{"product_id":"hard-times-9781250348456b","title":"Hard Times","description":"\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\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\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBuddy Mack has been caught in the middle of two worlds at war.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\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. \u003cspan style=\"font-style: italic;\"\u003eHard Times\u003c\/span\u003e takes 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.\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003e“A deeply satisfying story with as much, heart, grit and history as the city that it’s set in.” —Xochitl Gonzalez, \u003cspan style=\"font-style: italic;\"\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/span\u003e bestselling author of \u003cspan style=\"font-style: italic;\"\u003eOlga Dies Dreaming\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Flatiron Books","offers":[{"title":"Bargain","offer_id":42872912511056,"sku":"9781250348456B","price":13.49,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0592\/8173\/5760\/files\/9781250348456-l.jpg?v=1785870961","url":"https:\/\/bookoutlet.com\/en-ca\/products\/hard-times-9781250348456b","provider":"Book Outlet","version":"1.0","type":"link"}