And Far Between

by Alex Stearns

It's the summer of 2006 in the fictional Finger Lakes town of Baylor, New York. Twelve-year-old Jimmy Stone has just completed his sixth-grade year and is about to embark on the most memorable summer of his young life. Jimmy must navigate a turbulent home life, less than ideal friends, and a beautiful girl with big green eyes and dirty bare feet.

He knows that if he does not make a change soon, he will succumb to the dysfunction around him. He believes football is his ticket to a better life, but his mother refuses to let him play. She says she cannot afford to buy him cleats, but Jimmy begins to think that she may have an ulterior motive. Will Jimmy join the football team and overcome the adversity around him, or will he fall in with the delinquent crowd trying to keep him down?

And Far Between is a charming coming-of-age story filled with dark humor, heartwarming (and sometimes heartbreaking) experiences that remind us all of what it was like to be a twelve-year-old kid in the heart of summer.

230 pages, Hardcover

Published April 1, 2025

Reviews

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel really takes you back to mid 2000s childhood. & if you didn’t grow up during mid 2000s, you might learn something about that time period. It’s a realistic version of what 12 year olds’ lives revolve around. It will have you laughing, crying, cringing, and everything in between. A very easy read, while still providing complex character dynamics and situations. Highly recommended!

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book accurately captures what it was really like growing up in such a small place in the early 2000’s in a way that no other book I have read has been able to do. I highly recommend reading this one!

[Samantha Wray · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so beautiful I had goosebumps at the end. This story was such a great representation of what a coming of age story looks like for those who have worked hard to choose a different cycle than what they were born into. It was very relatable. I love the way the language of the time was captured. I truly lol’d at “The age-old story of the star quarterback vs poor kid who smells like cat piss”. I hope to see the authors name under more titles in the future.

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a page turner to say the least. It’s a coming of age story that even as an adult, I enjoyed immensely. I felt so connected to the main character and found myself rooting for him from beginning to end. I don’t want to ruin the ending for anyone, so let me just say that you won’t regret spending some time reading this book. 10/10

[Cathy Shutt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful coming of age book. The story accurately portrays growing up in a small town and how seemingly small choices or events can have such a huge impact.

[MacKenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven’t read a book in years, this book got me into reading this summer. Great read!

[Tomi Stratton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This coming-of-age story hit pretty hard. There are always things going on in people's houses that we know nothing about, and sometimes, a kid just needs kindness from others and a chance to prove themselves. Kids don't always understand that others often face circumstances beyond their control, and they shouldn't be judged for that. My absolute favorite part was the scene where the boys play "Kick the Can" because when I was twelve, we played this game at youth group (but called it The Jug Game), and it brought me right back to those days. Oh, to be a kid from a small town in the 2000s!