{"product_id":"hard-times-a-novel","title":"Hard Times: A Novel","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eAn extraordinary crime novel from a rising star, that follows the ripple effects of a tragic shooting throughout a Chicago community from the view of the teachers, police officers, and students impacted\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e“A deeply satisfying story with as much, heart, grit and history as the city that it’s set in.” —Xochitl Gonzalez, \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eOlga Dies Dreaming\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBuddy Mack has been caught in the middle of two worlds at war.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAs an English teacher at a South Side, Chicago, high school lauded for its football team, but at risk in every other way, he tries to instill a love of literature. While all of his students face challenges, he’s especially concerned with a trio of boys who test him to no end but are full of promise and heart: Zeke, the football star; Truth, the sweet-talking charmer; and Dontell, Buddy’s most promising student.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAt home, his wife, Chrissy, a successful corporate lawyer, is ready to upgrade to a big house on the North Side and start a family, but Buddy’s torn over the implications. And the closest person he has in his life to talk to is Chrissy’s little brother, Curtis, a corrupt Chicago cop.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhen the two worlds collide in a shocking moment that rocks the school, Buddy has to choose a side and fight for all he holds dear.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e Hard Times \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003etakes stock of what it means to be there for your people whether you want to or not and unflinchingly confronts the American Dream—a moving, engrossing, and necessary read.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Call \u0026 Response Books","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":44842499047493,"sku":"9781250348456","price":29.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0647\/6621\/4213\/files\/9781250348456_jpg.webp?v=1775163732","url":"https:\/\/www.callandresponsechi.com\/products\/hard-times-a-novel","provider":"Call \u0026 Response Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}