... We present Multiple Mirror Telescope (MMT) and Keck II telescope spectrophotometry and 3.5m Calar Alto telescope R , I photometry of the western component of the extremely low-metallicity blue compact galaxy SBS 0335-052. ... We argue that SBS 0335-052W is a good candidate for a nearby, young dwarf galaxy. galaxies: abundances -- galaxies: irregular -- galaxies: photometry -- galaxies: evolution -- galaxies: formation -- galaxies: ISM -- HII regions -- ISM: abundances . ...