{"product_id":"hard-times-hardcover","title":"Hard Times - Hardcover","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eJeff Boyd\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\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 \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\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 \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eBuddy Mack has been caught in the middle of two worlds at war. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\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. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\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. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\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.\u003ci\u003e Hard Times \u003c\/i\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.\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eJeff Boyd\u003c\/b\u003e is the author of \u003ci\u003eThe Weight.\u003c\/i\u003e He is a former Chicago public school teacher and a graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop. He lives in New York with his family.\u003c\/p\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 352\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1.3 x 9.4 x 6.2 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e March 17, 2026\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51987733315885,"sku":"9781250348456","price":28.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0938\/3185\/6429\/files\/x8HV_9HO119781250348456.webp?v=1776183773","url":"https:\/\/ishookbooks.com\/products\/hard-times-hardcover","provider":"iShook Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}