A review by _wmjb_
Have You Seen Luis Velez? by Catherine Ryan Hyde

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."