Max says, "Thank you so much for the book! I loved it, and it really pulled me in and was a great story. It was a fascinating tale of someone standing up for themselves, and lots of self growth for everyone. Thanks for putting my name in there too! If you have any future books, let me know!
Self-Publishing Review ★★★★ "An emotionally charged novel. With intimate prose supporting two sensitive 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."
The Children's Book Review "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. .... Close Yet Far is a compelling, thoughtful, and enjoyable read—perfect for the classroom or summer reading."
Close Yet Far is an award-winning book!
I am pleased to announce that Close Yet Far has won an IndieBRAG award! Our book is now listed in their Medallion Honoree library.
IndieBRAG is a privately held organization that has brought together a large group of readers, both individuals and members of book clubs, located throughout the United States and in ten other countries around the globe. The word "indie" refers to self-published books, while B.R.A.G. is an acronym for Book Readers Appreciation Group. This recognition is quite an honor!
IndieBRAG is a privately held organization that has brought together a large group of readers, both individuals and members of book clubs, located throughout the United States and in ten other countries around the globe. The word "indie" refers to self-published books, while B.R.A.G. is an acronym for Book Readers Appreciation Group. This recognition is quite an honor!
Press Release
Various media companies profiled our writing journey!
Click here to check out what Long Beach's Press Telegram said about this novel!
A Glimpse Behind the Scenes
The cover
A good cover offers clues about what's inside a book. My 16-year-old granddaughter, Collette, captured Sierra's and my ideas early in the writing process, which nudged us to flesh out characters and storylines. The drawing became a compass that guided scene development. The final cover came surprisingly close to our original vision. What does the image tell you about this story?
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Bringing characters to Life
Sierra and I spent months thinking about our main characters' physical attributes, personalities, values, hopes, and dreams. As we brought the girls to life on paper, Collette brought them to life with drawings. Deb Strand, a watercolorist, completed the transformation.
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Haylee, Dhvani, Everly, Coral
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Shay O'Brien's evolution
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Meli the bee-girl
We hired a graphic artist to bring a mythological character to life using two pictures of Sierra as inspiration. The first-bee girl didn't capture the whimsical flare we sought. We asked the artist to change bee-girl's expression, enlarge the crown and wings, and add painted fingernails. The second image came closer to what we imagined but was still off. Collette suggested we quit trying to replicate Sierra's face and go with a cartoonish one. We kept the body but added a new head and changed the skin tone, ending up with this adorable creature. After brainstorming potential names, we chose Meli, which means 'bee' in Hawaiian. Isn't she adorable?
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Hi, there! I'm Meli, which rhymes with jelly❣️
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Brainstormed list of potential names.
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Our writing journey
Sierra and I were true partners on this project. I gave her a journal when she turned ten to prepare her for the work. She completed writing prompts, wrote about her emotions, and recorded potential story ideas. I picked her up from school on Wednesdays, and we spent time in parks, her home, my house, and coffee shops to stimulate our creative juices. It took a year for us to plot our unique story.
Once we had an outline, we brainstormed ways to open our novel. I wrote the draft. The following week, Sierra read the scene aloud, offering ideas to improve it. We discussed the next scene, which I wrote and brought to our next meeting. We repeated this process until we finished the story, which took another year.
After incorporating early reader and editorial feedback, Sierra and I went away for three days to read the entire story one last time. We made eighty minor changes to the narrative and tweaked the cover, not stopping until we got it right.
Completing this project took patience, persistence, and determination. Did we disagree at times? Have conflict? You bet. But we worked through our differences and came to appreciate and trust each other's unique contributions. Watching Sierra's face light up when she held a print book for the first time was priceless. - Roberta
Once we had an outline, we brainstormed ways to open our novel. I wrote the draft. The following week, Sierra read the scene aloud, offering ideas to improve it. We discussed the next scene, which I wrote and brought to our next meeting. We repeated this process until we finished the story, which took another year.
After incorporating early reader and editorial feedback, Sierra and I went away for three days to read the entire story one last time. We made eighty minor changes to the narrative and tweaked the cover, not stopping until we got it right.
Completing this project took patience, persistence, and determination. Did we disagree at times? Have conflict? You bet. But we worked through our differences and came to appreciate and trust each other's unique contributions. Watching Sierra's face light up when she held a print book for the first time was priceless. - Roberta
Sierra's journal
* Author Events *
Sierra and I spoke with 4th and 5th graders from Glenwood Elementary School about our writing journey. The kids asked great questions and pressed Sierra for her autograph. Meli was her usual witty self, causing quite a ruckus. One boy told us the world needs more creatures like Meli.
Click here to watch Sierra read to the kids. Thanks, Adam, for capturing these memories!
Click here to watch Sierra read to the kids. Thanks, Adam, for capturing these memories!
We are in Copperfield's Books!
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