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mbedrosian's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racism, and Murder
Minor: Genocide and Antisemitism
teacupsandfirereads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
This book gives me a sense that humankind can really be good. Though it also showcases the flip side of the negatives and injustice. It had a sense of Pay It Forward about it. Overall, I quite enjoyed this story and it was a great choice to start the year with.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Racism, and Grief
okiecozyreader's review
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Like many other people have said, this is an uplifting story about a 17 year old boy Raymond who feels alone who befriends a 93 year old widow in his apartment building who is asking about a man named Luis Velez. Raymond takes the time to listen to her and finds out that she is blind and she needs someone to help her run some errands. Luis Velez did but he hasn’t been there in a while and she needs help. Raymond goes on a journey to find the Luis Velez through a list of them that he finds in nyc, and in doing so, he builds a new community, with some misses.
I thought it was a quick, sweet read, but seems a little - preachy isn’t the correct word - but trying to hard to convey lessons. The world could sure use more Raymonds - and I loved the message of trying to see the balance of beautiful and evil in the world as more of a created balance - to look for more of the good.
Raymond is half-black (Black father who he sees a couple weekends a month) who lives with his white mother and white step-father. Neither step parent likes having him around. He is also unsure of his sexuality (maybe asexual) and trying to understand himself.
“It would be failing to recognize that life took Luis away but also brought me you. Life takes something away from all of us… Life gives us nothing outright. It only lends. Nothing is ours to keep… Not even our bodies, our brains.” P157
“I don’t belong here. I don’t fit with this family.” P177
“I see my privilege because I have loved both with it and without it…. What can you do in a world where people do not even see?” P259
I thought it was a quick, sweet read, but seems a little - preachy isn’t the correct word - but trying to hard to convey lessons. The world could sure use more Raymonds - and I loved the message of trying to see the balance of beautiful and evil in the world as more of a created balance - to look for more of the good.
Raymond is half-black (Black father who he sees a couple weekends a month) who lives with his white mother and white step-father. Neither step parent likes having him around. He is also unsure of his sexuality (maybe asexual) and trying to understand himself.
“It would be failing to recognize that life took Luis away but also brought me you. Life takes something away from all of us… Life gives us nothing outright. It only lends. Nothing is ours to keep… Not even our bodies, our brains.” P157
“I don’t belong here. I don’t fit with this family.” P177
“I see my privilege because I have loved both with it and without it…. What can you do in a world where people do not even see?” P259
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Racism, and Grief
katefinman7's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence and Racism