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kittietta's review
5.0
Very touching story about how how kindness can open up the world to you. I loved this story! As with all of Catherine Ryan Hyde's books, this was very well written, I loved the plot and I fell in love with all the characters.
If I could I would give this more than 5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and the author and publisher for an advance copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
If I could I would give this more than 5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and the author and publisher for an advance copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
_wmjb_'s review
5.0
I so needed a book like this right now. In a time of great divisiveness of our country and when it's frightening to even go out for fear of the pandemic, this book helps balance the the world just a little bit. The beginning was sweet, the middle was suspenseful (although predictable; is it possible to be both?) and the end was philosophical. I cried more than once while reading it and highlighted many passages. I love the way the characters talk to one another. Both Raymond and Mrs Gutermann are thoughtful and wise. Raymond meets several people who change his world view and he does the same for them. The librarian at school says:
"The world will still be a place where people do terrible things. But here's the thing about despair. We fall into despair when the terrible gangs up on us and we forget the world can also be wonderful....The world is terrible and wonderful at the same time. One doesn't negate the other, but the wonderful keeps us in the game. It keeps us moving forward."
"The world will still be a place where people do terrible things. But here's the thing about despair. We fall into despair when the terrible gangs up on us and we forget the world can also be wonderful....The world is terrible and wonderful at the same time. One doesn't negate the other, but the wonderful keeps us in the game. It keeps us moving forward."
takeahike's review
4.0
"The world is a tough place, my friend. I'm not ready to change my mind about that. And yet we're called upon to be grateful that we're in it. That seems to be our challenge."
mimstubs's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
emilyb_chicago's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed the calm, engaging pace of this book. The story kept me coming back and even though it is very neatly tied together I still was satisfied. If you don’t like serendipity, avoid this one as it is essentially a story about one lucky coincidence after another.
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
teachandcreate's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
5.0
jamiecakes0522's review against another edition
4.0
Young Raymond finds himself a friend in Ms. G, a blind elderly neighbor who suddenly needs his help. A man named Luis Velez used to show up to help Ms. G, but she hasn't seen him in awhile. She is worried about Luis and she about a half a can of soup away from going hungry when Raymond stops to help her.
Raymond is a mixed race teenage step kid looking for a place to belong. He is also questioning who he is and who he wants to become. I think that many teens could relate to Raymond, making it a great read for young adults. He is also kind to a fault. Almost too kind, I noted. It was hard to believe that any seventeen year old boy would be as emotionally intelligent as Raymond.
The relationship with Raymond and Ms. G is so delightful. It was lovely to read about a young boy taking so much interest in the well being of an elderly blind woman. However, Raymond's mother calls his friendship with 92 year old Mildred, "icky and weird". It was easy to see how Raymond could feel like an outcast by his own family, with his mother giving him such a harsh observation of his choices.
Raymond's adventures in finding Luis Velez for Ms. G take him to many different "Luis'" before he stumbles upon the right one. This part of the story had a parable feel to it. Almost every Luis offered up the reason why he wished he could have been the one who was helping and elderly lady - but each giving excuses why he couldn't. It was interesting to see how the Luis' all started to fit into Raymond's life.
This novel is both charming and eye opening. It would be great for a book club or even for a classroom read. In fact, the text feels like it was written for a younger audience.
In the words of Raymond's wise librarian, "The world is terrible and wonderful at the same time. One doesn't negate the other, but wonderful keeps us in the game." This is the theme of Have you Seen Luis? Kindness. Wonder. Those are the things that remind us that everything is worth it.
Thank you to Little Bird Publicity and Amazon Publishing for the ARC of Have You Seen Luis Velez? in exchange for an honest review.
Raymond is a mixed race teenage step kid looking for a place to belong. He is also questioning who he is and who he wants to become. I think that many teens could relate to Raymond, making it a great read for young adults. He is also kind to a fault. Almost too kind, I noted. It was hard to believe that any seventeen year old boy would be as emotionally intelligent as Raymond.
The relationship with Raymond and Ms. G is so delightful. It was lovely to read about a young boy taking so much interest in the well being of an elderly blind woman. However, Raymond's mother calls his friendship with 92 year old Mildred, "icky and weird". It was easy to see how Raymond could feel like an outcast by his own family, with his mother giving him such a harsh observation of his choices.
Raymond's adventures in finding Luis Velez for Ms. G take him to many different "Luis'" before he stumbles upon the right one. This part of the story had a parable feel to it. Almost every Luis offered up the reason why he wished he could have been the one who was helping and elderly lady - but each giving excuses why he couldn't. It was interesting to see how the Luis' all started to fit into Raymond's life.
This novel is both charming and eye opening. It would be great for a book club or even for a classroom read. In fact, the text feels like it was written for a younger audience.
In the words of Raymond's wise librarian, "The world is terrible and wonderful at the same time. One doesn't negate the other, but wonderful keeps us in the game." This is the theme of Have you Seen Luis? Kindness. Wonder. Those are the things that remind us that everything is worth it.
Thank you to Little Bird Publicity and Amazon Publishing for the ARC of Have You Seen Luis Velez? in exchange for an honest review.
lauracooleyjohnson's review against another edition
2.0
I regret that I can only give this 2 stars. It started out as a 5: a heartwarming kid who helps others, including rescuing kittens and blind old ladies? I mean, c’mon, how precious, right? But as the book continued, the genuine-ness of the characters wore thinner and thinner. The dialogue so contrived, and the situations so artificial that it no longer read like a novel, but rather devolved into a self-help book. The author uses a do-gooder teen as an allegory to make the point. It almost felt like I was back in business school reading “The Goal,” where the Boy Scout hikers are used as a proxy to explain supply chain efficiency. Here, the points around the importance of belonging (race and sexuality), helping others (community and kindness), not judging books by their covers (prejudice) were pounded into the reader with a heavy blunt object. Less preaching, more authenticity, please!