There’s nothing remotely normal about seventeen-year-old Ethan-Matthew Cruz Canton’s life. His parents, journalists in Spain, were killed in a terrorist attack and now he’s living with his grandparents in San Antonio, attending his father’s high school for senior year. Narrated in the young man’s perceptive, witty voice, the novel opens with his plan to keep his head down, make it until June and then follow his parents’ footsteps to Northwestern University’s journalism program. But his idea to keep a low profile is quickly blown out of the water.
As Ethan-Matthew deals with incessant questions about his hyphenated name and his grief, he looks forward to the only “normal” thing available: writing for the school newspaper. He was set to be the editor at his high school in Spain, but now his story ideas are being ignored! With the encouragement and help of his new friends, he starts an alternative online newspaper to cover the overlooked students and staff. Things escalate, though, when he writes about a racist incident—instigated by the school’s mostly white, privileged student body—that turns violent!
Amidst all the drama, Ethan-Matthew suddenly and unexpectedly finds himself romantically involved with another boy, his cross-country teammate and best friend Reid. Author Michael Méndez Guevara, a former high school teacher, writes convincingly about the lives of young adults on the path to self-discovery. This refreshing, intelligent novel dealing with the loss of loved ones, prejudice and the clash of social mores is sure to capture the imagination of teen readers.
“With humor and undeniable charm, Michael Méndez Guevara navigates the complexities of grief and shows how our deepest relationships ultimately shape our understanding of ourselves and the world around us. The Closest Thing to a Normal Life reminds us what it means to find one’s place in the midst of chaos and change.”—Matt Mendez, author of The Broke Hearts and Barely Missing Everything
“Alarmed that your students are reluctant to pick up a book? Tempt them with the first pages of The Closest Thing to a Normal Life, and I predict they will be fighting to be the first to get their hands on your copy. The narrator takes readers on the roller coaster ride of his senior year—ups and downs that are testament to his gumption and resilience. Ethan-Matthew’s search for ‘normal’ is a contemporary odyssey.”—Carol Jago, associate director of the California Reading and Literature Project at UCLA, taught high school English for many years and is past president of the National Council of Teachers of English.
“High school is hard enough without having to start over in a place that was never supposed to be home, living a life that was never supposed to be yours. Ethan-Matthew Cruz Canton wasn’t planning on spending senior year in his dad’s childhood bedroom, dodging questions about his ‘interesting’ name and pretending he’s totally fine (spoiler alert: he’s not). After losing both parents at once, that’s exactly where he lands—stuck in a school where friendships go back to the sandbox. Just trying to survive the year would be hard enough, but then there’s an unexpected pull of new friendships, tangled emotions, and a connection that makes Ethan-Matthew question everything. Suddenly, he’s not just figuring out how to grieve‒he’s navigating the exhilarating, messy blur between friends and something more. The Closest Thing to a Normal Life is heartbreakingly real, laugh-out-loud funny, and packs a twist you won’t see coming. For anyone who’s felt like they don’t quite belong or wondered if joy is possible after loss‒this book is for you.”—Annie Jenson, host of The History Solarium Book Club
MICHAEL MÉNDEZ GUEVARA has worked as a high school English teacher, instructional coach and curriculum writer. He lives in San Antonio, Texas, where he works as an educational consultant. This is his first published book.
